Hakone, situated southeast of Fuji-san and north of the Izu Peninsula, forms part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

  It was previously a large conical volcano, but its central part collapsed to form a large caldera. Later in the caldera the triple peaks were built by volcanic activities. Now the picturesque Lake Ashi-no-ko lies in the caldera, which is 20 kilometers in circumference.

  The outer rim was formed around the caldera, which keeps long mountain ridge. Its highest peak is Kintoki-yama(1,213m), and the second highest one is Myojin-ga-take (1,169m). Both are connected with the long undulated ridge which has been kept as a good hiking course. Myojin-ga-take has the flat peak with great views along the ridge famous for its annual fire festival.

  Myojin-ga-take is climbed from a few directions. The most popular route is from Doryoson. It is the oldest route and it has many points of interest along the trail, but hikers are forced somewhat long climb.

  I left Niigata Station at 23:35 on December 10 by the night train and reached Sinzyuku Station at 5:10 in the next morning. From Sinzyuku I transferred into the Odakyu Line and arrived at Odawara station at 7:00 in the morning. I changed into the local line called Daiyuzan Line and went to the end of the line.

  It took about 20minutes to get there. From here I got on 7:48 start bus and got off at the last bus stop, called Doryoson. I walked up a flight of steps to a big temple through a huge cedar forest for about 10 minutes. It is called Saijo-zi and very famous among people nearby.

  Trail started from a small bridge across the stream on left side of the road. There was a steep climb through cedar forest to the ridge from where the trail turned right, stayed on the ridge and became a long gentle climb. The trail crossed logging tracks twice until I got to a small hut.

  From here there was a pleasant climb through pampas grass with a few steep sections in places. Another 20 minute gentle climb I went, I found a small spring which I heard clean water was available only here on the way. But it ran dry in the winter. Before I came beneath the main ridge, the trail turned left gently and traversed the left slope of the ridge through forest and crossed dry streams twice.

  Again I came to the wide slope sparsely forested with bamboo grass undergrowth and soon I got to a junction.

  I chose a right trail, climbed a little and suddenly I jumped out to the open ridge from the bushes. There was another junction on the main ridge. The trail right led to the summit of Myojin-ga-take.

  To the west I could see the rugged Kintoki-yama, highest peak of outer rim, and over it there was a great view of Fuji-san wore white snow. To the south Kami-yama, highest peaks of Hakone volcano, could be seen. On the foot of it there was Oowakiu-dani with active steam vents.

  After the lunch, I was back to the junction, this time following the main ridge and headed to Myojo-ga-take. On the ridge the trees was short and bushy with bamboo grass undergrowth. But since the trail was opened widely in the bushes, any time while walking I could enjoy the view around.

  I went down steeply to the lowest col between Myojin-ga-take and Myojo-ga-take where there was a fork with a trail coming up from Miyagino. The trail went up gently and passed over a few peaks with a few steep and muddy sections.

  At last I came out to the flat area which was a part of Myojo-ga-take. Here on the ridge there was another junction. Staying on the ridge, I went forward a little and I found a signboard of the top (924m) but it did not look like the top.

  I came back to the last junction from where I descended to Miyagino-bridge bus stop. On my way down I passed by a large open space where it was said an annual fire festival was held in August.