Late Sakura Viewing - The Yusakaji

If you are already feeling somewhat bummed by the falling of the somei yoshino cherries in the urban lowlands, you can still see the scads of late blooming cherries in the mountains.

The numerous unusual varieties planted alongside the Yusaka Trail out of Hakone Yumoto most likely will be just starting to bloom this weekend.

If the weather is clear, the trail has a magnificent view of the coast and the Pacific Ocean, as well as the volcanic mountains to the south.

Stairway of Roots
Yusaka Trail, Hakone Township
Kanagawa Prefecture
April 17, 2006

Usuzumi (?) Cherries
Yusaka Trail, Hakone Township
Kanagawa Prefecture
April 17, 2006

The Trail Widens
Yusaka Trail, Hakone Township
Kanagawa Prefecture
April 17, 2006

Chisuji no taki
Yusaka Trail, Hakone Township
Kanagawa Prefecture
April 17, 2006

Descent to Kowakidani Station
Yusaka Trail, Hakone Township
Kanagawa Prefecture
April 17, 2006

Access: Odakyū Railways Romance Car from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto. One hour and 25 minutes.

Cost: one way = 2020 yen (Riding the so-called "Express" in order to save a little money will only make you hate yourself: it stops waaaay too many times.)

Time: two leisurely hours to the Sengen Summit for lunch, then one hour down to Kowakidani Station on the Hakone Tōzan Tetsudō. 520 yen and a little less than a half an hour's ride back to Hakone Yumoto.

Drawbacks:
The first half of the trail runs along the ridge dividing the two main highways running up to Lake Ashi and the Mt. Fuji caldera. The engine noise, particularly from the motorcycles, can be depressing.

The trail is also extremely popular so erosion in some sections is severe.