TOKYO -- November is usually peak travel season in Hakone, one of the most popular resorts within easy reach of Tokyo. Visitors flock to the area in autumn to watch the leaves turn and enjoy a dip in the hot springs.
Not this year. Typhoon Hagibis, which swept through central and northern Japan in mid-October, left Hakone's mountain railway service paralyzed and cut off spring water to many hotels and inns. The powerful storm touched off landslides along the Hakone Tozan Railway line, forcing the operator of the mountain-scaling electric trams to suspend service between Hakone Yumoto and Gora stations.
