Cont' Day 4 Hakone

So anyway, I suddenly recalled I haven't blogged about Day 4-8 of my Japan trip and yes it is long overdue. Like it's been 7 months?! And I'm going back again really soon! Excited much. So yes, let's continue shall we. Click the tags below "Japan" and you'll find the rest of my post.

Continuing Day 4; Owakudani/Hakone and Hakone Jinja

Photos from this post are taken using my iPhone 4. Very poor quality. But the camera battery died halfway! Bummer. But we have no choice yea.

Look at THAT perfect egg.

I love hard boiled eggs so so much!

Me, looking like a boy. Weather on top was super unbearable. I have to bundle my hair into my hat.

We made our way to Owakudani via cable car and boy was I excited. I wanted to eat those black eggs so badly! according to sources, those kuro-tamago(black egg) supposedly increase your lifespan (+7 years) Of course you're not suppose to take it seriously. But it makes it more fun to eat. The sulphur eggs come in packets of 5 and comes with packet of salt as dips. SO YUMMY! maybe I'm hungry, but I love the eggs!

Owakudani has sulphur points and it can get really hot. There's stairs up to see the sulphur water and I was sweating just to get there! That being said. The view was pretty breathe-taking. I love the color of the hills. There's also a store there that sells hello-kitty collab stuff with the kuro-tamago and also some Fuji-San merchandise.

This place looks straight out from a Japanese story book.

Next! We continued with the cable car ride followed by a ship ride to get to the Hakonemachi-ko for the Hakone Jinja! The ride was pretty memorable. Too bad Fuji-San was hiding from our sights.

Made our way to the temple and we were greeted by rows and rows of hydrangeas! So gorgeous. It's amazing why these pretty flowers are on the streets #onlyinjapan

I love the quiet route to the shrine. Also, those huge tori gates are one of my favorite sites!
I don't have a clear photo of those tori gates. Cause photos taken in dimly lit areas tend to be very grainy! Doesn't do the place justice.

Left the place really late and I thought we would get stranded over there. thankfully not! I think we got lucky and managed to catch the last bus out of Hakone.

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All in all, you need at least 2 full days to get a full taste of Hakone.
It was a pretty tight one-day trip. But I'm glad I went there nonetheless!



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Day 4 Hakone, Japan (Chokokunomori)

Previous Posts:

Tokyo Day 1 (Asakusa/Odaiba, Part 1)

Tokyo Day 1 (Asakusa/Odaiba Part 2)

Tokyo Day 2 (Tsukiji)

Tokyo Day 2 (Shinjuku)

Tokyo Day 3 (DisneySea, Part 1)

Tokyo Day 3 (DisneySea, Part 2)

Tokyo Day 3 (DisneySea, Part 3)

Day 4 in Japan

Initially on itinerary, I'd planned a 1 day trip each to Hakone, Kamakura, Nikko. But unfortunately, Tokyo is just too big. Hence we just settled on Hakone just because I really wanted to go to Mt Fuji! And Hakone is the region for that. Lots of photos taken on this day so much so that the camera battery died halfway. So expect a photo-heavy post here!


Here's how to get to Hakone:
from Shinagawa via JR Tokaido Line to Odawara; 1,280yen (76mins)
buy Hakone day pass at Odawara; 3,900 yen
Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto; Free via Hakone day pass

Here's me reading the map. I'm like a map-junkie. I love(?) finding my way around with a map. Wonder why people say females can't read map. Hello there, I can.

You can get the Hakone Day Pass + area map at the information counter at Odawara. The map is really useful and easy to read with pictorials and more. Most tourist information counter has English speaking staff. Hence, travelling in Japan is relatively easy!

So here's 1/3 of the Hakone rail and ropeway station map. I underestimated this place. You will need a good 2-3 days to more or less explore this area.

Everytime you see this sign on any transport, it's free with the day pass!

First stop: Chokokunomori

Places of Interest: Hakone Open-Air Museum

Pretty Hydrangeas along the railway!

Super excited to explore the vast museum. It's really huge! You'll need about 3 hours over here.

From here onwards would be photos taken in the museum!

Gotta love the Japanese for wonderful architecture designs. Here's the Picasso exhibition within the museum. No photo taking allowed in there.

Finally a pit-stop to take a break from the scorching heat. Pleasant cafe here!

Posters for sell. Also lots of other souvenirs you can buy to bring back.

Here comes the beautiful but intimidating stain-glass spiral stairway. Not easy to climb up cause you'll (eventually) get giddy midway. But the view above is pretty good. 

And that rounds up the first stop at Hakone!

Next up, onward to Owakudani (:

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