Tokyo Spring 2010 Day 10 (MJ ver)
01 July, 2010 by MJ
Highlights for Japan day 10, Hakone! 200% tourist destination.
After a sleepy 2 hour train ride through farm lands, we finally arrives at Hakone! In case you didn’t know, Hakone is famous for hot springs, natural beauty and the view of nearby Mt Fuji. This was about the closest we’ll get to Mt Fuji without actually climbing it. So yea, Hakone is sort of a must visit.
Soba lunch
Yes Wilson was on his soba rampage again. He practically dragged us into the soba restaurant can. But it was OK though, we got to see this lady that Chad swears was Sayumi’s sister. They looked so alike. The service lady mentioned our Japanese was impressive… because Chad & Wilson ordered in Japanese.
Sulfur much?
Apart from touristy shops and food, the real highlight of this place for me were the impressive looking and smelling sulfur springs at Owakudani. Had to take multiple train rides and cable cars to reach the place. The view of the springs, 300 meters up from the cable car was nothing short of spectacular. The smell though, was another story. Even at 300 meters up in the cable car, the smell of sulfur was, phew.
It was all good still comfy until we stepped out at the station. At over a 1000m above sea level, I instantly froze when the wind started to remind us tropical people, that we don’t belong up there. Yes, the extra layers of protection I bought yesterday was put to good use here. CK gloves win! 
+7 years Eggs
The main point of this place were the sulfur boiled eggs. After marching all the way to the top of the springs, we found this shop selling freshly boiled eggs. 5 eggs for 500¥!
The shell turns out black when boiled here, and people from all over, even locals flock to this place to try them. It’s also said that each egg will add 7 years to your life. I had 1, the rest of them had 2 each. According to Chad though, it tastes like Singapore eggs. I agree.
Mini cruise
After we had enough of harmful sulfurous fumes, we headed back down to get on this tacky looking pirate shop for a cruise around Lake Ashinoko. From this lake we would see Mt Fuji, but that didn’t happen. Cloudy skies. Had a ball of a time snapping random cam whore shots after the cruise ended at the harbor. Sunset lighting = photo frenzy.
Ended the day with dinner at Freshness Burger, before enduring another 2 hour train ride back to our hotel. Phew. Tiring day.
Photo Tour!
It takes a bit of rail jumping to get from Tokyo to Hakone.
It's going to be a welcome break from all the urban stuff we've been looking at the past week.
In the mist of switching trains. Even the locals get lost in transfers. Clueless looks all round.
We had tourist badges, so it was ok for us to look lost. lol!
Finally found the Odakyu line to Hakone.
There was a conversation going on skin cracking and nails breaking because of the weather. Yes I love my CK gloves! xD
The line was a special one with touristy stops, and the route map showed the various attractions at each stop.
Rural views. Awesome.
Random button along the stops.
Hotels along the way. At this point we were considering staying at the hotels if we couldn't make it back in time. The last train back to Toyko departs rather early.
Hakone Station!
It has wavey roofs.
Streets filled with tourist traps!
Oh it's Hakone-Yumoto station to be exact.
Sightseeing map. Apparently there are some awesome views of Mt Fuji in the area.
Started our walk down the streets.
They make their snacks in the stores. Fragrant smells hit us the moment we walked by.
Mega hungry for some lunch. Decided to step into the next restaurant we came across.
Came across this scenic looking bridge.
Which sent everyone into photo snapping mode. Chad mastered the 'tourist style' photo taking pose.
Wilson eventually dragged us back into this soba restaurant.
With the largest table ashtray I've ever seen.
Nice, warm and cozy decor. We saw a Sayumi lookalike here. Totally awestruck. No pics, sorry. lol.
Wilson's soba craze.
Chad's seafood mix.
My Curry katsu-don! I was so hungry, finished it in record time.
Told ourselves we would get snacks from here before heading back to Tokyo.
Train station, or, was it tram station.
I wanted to get some ice-cream, but Chad and Wilson was already in the queue.
Hakone was a few kilometres above sea level, so we had to ride these special trains up the mountain.
Built by the swiss.
Long queue, but it moves surprisingly fast. I really hate queues, but because it was so cold, it was actually nice and warm to stand among crowds so they can block the wind.
Here we go!
After all the people coming down alighted, we boarded! And boy was it a squeeze.
After 15 mintues or so on the slanted train, we're here! Hakone Ropeway station! FREEZING ZOMG.
Wilson mastered the camwhore with DSLR pose.
We still had to go higher. Cable car it was.
Bought this not to drink, but to keep my hands warm haa
Getting in line for the cable car ride up.
Tons of tourist, mainly from China.
Each car fits a surprising amount of people. About 10?
Quite spacious actually.
Halfway into the ride we were 300m above the sulphur springs. The smell was omg.
Stopped at this station. Sulphur springs.
Owakudani, 1044m above sea level!
In here, warm. Out there, COLD!
View of the place.
Ventured out into the cold, had to go eat some famous eggs.
Shoot what?
Snow! Pity it wasn't snowing when we were there.
In short, you can die if you stay too long here.
Trekking up.
I think that's the name of the plant.
Looking back at the Ropeway station. Oh yea we trekked quite a distance.
More stair climbing!
Reaching soon. The smell of sulphur got stronger as we approached the vents.
And we're here! At this point the smell wasn't very overwhelming. I think we got used to it on the climb up.
Proceeded to buy these famous long life eggs.
According to them every egg you eat extends your life by 7 years.
Everyone here is going to live a long long time at the rate they're eating.
PRCs everywhere!
Here's how the egg looks like. Yes i have scary hands.
According to Chad it tastes like Singapore eggs. It does.
Decided to commemorate this life extending moment with a group shot!
And now, we have to trek back down.
And we did.
Filling our cards with scenery shots.
This sign mentions how the sulphur crater was formed about 3000 years ago. 3000 years man!
It was so cold, i decided to get ice-cream to battle the cold from the inside. lol.
That was it for sulphur and eggs.
Took the cable car again to another station.
Chad with his touristy shot.
This ride was THE most scenic one yet. The sun was low, and the golden light all around was awesome.
It felt like a roller coaster moment here. After the rides at DisneySea we though the cable car was going to plunge.
See the lake on the left? That's where we're headed.
There was a station midway. No one got off. xD
Wilson with this emo tourist shot.
Chad decided to join in.
So beautifullll!!!
Here we are, Hakone sightseeing cruise!
Ye be ridin this ship yea' matey.
No seriously this was a 'pirate ship', with real, pirates on board.
I don't know, this sign made me laugh so hard. I had the image of some pour tourist getting smacked by the door.
Docks to the ship. I helped a Singaporean couple take their picture here. I must have looked Singaporean.
This was the actual name of the erm, harbour.
I was walking around outside while Chad and Wilson figured out the logistics and timing. hahah. Evils.
After about 45 mintues of waiting it was time to board!
Ship details.
Chad says this was a failed pirate ship.
Ah well at least it was detailed!
Sunset cruise. Oh yes. Awesome.
Titanic moment was spoiled by PRCs and insanely cold winds.
This was interesting. All sorts of sailor knots.
Chad says we were supposed to be able to see Mt.Fuji on this cruise.
But no we didn't get to see it. Too foggy.
I did manage to get some awesome pics of these 2 hooded guys doing camera poses.
If you ran these series in a .gif, it would be quite funny.
South park x1.
Was trying an emo shot before a PRC decided to cut in behind xD.
No matter, we enjoyed the rest of the cruise.
Docked at this place.
I saw several ducks slowly take off from the water here, under the golden sun. It's one of those National Geographic moments that take your breath away.
This was our cruise. Green! teal... or, turquoise.
Details details details!
With the docks cleared and under the sunset light, Wilson once again decided to practice his camwhore pose.
I joined in a bit later. hahaha~
So beautiful!!!
Wide view.
Wilson hard at work.
I want a shot too!
I don't know.
Where we were. Managed to catch a bus back all the way to Hakone station. It was a long, long ride.
Stopped at the department store near the station for some supplies.
Wilson stepped on some eggs outside. Funny no? It's like who puts raw eggs in the middle of the street.
Our latest addiction.
I heard they're opening a store in Singapore soon.
I remember trying to order the kids meal. OH COME ON, i can't read japanese!!!
DINNER!
Awesome CK gloves, that served me well today in the freezing winds. Much love. That was it for the day. Another long train ride back to Tokyo.
Born and raised in Singapore, MJ earns his keep by pushing pixels around as a media designer. Other jobs include getting paid taking pictures, as well as being a full time fanboy for all things cool & kawaii. MJ shoots with a Canon 5DmkII.
