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＊Yesterday it had moistures in Hakone all day long. But it had no thunder shower although the weather station forecasted. Many families came to Hakone on a Sunday in the midst of summer. Some of them are exercising at a drive range. In evening, I went down to Gotemba city. On a wide by-pass street, the traffic toward the Gotemba interchange of Tomei Super Express Highway was very congested with vehicles coming back from Lake Yamanka or Subashiri. The number of Mt. Fuji climbers was said to be the biggest since the beginning of summer season, The climbers were forming long lines along the mountain's slope. The human traffic congestion occurred here and there. But once they came down, they have to overcome the traffic jams on highways. It seems to be not easy to climb the mountain. Although Hakone and Gotemba were covered with clouds, the mountain top was much higher than clouds. I assume they could enjoy the panoramic view of rising sun. The most of travelers were satisfied with the tour, I presume.
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＊Past 10:30 in morning I left Hakone for Tokyo. I could not see Mt. Fuji from the Otome mountain pass because of clouds over Gotemba city. The up traffic for Tokyo on the Tomei Super Express Highway was very light altough it was heavily congested last night (the down traffic was heavy here and there from Tokyo to Gotemba. I imagined the congestion was caused by vehicle accidents.) At the Ebina sevice area, I got off from my Prius in order to take rest. But instantly I was surprised by the fierce heat. The surface temperature of parking lots would be over 40 degrees, I estimated. The rest house hall was crowded with people to seek cool air. But there were some who dared to take drinks outside the house. A copy of 'congestion forecast' brochure during the coming Obon holidays was given to me at the public service counter of the highway corporation located inside the hall.
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As far as I was staying in my house, I could endure against heat with air conditioners. In late afternoon, I took a walk around my home for about forty minutes to make my daily exercise. As soon as I started to walk, I felt as though I was in a bath room. When I got back to my home, I found my shirt was soaked with sweat.
＊Two pieces of red Japan candles weighing 50 monme were sent to me from the Mishima Japan candle store in the Hida Furukawa town. I visited the store just two months ago and placed the order for candles there. They promised to send their products before Obon. They arrived today by a cool express mail (while on transportation, they were put in vans with cooling system.) The wife of Mr. Jyunji Mishima, the seventh generation successor of Mishima store, to whom I ordered for candles, put her hand written short message in the package. The store has become very popular because NHK morning serial novel selected their store as a model of the novel. Nevertheless, she wrote such a thanks message herself in the old Japanese way. I was glad to have her thoughtfulness.