Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

142  JAP AN REGION B Y REGION

5 Chichibu-Tama-
Kai National Park Yosegi-Zaiku Marquetry
Originating in the 9th century, this type of marquetry looks like
Cichibu-Tama National Park
inlaid mosaic but in fact employs a very different tech nique. It has
Tokyo, Saitama, Nagano, and Yamana- been a Hakone specialty for over 200 years, and today there are
shi prefectures. * 71,000 (Chichibu about 100 yosegi-zaiku practitioners
city). £ Seibu-Chichibu stn, Seibu- in the area. Strips are cut from planks
Chichibu line; Chichibu stn, Chichibu of up to 40 varieties of undyed
line; Okutama or Mitake stns, JR line. woods and glued together to form
n Chichibu stn (0494) 25-3192. patterned blocks, which are in turn
_ Yo Matsuri (Dec 2–3, Chichibu city). glued into larger blocks. These are
then either shaped with a lathe into
Chichibu-Tama-Kai National bowls and boxes, or shaved into
Park is a remote region of low cross-sectional sheets, used to coat
mountains, rich in traditions items such as boxes and purses. The
and wildlife, stretching from paper-thin sheets are flex ible and
the narrow valleys of Okutama can be laminated. Some of the most
in the south to the basin popular creations are “magic” boxes,
around Chichibu city in the Craftsman making a opened in a sequence of moves to
north. The two parts of the park yosegi-zaiku box reveal a hidden drawer.
are separated by moun tains,
crossed only by a few hiking
trails, and are reached by two Environs collapsed remains of a huge
separate rail networks. Within the South of Chichibu-Tama-Kai volcano, which was active until
park, railroads penetrate to a few lies Mount Takao, (on the Keio 3,000–4,000 years ago, leaving
spots, but travel is mostly by bus. train line to Takaosan-guchi.) a legacy today of hot springs
Chichibu was a prime silk- Its slopes have pleasant walks and steam vents.
producing region until the with sweeping views of Tokyo Although Hakone can be
early 20th century. Today it is and Mount Fuji. visited as a long day trip from
known for its vibrant festivals Tokyo, it is worth an overnight
and its pilgrim route linking 34 stay. Two- or three-day public-
Kannon temples. To the north, 6 Hakone transportation passes are avail-
at Nagatoro, the Arakawa River Hakone able on the Odakyu line from
runs past rare crystalline schist Shinjuku, Tokyo. A convenient
rock formations. Kanagawa prefecture. * 14,000. £ circuit of the main sights starts
In the Okutama area, Mount n 706-35 Yumoto, Hakone (0460) from the onsen town of Hakone-
Mitake has good hiking, and an 85-8911. _ Torii yaki (Aug 5, Lake Ashi), Yumoto, taking the Tozan switch-
Daimyo Gyoretsu (Nov 3, Hakone-
attractive mountaintop shrine Yumoto). ∑ hakone.or.jp/en/ back train up the hillside to
village, easily reached by a Hakone Open-Air Museum, with
funicular. Stalactite caves at Hakone is a hilly hot-spring town its modern sculptures. Continue
Nippara are worth visiting. whose scattered attractions are via funicular to Hakone Art
both cultural and natural. Popular Museum, which has an
} Nippara Caves as a re sort since the 9th century, excellent Japanese ceramic
NW of Okutama. Tel (0428) 83-8491. it can be very crowded. The collection and garden. Via the
Open daily. & Hakone area extends across the funicular and then a ropeway

Crossing the rocky scree and steaming vents of Owaku-dani valley in Hakone
For hotels and restaurants see p303 and pp326–9

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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm