This one was such a fab day that I feel it needs its own post.
There’s a place called Hakone sort of south of Tokyo, nearer Mt.Fuji and in a more naturey area than I’m used to. It’s very famous for its hotsprings and the eggs they cook in sulfurous springs, turning them black. Quite the novelty!
There’s quite a fun route that most people, including us, take to get round the main sights of Hakone. A very cool switchback train up the side of the mountain (which essentially zig cages to get up; incline all the way left, stop, change the tracks, then go the other way and incline right!), rope ways and funiculars, some normal busses, and then a pirate ship! Sadly we missed out on the pirate ship across the lake, as the weather got pretty bad, but it meant we had a great reason to go back.
Let me take you on a switchback journey…
Off we go!
Testing my new camera on the way there
Made it to the first station; ready to get the switchback train
The cute, old worldy train to take us up the mountain
Shrine, actually on a platform. Just for fun.
The views from the train were dead cool.
First switchback
Happy Mitch!
Another switchback 🙂
We got off the train and found an open-air museum which had looked incredibly beautiful on the way up. I’m not usually one for museums, but I really really loved this one. Everything was peaceful, interesting, and only in your face if you wanted it to be. It was essentially a mountainside park with some sculptures. We spent faaaar too long there and I still wanted to go back.
The etrance is even pretty!
Did they just give us gendered tickets? Hope not…..
Centusus?
Butterflies!
This was probably my favourite bit actually…. All these Daruma were saying the same rhyme over and over in different voices and speeds (while spinning) and it was a big murmur until you went among them and listened. I have always loved daruma.
Flowers looking for the outside
Creepy?
Look at that scenery!
Hole in the ground
The kids play areas were amazing. Stupid adult body.
A nice place to relax.
Love koi.
Argh!!
Can you spot us?
Another play area…
… WHY am I not small enough for this?!?!
Musical tower
Quick foot bath!
Once we managed to tear ourselves away from the pretty art garden we headed us the rest of the mountain… for some delicious eggs! We took a funicular to a rope-way and then spent a hilarious hour or two being blown around and trying to see through the mists. It made for some very pretty photos of the cable cars!
Back on the pretty switchback for one stop
Then to the funicular! It’s a lot steeper than it looks
Such a pretty ride
Rope way time
Mitch trying to stay calm at the heights
So green.
And suddenly, mist!
Cool huh?
Going over… something
We made it!
A nice little walking area
The water is all white!
Our black eggs!
Like a goth’s easter.
But they’re just like any other egg inside. Except also delicious.
One of the boiling pools
Don’t know.
This hallway was howling. So was Mitch.
And back down…
Look at our hair; the mist was really wet!
I didn’t even put a filter on this; the world was just sepia!
Now this is where it started to go a bit pear shaped. We intended to go from the cable car right onto the pirate ship, which would take us back to the bit where we’d get a bus back to the station. But! The waters were too choppy for the non-pirate captain, so we had to get a bus… only we didn’t have a clue were they went from or the times. So we spent a little time trying to figure out how on earth to get round the lake. We took a bit of a wander and did briefly consider stealing a swan boat… but that looked like we might die. Once we got the bus it took us back to where the ship would have done, and then we spent a little time wondering around there, getting munchies and checking out the trees. It was very atmospheric! We made a cat friend, and very reluctantly got on the bus to take us home.
The pirate ship we couldn’t take 😦
We went for a walk, briefly entertained the idea of taking these across the lake. They’re a bit scary though….
Looks like a set from a film somehow.
The random bus we managed to find in the middle of nowhere.
Empty!
We finally got back to where we aimed for… the size of this gate was amazing!
A bit choppy
I guess I can see why the boat was cancelled
Hakone shrine’s gate on the water.
New kitty friend
Dinner ham and cheese wrap; we actually went back for seconds!
We really enjoyed Hakone. It was a day we wished we could have done over two or three days to get everything in, so if you ever go, I recommend an overnight stay. But you can definitely do the good stuff in one day if you plan and the weather is in your favour 🙂
Have a funny Engrish picture to send you on your way with a smile:
Maisy In Japan 