Quick Trip to Hakone...and the Mazda Turnpike

So just today I took a quick trip up to Hakone with an old friend of mine visiting from the US.  No trip to Hakone would be complete for a car guy without a quick blast on the Mazda Turnpike (what used to be known as the Toyo Tires Turnpike). Here is a link for a further description, including how Mt. Fuji is viewable on a good day.

In any case, this post will be light on words and heavy on pictures. Enjoy!

Here is where we ended up, the Hakone Jinja (shrine) with these Tori gates on Lake Ashinoko...

Shortly after blasting through the turnpike tollgate on the Odawara side, our first photo op...

The rainy weather meant for some slippery roads...so we weren't able to drive at more than 7/10ths!

The roads weren't THAT slippery, but you had to watch out for clumps of wet leaves.

I just thought it was cool how the water mist sprayed up.

Still OEM exhaust, but hearing it from outside the car on full throttle was awesome!

Another stop for some more scenic pictures:

Was too cold and rainy to see Mt. Fuji

I asked my friend to keep driving, and stood on a boulder to get this shot.

And this one...

Yep...have to trust my friend to come back with my car...

Just as I was watching that red Mustang go past

Here he is carving up the road.

After I got back in the driver's seat, we drove to the Hakone Jinja (shrine)...
the local town is dotted with those red Torii gates.

Parked right in front of the shrine's Torii gate.

Here is a closeup of the gate behind the car...

(A different gate...) We parked the car and hiked up these stairs...

To the main shrine buildings 

Note Imperial crest... the non-Japanese Asian tourists didn't seem to even notice or care... 

So that is a lion... or maybe dog...covered in moss... guarding the shrine...

We then turned around and checked out the Torii gate on the water of Lake Ashinoko

And then got back in the car to continue exploring some more backroads...

I have to admit, compared to my GT-R the ride, while firm, is just right for these kinds of roads. As is the steering - which yes could be more communicative but felt just right on these roads. And the power - it sure was nice to have it when we did some quick overtaking of, uh, ehem, other more horsepower challenged vehicles out there.  

In any case, next time hopefully the roads are dry so we can have some proper fun!