Japan - Day 6 (Mt Fuji)

After a warm and relaxing hot spring followed by a good night sleep last night, we woke up on day 6 feeling so energised and ready to do some outdoor sight seeings, i.e. Mt Fuji. Coupled with a good and healthy breakfast, we were ready!

Our breakfast. Very fresh and just nice

Energised Stephen & Lily

Breakfast - 1

Breakfast - 2

Breakfast - 3

Breakfast - 4

Breakfast - 5

Breakfast - 6

We took Hakone Tozan Railway from Odawara Station to Gora before changing to cable car towards Lake Ashi. The train took approximately 35 minutes to get to Gora. It's only 5km straight line distance but because the train was going uphill, it was moving so slowly that walking might just be faster, only if you have enough stamina. :D From Gora, we changed to Hakone Ropeway to get to the top of the hill. If the weather was good, can have a clear view of Mt. Fuji.

Lily in Hakone Tozan Railway

Views of Hakone mountains

Us in cable car from Gora

Mei Lee spotted the mountain with 'mountain' character, while waiting for Hakone Ropeway

Going up the hill via Hakone Ropeway

While on the ropeway, we passed by Owakudani, an area around a crater created in the last eruption Mount Hakone about 3000 years ago. You can see from the photos below, the sulfur still fumes and if walk around the area, there's plenty of hot springs and hot rivers.

Sulfurous fumes - 1

Sulfurous fumes - 2

Sulfurous fumes - 3

Because Owakudani has so much hot sulfur, natural hot springs and rivers, their famous food is non other than boiled eggs in natural hot water. Its called "famous black eggs". It is said that one egg will add seven years to your life. Somehow I got the impression that it will take 7 years off your life. :) None of these bother us and we bought a packet to try it out. It taste just like ordinary boiled eggs.

Even Hello Kitty is in Black Egg suit

Our packet of black eggs

The charcoal black eggs

The people here really like things to be in black. Even the ramen is black!

When we reached Lake Ashi, we could smell the freshness of the air and the scenery were just breathtaking. It was so peaceful, green, water was calm, not populated with tourist. Too good!

Lake Ashi was formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone after the volcano's last eruption 3000 years ago. Apparently, this lake is one of the symbols of Hakone and offers the best view of Mt. Fuji. Clouds and poor visibility often block the view of Mt. Fuji and that was what happened to us. A little bit disappointed but nonetheless the other scenery were just as good. At least we saw Mt. Fuji from the plane! :D

Lake Ashi - 1

Lake Ashi - 2

Lake Ashi - 3

Lake Ashi - 4

Lake Ashi - 5

Lake Ashi - 6

Mt Fuji in between of two mountains - blocked by thick clouds - 1

Mt Fuji in between of two mountains - blocked by thick clouds - 2

Mt. Fuji view from brochure

Sunburn Stephen & Lily :D

Lily in Lake Ashi town

Us in Lake Ashi town

Lily with her favourite cartoon character "Totoro"

Lake Ashi - 7

Lake Ashi - 8

Hear no evil, Speak no evin, See no evil

We spent a considerable amount of time in Lake Ashi, hoping we could get a glimpse of Mt. Fuji. We left the place empty handed. But there was another that we were looking forward to, dinner at our hotel. After our dinner last night and breakfast in the morning, we were expecting our dinner to be as authentic as it can get and it was!

We were rushing back for our 6pm dinner time. If we were late by 15 minutes, they would assume we were not coming back for dinner and all the cooked food will end up in the bin. No food should be in the bin, especially good food! When we reached Kansuiro, it was close to 6pm and the staffs were actually waiting for us at the front door, holding our in-door slippers. Once again, very good service.

Our starter

Tofu with bacon topped with salmon roe

Tamago topped with sweet & sour sauce

Fresh sashimi

Seafood platter

Seafood soup

Pan fried king fish with egg sauce

Sirloin steak

Our vegetable dish with lots of fish eggs

Vegetable tempura

Preserved carrots and cabbage

After our dinner, we started to wonder how long does it take the kitchen to prepare the food with such nice and detailed presentation. That's cooking with passion!