Hakone Hotel

Today we had a great day exploring outside of Tokyo at the Hakone National Park. It is about 80 km outside of Tokyo. We took a bus to the park where we took the ropeway (gondola) up to the area where there are sulfur springs due to the volcanic activity in the area. We had beautiful views of Mt. Fuji, who had had her first snow the night before. Once we got to the area of the springs, our guide told ...

Konichiwa.<br><br>We rose early to the stream babbling and the early birds chirping just outside our tatami room and had one last soak in the hot spring tub &#8211; wow what a way to start our day. The lovely hosts in our guest house prepared a breakfast for us and the other guests which fuelled us for the big day ahead. Forwarding our luggage to the train station we jumped on an early bus and headed for the hills around Hakone.<br><br ...

... the bullet train for now and jumped onto a packed train heading for Hakone Yumoto. This area has been for ages a holiday destination for Tokyo residents &#8211; it has hot natural springs, dormant (and not so dormant) volcanoes, mountain settlements and views of Mt Fuji. Just our luck, this weekend is a holiday weekend in Japan as they are celebrating national sports and health day (yeah seriously). <br><br>There are holiday makers and day trippers everywhere; the ...

So yea! To summarize:<br>Walked about 10.2km downhill (which isn't so easy on rocky surface n stuff) from Station 5 of Mount Fuji to the bottom. Took about 5/6 hours but YAY! I used my hiking boots again (count so far: 3 times!) and it didn't feel too bad so I'm pretty glad, good chance to work off all the pocky!<br><br>Stayed in an epic Hotel Ohike which not ...

... Przede wszystkich siedzi si&#281; na pod&#322;odze przy bardzo niskich stolikach, na ma&#322;ych poduszkach i obowi&#261;zkowo zarówno go&#347;cie jak i obs&#322;uga chodz&#261; bez butów (podobnie jak w ryokanie). Jedzenie tofu pa&#322;eczkami wci&#261;&#380; jest wyzwaniem (tofu jest bardzo mi&#281;kkie), ale dawali&#347;my rad&#281;. Stolik obok siedzia&#322;a inna para, z któr&#261; wspólnie wznie&#347;li&#347;my toast sake (bez stukania si&#281; kieliszkami) i w momencie kiedy pad ...

... particular, provides low-fat, healthy, relatively low cost, prepared take home food. <br><br>The everyday local fish markets in Japan are outstanding! Even coastal towns and cities in Canada cannot compare, selection, quality, or price wise.<br><br>Here in Japan I never tire of wandering up and down the aisles of amazing, unusual food products.<br>I have no idea what to do with most of it, but am slowly learning.<br>

... tea &amp; sake spas! The first hour was spent wandering and getting confused. We finally decided to have lunch, with crepe's for dessert (yum!!) and study the map again and this time we were able to figure it out! <br><br>We then spent the next 4 hrs trying all the different spas. Including one that was chocolate and the one where the fishies eat the dead skin off your feet ...

... way that can no return cross, Once chance may make for bad days&#8221;&#65288;&#12300;&#34892;&#12 365;&#12399;&#12424;&#12356;&#12424;&#1 2356;&#12289;&#24112;&#12426;&#12399;&# 24598;&#12356;&#12301;&#65373;<br>It was easier till the 6th station, but after that, there was no point of return. We had a transient clear sky and brief view of the lake and cities at the bottom. That was the only luck that we had. Staying the ...

... It was an even chance and there was no time to go the other way in case if we were at wrong side of the road. The bus was coming toward us and pulled over to the shoulder almost on time (13:52) and took us to " Fuji yoshida" Station (so it was the right ones). What a relief.... and an adventure. The next less than ...

... countryside". S and A used their JR Pass, but we have gone for a 7 day pass starting on Friday. Arrived mid-morning in Odawara, dropped the luggage, bought a picnic lunch and headed for the Odawara Castle in bright sunshine. The cherry blossom is out in full strength here, although we were occasionally "showered" by the falling blossom as the wind picked up.@We had a brief picnic in the grounds and did the tour of the castle which oddly has an elephant and monkeys in its main ...