I woke up very early at 5am, waiting for the first sun rays to penetrate through our window. Finally at 5.30am, it sky lit up and the rain has stopped. The leaves of the trees outside our window drips the rainwater left from the rainy night. We were desperate for a bath. We decided to take our time. At 8am, the bath was open and we slipped into our yukata and head for a bath and then the hot spring (onsen). Our heater finally heated up the whole room. We were comfortable with no complaints about the room. Now the room felt value for money.
Outside was still cold but bearable. At 8am, we were the only ones at the onsen. Good. We observed the onsen etiqutte.
1. Be naked
2. Shower and wash ourselves clean
The onsen was very hot. We had to dip bit by bit of ourselves in order to get accustomed to the temperature. The onsen was so comfortable. It took away most of our disappointment that we had about the hotel. It was prrr...fect. Ah...
We only managed to dip for slightly about 5min before we need to get out and take a shower again to reduce our body temperature. We are getting a little light-headed. Getting back in the second time was much easier. But after about 5min, my head was spinning already. While getting dressed, I had to sit myself on the bench to recover before returning back to our room. I don't want to fall down the stairs. Kaiyi got a headache for the rest of the day. Weak lah.
The onsen was very hot. We had to dip bit by bit of ourselves in order to get accustomed to the temperature. The onsen was so comfortable. It took away most of our disappointment that we had about the hotel. It was prrr...fect. Ah...
We only managed to dip for slightly about 5min before we need to get out and take a shower again to reduce our body temperature. We are getting a little light-headed. Getting back in the second time was much easier. But after about 5min, my head was spinning already. While getting dressed, I had to sit myself on the bench to recover before returning back to our room. I don't want to fall down the stairs. Kaiyi got a headache for the rest of the day. Weak lah.
Finally with the nice weather, we can take some photos of the hotel. After climbing about 85 steps, we finally reached the front door of the hotel.
These are the steep steps leading to the front door. This is half of what we had to climb.
Hakone-Yumoto station entrance. There is a bridge that links the station to across the road.
After the onsen, we left our backpack at the hotel and decided to properly visit Hakone again. Before setting off, we went around searching for breakfast. We spotted some buns.
But they were not ready for business yet. Still preparing more to cater for the tourists who will stream in throughout the day.
The buns have red bean paste as fillings and they will be put into a traditional steamer to be "cooked" again. Eventually we managed to have one after our breakfast. It tasted like our Chinese brown 发糕 with read bean paste filling. Very sweet.
Most of the shops were still closed when we were already out and about looking for food. The Hakone residents are really laid back people.
We decided to try 7-11.
Found breakfast in boiled and deep fried forms.
Kaiyi enjoying her deep fried chicken nuggets.
The Hakone Tozan train. The morning was packed with tourists who had just arrived.
We waited for the next train that was quite empty.
When the weather is good, everyone is happy.
Views from the Hakone Tozan train.
It was still a cloudy day with the clouds hanging pretty low. I had a strong feeling that Mt Fuji was feeling shy.
The cable car was as packed as the day before.
School children.
The ropeway.
With good weather, we had a good view of the outside of our ropeway cabin. We were dangerously high but the view was magnificent. How tiny and insignificant are we compared to God's creations.
A cabin full of school children.
The bird's eye view of Owakudani.
Owakudani
Nearing the station with the view of first sight of autumn.
The clouds were very low when we were high up at Owakudani.
Owakudani = Great Boiling Valley
Read about Owakudani.
We were trying to figure out where is Mt Fuji from the picture.
Here's Mt Fuji, hidden behind the clouds. Moments after this photo was taken, Mt Fuji was reduced to a faint jaggered grey line on nature's canvas.
So we decided to eat. Hmm...so many things to choose from.
We decided on Jagabe.
Jagabe with a huge serving of butter. Sinful.
Thirsty? Have a QOO! We brought the bottle back.
Then we shared a small sweet potato. I never like sweet potatoes, but the way the couple of dozen of primary school children were savouring their sweet potato prompted me to give it a go. Despite being dry and a little undercooked, it tasted better than the orange sweet potatos that we usually eat with bo bo cha cha. Still, sweet potato is not making it into my favourites list.
Tamago = Eggs
They don't sell them individually. You have to buy them in 5s. The eggs were boiled in hot springs. The boiled eggs turn black. It was said that eating one will increase 7 years of your life span. But I guess if you consume too much, you might die early of heart attack.
The eggs were pipping hot. So me, feeling cold, decided to shove the hot pack inside my down jacket. Comfortable. While walking to continue our ride on the ropeway, the packet of eggs slipped out of my jacket like a hen laying her eggs. An old man walking beside me was surprised to see eggs slipping out of me and exclaimed excitedly, "AH! TAMAGO!". Two eggs were pretty crushed so we had to finish them, leaving the yoke uneaten. The three remaining eggs became breakfast for our last day in Tokyo.
Leaving Owakudani behind.
Autumn colours.
Lake Ashi.
The weather was fine and we get to get on the deck to take some photos and enjoy the very very strong breeze.
We decided to not take the bus back to Hakone-Yumoto. We wanted to do something different from the first day and hence took the ropeway, cable car and train in the opposite direction back to Hakone-Yumoto. If you are in a hurry, I suggest taking the bus from Togendai back.
(Photo: Maggie)
We went back to Kappa Tengoku to collect our stuff and return back to Ikebukuro. Hakone trip wasn't so bad afterall. There are many other things to see in Hakone. It's a pity that we did not have enough time to visit them except Owakudani. We will be back.
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