Hakone

Recently we took a trip to the Hakone area. This area is famous for hot springs and mountains. Maddie took a friend with us. It was a beautiful day!

We had beautiful views of Mt. Fuji everywhere we went. Fuji-san was looking quite majestic.

After several hours on the bus, our first stop was the hot springs. All over the mountain steam was billowing out of the ground. It was quite sulphorous and there were signs warning you not to stay too long because of possible poisonous gas. The views were great but it was quite stinky! This area is also famous for "black eggs." They cook the eggs in the hot spring water which somehow makes the outside of the shell black. The eggs were delicious but they just tasted like boiled eggs. Thank goodness they didn't taste like the area smelled!

We left the springs and got on a big gondola to take us down the mountain. There was a sign advising us that these gondolas have a Guiness World Record for most passengers.

As we headed down the mountain to Lake Ashi, we saw these amazing ships. We would soon be taking a ride in one of them.

Maddie and her friend Manami enjoyed playing around the lake's edge while we waited to board the ship.

It was a little cool and breezy on the ship. Madeleine took her hat off and her hair went flying!

The shop docked and we found ourselves in a quaint little lakeside town. They had a restored "checkpoint" area from the Edo period. They used to check your identification papers if you were traveling in this area back then. We had a nice noodle lunch at a lakeside restaurant and spotted the big swans on the lake.

Maddie, Minami and Vanessa took one out for a spin. They told me I was too big for them!

We hopped back on the bus and they took us to the Hakone shrine. The foliage was beautiful.

Entrance to the shrine.

There was a second shrine inside the bigger shrine. We think it was for children and it had this really interesting dragon fountain to wash your hands before entering. This water was drinkable!

Stairs to nowhere.

We left the shrine and went behind it in this area where there were no tourists and found these small shrines. It was enchanting not only because of the old shrines but because it was dark and deserted.

Vanessa looking lovely. After the shrine we got back on the bus and headed home. It really was a beautiful day!