Hakone is situated around Lake Ashinoko with views of Mount Fuji. The town has created a touring circuit called the Hakone Round Course. The round course makes it's way from the train station through the mountains, on the lake and back again by bus, boat, train and ropeway. This is such a cool concept, the modes of transportation make traveling the area interesting and provides a way for folks to see everything (well almost) and get back to the start of their journey.
Our journey started in Tokyo with a ride on the Shinkansan. This was my first time on the fast train, that was cool!
We arrived at Odawara Station and purchased our tickets for the Odakyu Line to get to Hakone-Yumoto Station for a trip on the Hakone Tozan Railway.
The ride on this train takes visitors up a mountain by way of switchbacks. The train climbs the side of the mountain by going up then across and up and across three times. Again, I have no pictures during the ride because the train was packed. But it was steep and the views were pretty cool.
One site I would have liked to seen was the wild boar!
Since we got to Hakone so early we could not check into our room, so we toured the Hakone Open Air Museum, an outdoor sculpture museum. This is near the Chokokounomori stop.
One little issue with our travels - the cold and snow followed use everywhere!
So, while we did not get snow on this day, the freezing wind was like hurricane force coming down the mountain. I could here sirens, which I believe were probably wind warnings for the area.
But we pressed on despite the weather and enjoyed the sites. Unfortunately we did not enjoy the foot onsen since the temperature was just too cold for us to take our shoes off.
We stayed a few hours, which is about the time needed to walk around and enjoy all the sites, and had lunch at the Hakone Yamucharow dim sum restaurant on the grounds of the museum. The food was good and not too expensive. There are only a few food choices and I saw only one restaurant open on the walk from the station to the museum, so we chose to eat in the museum for fear of not eating until dinner.
One thing I read on many blogs about Hakone, is up around the Gora area many business, including restaurants close early; I found this to be very true! Even the vendors by the train station close early.
We managed to score a bag of mikans and red bean paste cakes before closing.
Luckily we ordered dinner when making room reservations at the Gora Ichinoyu ryokan.
*Tip be sure to find out how far your hotel is from the station so you know if you need a cab. Again I found some info about this place and that the walk was possible but not with too much luggage, the journey is all uphill. Good thing we only travel with backpacks!
**We saw a few cabs at the station, but I am not sure how late they stay.
Finally, in our room, and the reason why we picked this ryokan
In room (on balcony) onsen!!!!!
This was put to use immediately, and although it looks small 2 adults can fit in there.
Here is the view. Quiet and private.
All meals were kaiseki style
*Tip, if you do not like an overabundance of seafood ask for a vegetarian selection.
Next post a day on the Hakone Round Course
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