Hakone Turnpike 3rd Challenge!

As I mentioned in my previous blog, on Sunday, March 24th, I participated in a driving event hosted by 911DAYS at Fuji Speedway. While it was possible to drive straight home that same day after the event, after two sessions on the circuit, it would have been tough even for my husband to drive all the way back from Gotemba to Hyogo Prefecture, so we decided to stay another night and drive back via the Hakone Turnpike the next day.

Actually, this was my third time driving the Panamera on the Hakone Turnpike, but the previous two attempts were far from ideal. The first time I went, heavy rain and thick fog prevented me from driving properly (and to top it off, a deer suddenly jumped out on the road),

新型パナメーラターボで箱根ターンパイクへ

and the second time was even worse, with thicker fog forcing me to turn back early.

パナメーラ納車後、2度目の箱根ターンパイクを走行したが…

The Hakone Turnpike is famous as a location for Car Graphic magazine reviews and car photo shoots, so I had a vague idea of what the road was like. But since I hadn’t been able to actually drive it myself, I never really understood its charm or why everyone kept raving about it. I kept wondering, “Why does everyone keep saying Hakone, Hakone? Is it really that great a road…?”

So this time was my third challenge. With a wry smile, I thought, “This is truly a case of ‘san-ko no rei’ (a Chinese idiom meaning to respectfully visit someone three times to ask for a favor, originating from Liu Bei’s three visits to Zhuge Liang)… (-_-)” but it seemed I finally had the mountain god’s blessing, and this time I was able to drive the Hakone Turnpike in clear weather for the first time.

As a side note, I had long thought it was “Hakone Turnpai**p**” and kept mispronouncing it until about two years ago (no one ever corrected me… lol). By the way, “turnpike” means a toll (express) road.

Off to the Hakone Turnpike

To plan a route considering the drive back to our home in Hyogo Prefecture, we first headed to the Odawara toll gate and then planned to return from there. As forecasted, it was bright and sunny from the morning. Great!

Since it was a weekday, traffic wasn’t too heavy, and we smoothly reached the Hakone Turnpike.

Alright, here we go!

The toll for the Hakone Odawara main line section is 720 yen. The Royu Driveway costs 410 yen one way if you enter from Ashiya (930 yen if you go through to Arima), so I thought, “Hakone Turnpike is quite pricey~”. But since the Hakone Turnpike is longer, maybe that’s to be expected.

After passing the toll gate, I switched the Panamera to Sport and Sport Plus modes and started driving. It quickly became clear that the Hakone Turnpike is a completely different road from the Royu Driveway.

First, the road is wider. The wider lanes make driving very comfortable. Also, there are many straights and smooth curves. The Royu Driveway is mainly a mountain road, making it perfect for practicing cornering and throttle/brake control, but it requires more driving skill.

In contrast, even I, who lack confidence behind the wheel, was able to enjoy a smooth and pleasant drive on the Hakone Turnpike.

Another fresh experience was being able to ride alongside motorcycles on the Hakone Turnpike (motorcycles are generally not allowed on the Royu Driveway on weekends and holidays). Despite speeding along such a beautiful road, my youngest daughter, who was riding shotgun in my husband’s Boxster, was sound asleep the entire time. She really can sleep anytime, anywhere…

We stopped at a nice photo spot along the way to take pictures of the Boxster and Panamera,

then headed to the Anest Iwata Sky Lounge. The last time we came, it was foggy like this:

But this time, I was able to take such beautiful photos.

Sunny days really are the best. Last time, I couldn’t see anything from here—not even Mount Fuji—

but this time, I enjoyed a stunning view of Mount Fuji.

Afterward, I treated myself to soft serve ice cream sold at the Anest Iwata Sky Lounge shop,

and by the time I checked the clock, it was already past 1 p.m. We then passed through the Hakone-Izu connecting line section, got on the Shin-Tomei Expressway, and drove about 450 km, arriving home safely that night.

Hakone and Royu Both Have Their Charm

After driving the Hakone Turnpike this time, I felt that the high elevation (Daikanzan’s elevation is 1,011 m) and the expansive views below make driving here incredibly refreshing. I definitely want to drive here during cherry blossom season too. Also, the well-equipped Sky Lounge was a nice bonus, haha.

When I once told someone living in the Kanto area, “I’m so lucky to be able to go to the Hakone Turnpike anytime,” they replied, “From my perspective, I envy you being able to go to the Royu Driveway anytime.” I guess people always want what they don’t have, lol.

Next, I’d love to try driving the Panamera on the Venus Line or some roads around Nagano Prefecture!