We had an early start, leaving on the 08.33 Hikari Shinkansen for Hakone.
We picked up breakfast at Lawson for the journey, and Chris got coffee from this very swanky machine. … a Hikari of course!
Our seats were on the right side of the train to see Mount Fuji, but cloud restricted view again and we were thwarted, but let’s hope we get another chance over the next few days.
Hakone is a popular resort town close to Tokyo and they have a slick sightseeing route called the Hakone Loop which takes in the main attractions and includes fives modes of transport. With our travel passes in hand, we were off!
Having dropped our luggage, we caught the bus which wound its way up the mountain and down the other side to Hakonemachi-ko on the shore of Lake Ashi.
After our early start, our lunch in a small cafe was most welcome. My Honjin Soba was delicious, topped with tiny mushrooms and Chris had vegetable curry and rice.
When we got married 15 years ago, we held our reception on a boat on the Thames, and we have celebrated with a boat trip every year since. This will be our third pirate ship and we didn’t want to miss the boat!
It was a lovely day on the lake …
… and here is the Torii of Peace, gateway to the historic Hakone Shrine on the hill above. Happy 15th Wedding Anniversary to us both!
The boat landed at Togendai and the Hakone Loop continued with cable cars on the ropeway …
… which climbs up and over the Hakone volcanic mountains to the newly renovated Owakudani Station with several viewpoints to the volcanic valley below.
It was certainly smelly, and the yellow of sulphur deposits was clear to see. We could have bought eggs cooked in the volcanic smoke, a popular souvenir, but the blackened eggs just didn’t appeal.
Next we took what is billed as a cable car, but is actually a funicular down to the town of Gora …
… and finally the train back to the start at Hakone by which time it was getting dark.
There are some very smart onsen and ryokan hotels here, but we chose the Aziko guesthouse in the town and have booked a Japanese room with futons.
I had booked a fancy restaurant in the next town for a special dinner, but we realised earlier in the day that getting there was too complicated and instead we cancelled and decided to find somewhere in Hakone. Chris was delighted when the best option was pizza at Mori, who have a real bread oven from Napoli! Mind you, very few places take reservations here and it is considered quite normal to wait outside till a table becomes free – maybe up to an hour! Fortunately, our wait was only 30 minutes, and the pizza was great!
We were so tired by the time we got back, we could have slept anywhere, but the futons proved surprisingly comfortable and the room snug and quiet.
