Japan - Hakone and views of Mount Fuji

From Yokohama it was on to Hakone. We had our first experience riding the famous Shinkansen “bullet” train. I have to say that, compared to air travel, Japan’s high-speed trains are a very pleasant way to get from point A to point B. Our seats had a USB charging station, large windows, and plenty of legroom. It did make me wish that we had more options for train travel in the US.

Hakone is a scenic mountain area that is known for its many different types of transportation. The Hakone “Loop” is a circular tourist route that includes a private railway, a cable car, a ropeway, and a sightseeing pirate ship.

The Ropeway was probably our favorite part of the loop. Suspended in the gondola, you go directly over the Odwakudani  volcanic area’s sulphur vents and hot springs. You can get off at the Odwakudani station and try a very popular “black Sulphur egg” – hard boiled eggs cooked in the hot spring. Supposedly, eating one adds seven years to your life, but the smell and thought of eating one wasn’t worth it to me! What was worth it, were the amazing views we had of Mount Fuji. We were very lucky to be there on a clear day; like Denali, Mount Fuji is often obscured by clouds.

We continued down the ropeway to Lake Ashinoko, where we picked up the overcrowded (and a bit overrated) Pirate Sightseeing cruise. It was a little bit too chilly to sit out on deck, so we headed inside to find a seat. There were so many tourists on our boat that there was nowhere to sit on the first leg. On the second leg, we found seats but not near a window, so it wasn’t much of a “sightseeing” cruise for us. I imagine when the weather is warmer, it’s a great way to see the beauty of the Lake Ashinoko area.

Our hotel (Hyatt Hakone) was spectacular, though. Our room was enormous and had pretty views of the mountain forest, there was a complimentary happy hour for all guests, and it had a traditional Japanese onsen bath house/spa. Plus, they gave us some sweet-looking pajamas to walk around in! Well, technically it’s called a yukata, and it’s not really pajamas but a traditional casual summer kimono. Many of the other guests wore theirs throughout the hotel, but we only wore them when we headed down to the onsen for an evening soak. A great way to unwind after a long day of sightseeing!