Moving along

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From Tokyo it was a short Shinkansen ride to Hakone. This resort area in the mountains hosts many onsen (the majority of which we later found were only open to customers staying at the specific hotels, but cool anyways), lots of hotels, and great views of Mount Fuji from Lake Ashino-ko. We took our time working our way up the mountain by bus. The extra luggage was shipped ahead to Kyoto so we didn't have too much to carry. Lunch at the famous Fuijiya Hotel, the first Western style hotel in Japan. I must say the food was not outstanding, but the architecture and style of the building was worth our 40 minute wait in their lounge. Arriving at the Fuji-Hakone Guest House we were quickly welcomed by the busy hosts. A little disappointment when we found the bathrooms were to be shared and the only showers on the first floor. Plus I think Mom and Dad were a little doubtful about their first night sleeping in futons on the tatami mat floors. Like Mom said, "it's just like camping again!" (but with a heater). On the plus side the guest house boasted both an indoor and outdoor bath filled with the sulfurous water from a nearby former volcanoe. We reserved our space at the bath and headed out for a walk in the small town of Sengouku. Great cocktails at a cute but small bar/cafe, and somehow Dad managed to find a steakhouse in the tiny mountain Japanese village.

During our stay in Hakone we slowly realized how much there is to offer at this popular Japanese vacation destination. Cruises across the lake to view Mount Fuji, hikes among enormous ancient Cedar trees, a steep hike into the mountains (thanks for the "ganbatte" go for it spirit, Dad) to find a famous tea house, amazing art museums (a tribute to the French artist Lalique), and eggs boiled in the sulfurous waters on the mountainside. Those eggs smelled so bad! I don't care how famous they are or how good they supposedly are for your body...the smell on the entire mountainside turned my stomache more than once.

The last day we made a stop at Tenzan onsen. Now that was a great idea! A beautiful, old-style (yet I think pretty new, or meticulously cared for) onsen on the mountainside with amazing outdoor baths, a nap area, and healthy restaraunt to finish the stay. On our way out of town we noticed the bumper to bumper traffic of Japanese families working their way into the moutain for New Year's. Yet we were headed the other way, our noses pointed towards Kyoto.

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Photos

Fujiya Hotel
Lookin' cute in front of the gardens.

A pirate's life for me
Yes, our Hakone passes required us to ride on the big purple carribbean people eater ship.

Fuji from Ashino-ko
Pirates, Fuji and me

End of the line
Famous tea house at the end of our hike (caught the bus back to the lake!)