Jogashima Island - January 2022

 I like Jogashima Island- I like it a lot! It's a small island but no matter how many times I visit I always see something new and interesting.

Day 1: The waves are crashing!

I like how the waves are rough and wild on one side of the breakwater and everything is flat and calm on the other side.

On the right side of the picture (in the distance) is Mt. Fuji covered by clouds. It would be nice if the clouds move out of the way before I leave the island.

This is great! 

Another man with a cameraman and a fisherman.

The last thing one wants to do is fall into the water. 

One more look at the fisherman before I move on.

It is so thrilling to be standing here and looking at this.

Looking back as I walk up the hill.

Well, well, well! I waited at the top of the hill for about 30 minutes for the clouds to move, and this is my reward. Mt. Fuji!

I'm using a zoom lens so I'll zoom in for a better look.

There's a Japanese Navy Ship on the left side of the picture.

One last look down at the cove and then it's time to walk to the other end of the island.

This hole in the wall is a big tourist attraction for Jogashima Island.

Zoomed in. There are a few different ways to get to the hole. The easiest is the steps on the left side of the picture.

The bird sanctuary. The tip of the peninsula is covered with Cormorants.

A closer look.

I've made it to the other end of the island. 

The last shot of day one: Looking out to sea at Oshima Island. 

Day 2:

I felt like I had some unfinished business, I wanted some pictures before posting this thread. So, here I am back on the island. 

I climbed up a small hill to get this picture of the breakwater. The ocean is a lot calmer today.

I'm just poking around the rock formations taking pictures as I go.

The more I look, the more I see of the sea!

The slower one goes the more one sees.

The waves are picking up a little bit.

Big swells are rolling in. The sand on the beach is very coarse.

There are two lighthouses on Jogashima Island. 

A fisherman is looking out to sea.

This is a new area of the island for me to explore. I'll come back next week and really check it out. For now it's time to head back to the bus stop and go home.

One of the public restrooms on the island. There are at least 4 public restrooms on the island. All are cleaned and maintained daily.

Up the hill and turn right, the bus stop is a short walk away.

In the Summer this bus stop is packed with people. Today it's only me.

And, here comes the bus! Gotta go!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

Bonus shots!

Hakone - Visit the Pola Art Museum

 I like art museums. Visiting them makes me feel cultured and refined; I feel good. The Pola Museum of Art is in a secluded part of Hakone, tucked away in the middle of a forest. It's very nice. Pola MOA

Today we will be looking at the Roni Horn exhibition Roni Horn

The first thing we see is a room full of these things. Each one is about 1 meter in diameter. We, along with other visitors walk around the room and I thing we are all thinking the same thing... WTF are we looking at.  That's art!

The next room as paintings and photographs in it. Roni Horn spent a lot of time in Iceland. Most of what we are seeing are from those visits. 

A lighthouse.

I'll step back and give a bigger picture of the exhibit. 

Another room and it's all photographs of water. Roni likes water. By-the-way... have you noticed that I'm taking pictures in a Art Museum? Most museums prohibit photography, this place seems to encourage it. There are signs at the entrance of every room saying "Photo OK".

Roni Horn also likes to play with words.

Next up is the "Monet In The Light" Exhibit.

I like Monet. Who doesn't like Monet? 

Now on to the permanent exhibitions. Somebody is blocking my view.

That's better. 

Nudes are good! 

Abstract. When I was young I didn't care much for abstract art; now I love it.

Painting using traditional Japanese mineral based paint.

A bowl.

Every art museum has an overpriced café. 

This woman is showing the signs of museum fatigue. Or, maybe she's checking out my reflection in the mirror? Maybe yes! Probably no 😢

Me again, this time I'm checking out the gift shop. 

Time to go. Looking down as we ascend the escalator up to the exit. 

Our hotel for the night was not far from the museum but we needed to kill some time before we could check in. The Sengokuhara Marsh is just a short walk from the hotel so off we went to check it out. Sengokuhara

A bilingual sign for tourists.

A marsh in winter.

We've killed enough time, lets go check in.

A warm room, a bottle of wine and a TV controller. All the comforts of home.

Next morning. It's time to catch a bus to the train station in Hakone Yumoto.

Hakone-Yumoto train station is quite the place. Hakone-Yumoto 

It's the gateway to all things Hakone.

The Hakone Tozan train has just arrived at the station and all the passengers are pouring out of it.

The train is run with military precision.

Here comes our train. We're heading for Odawara. 

While we were waiting for our train to depart I noticed on the other side of the platform the Romance train from Tokyo had just arrived. One of the cleaning staff bows and welcomes the passengers.

We have arrived in Odawara. It's a big train station.

Another express train is heading for Hakone-Yumoto station.

We ventured into town for lunch. 

After lunch it was back to Odawara station and our trip back to home!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

Bonus shots!