Our thirty-fourth entry in this blog is our trip to Hakone in Japan. Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than 100 kilometers from Tokyo. Famous for hot springs, natural beauty and the view of nearby Mt. Fuji, Hakone is one of the most popular destinations among Japanese and international tourists looking for a break from Tokyo. We all woke up early today since this is the first time that Rei and Sai will visit Hakone. And look at us here… still very sleepy. hehehe 🙂

Our first stop in Hakone is the Open Air Museum. But I have separated the details in a different blog. So let’s just proceed to the 2nd stop, Owakudani.  Owakudani is the area around a crater created during the last eruption of Mount Hakone some 3000 years ago. Today, much of the area is an active volcanic zone where sulfurous fumes, hot springs and hot rivers can be seen. Here you can purchase eggs, cooked in the naturally hot water, whose shells are blackened by the sulfur and which are said to prolong one’s life by seven years. Ate Rei loves eating the eggs, I think she is now immortal. 🙂 You can reach Owakudani by riding the Hakone Ropeway.

After our stop at Owakudani to buy black eggs, we went to Togendai for the Pirate Ships. The Hakone Sightseeing Ships, decked out like Disneyland versions of pirate ships, sailing across the lake from Togendai to Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi. This was a good chance for us to rest our feet and escape from the very cold wind in Lake Ashi. Here, Ate Rei ate all the eggs, while Sai sleeps 🙂

The morning after (we stayed at a Hotel in Hakone-machi), we strolled around Lake Ashi and the nearby trees which are already starting to show Autumn colors.

Lake Ashinoko was formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone after the volcano’s last eruption 3000 years ago. Today, the lake with Mount Fuji in the background is the symbol of Hakone. The lake’s shores are mostly undeveloped except for small towns in the east and north and a couple of lakeside resort hotels. Ate Rei wanted to try riding the paddle ducky boats. And we are all excited to be on board one of the ducky boats and cruised our way around the lake.

Before going back home, we ate lunch at a restaurant (there are lots of restaurants around the area) but Ate Rei still wants ice cream, despite the very cold weather.

So that was our quick visit to Hakone. There are still lots of places to visit in these areas but we will just save it till next time. 🙂