Pension Minaminokaze Susono

On Monday we wanted to go to see (or at least get close to) Mount Fuji. Apparently the warm sunny weather we experienced the previous day was unusual for this time of year. As a result the day was freezing, overcast and we had occasional rain. After a subway journey to Shinjuku station to figure out how to catch the train to Hakone, we bought the 2 day Odakyu Hakone Freepass and jumped on the train to Odawara ...

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.

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 – 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.

Hakone (and Kyoto), Kanagawa, Japan campbellot

... had baths with views of Mount Fuji- oh yea, we managed to get one of the 100/365 days when you can get a clear view of the Fuje- but it also had a proper outdoor bit with a bubbly spa pool, hot lake pool, ceramic bathtub pool and bamboo bath pool- spoilt for choice really and absolutely gorgeous after a long day hiking! We also got their taster dinner one ...

... 261; własne niewielkie onseny, które mogą być wykorzystane prywatnie (co jest praktycznie niemożliwe w dużych hotelach). Właśnie z takiego tradycyjnego zajazdu - ryokana skorzystaliśmy. Dzięki temu mogliśmy zakosztować kąpieli pod gwiazdami bez towarzystwa innych ludzi.

Właściciele polecili nam jedną z pobliskich knajpek. Różniła się nieco od tych, do których na co dzień chodzimy w ...

... the day’s adventures we just chilled out in the evening.


Rising early the next day, we were able to see the stunning Hakone in day light. After a breakfast of croissants, we caught the local train up the zigzag railway, which took us past the breath-taking scenery of the national park and up into the huge mountains. We then caught a cable-car over the serene Lake Ashi, the part of the journey where, if you are lucky you can see mount Fuji. Unfortunately ...

... like the one they have in Hong Kong that takes you to the Peak) and then a quick interchange for the suspended rope way cable car ride. It was on the ropeway car ride that one can have a spectacular view of Mt.Fuji …… that is assuming the weather conditions are ...

... to drop off a rental car.
14pm: Took a fujikyu line to “Otsuki “station.
15pm: Took a JR chuou rapid Tokyo line from “Otsuki” to “Hachiouji”. Heavy rain outside.
16pm: Took a JR yokohama line from “Hachiouji” to “Fuchinobe”.
16:45pm: Arrived home
18-20pm: Dinner at home with my family.

We were over optimistic in a way. By the time we ...

... arrived at "Resort Inn Fuyo". We rested shortly at the restaurants attached to the hotel and then went to see the Himatsuri, the Fire Festival.

The first day of two days festival called Yoshida-no-Himatsuri (the Fire Festival of Yoshida) at the base of Mt. Fuji. The first day at night of Chinkasai (the calming ...

... for friends.. I would have been homeless. Alpaca gets here next Friday and we will be staying with him just the 3 of us in Okubo.. Just 1 stop from Shinjuku - the biggest station in the world. I seem to have a regular "date" on Sundays rofl. Last week I stayed at Mazzy's (Tatsu) and we went to Kareoki and this Sunday the same and prolly next Sunday too. I ...