Japan Travel Log - Day 8 (Hakone)

Finally found some time to write about my 2nd day in Hakone.

The 3 of us woke up quite early but apparently not as early as Hiro. He had been down to the lounge for his morning cuppa and had taken his morning walk around the premise. Then, he gave us a call and politely told us to get our butts down to the lobby to enjoy whatever remained of the morning's fresh air.

With still some time on our hands before having to meet Hiro, the three of us headed to the communal bathing complex to satisfy Judy's curiosity, and mine too! Ivee had been there the night before although she didn't take a dip.

Entrance to the communal spa/baths

Aerial view of the resort. Taken from the lounge outside the baths.

Upon entering the place, we headed towards the bath area and were greeted by two doors, one on either side of a passage way. And in front of each door hung the typical cloth found in front of japanese doorways. One was red (on the left), the other was blue (on the right) and on each was written a chinese character of which I recognised the one on the red cloth to mean 'Lady'. But I wasn't exactly confident that I'd read it right.

Anyway, Ivee said let's enter the door on the right but Judy and I were doubtful. Judy said it's more likely that the left door was the correct one because it's red and usually red (or pink) is used to signify the female form. Besides, as I said before, the chinese character looked kinda like the word 'nui' to me, which means 'lady'.

But Ivee was very sure that last night she had seen a woman come out of the door on the right so she's absolutely sure that's the women's bathing area.

Still doubtful, Judy & I followed Ivee through the right door into the changing area which had lockers and baskets to put your personal effects. No one was around.

Area for storing cloths and personal effects

Dressing area. There's even a baby crib here.

At this point, Judy refused to go any further, still unsure we had entered the correct door. Ivee and I went on into the cleansing area where you're supposed to scrub down first before entering the bath proper. Still no one was around.

I could go no further as the little voice inside my head kept sounding alarm bells. Just as I was retracing my steps I saw, in a corner, a communal bathing area that I'd not seen before on my way inside, and there sitting by the bath was a MAN!

AARRGGH! A MAN! Stark naked! But thankfully he was sitting cross legged. HA HA HA! LOL!

The communal bath. [this was taken from the ladies side ;-)]

I tip-toed out of there as fast as I could. Don't think I've ever tip-toed that quickly in my life. I don't think the man saw me (sheepish grin).

Soon after Ivee also came through the door and after relating the tale to Judy, we cleared the place as fast as we could. But not before a good laugh at our blunder :-)

After that little 'adventure', we headed down to the lobby to meet Hiro (who naturally laughed at our mistake), took some photos of the landscape and proceeded to check out.

After checking out, we drove back the way we came yesterday, down into town and stopped at the spot where Ivee, Judy & I were to take the boat (in the form of a pirate ship) to start our adventure.

You see, Hiro had planned it such that he would leave us and let us get back to Omori on our own devices. But of course only after having left us clear instructions as to how to do that every step of the way. In fact, I think he was more worried than we were about our journey back because he kept repeating himself. Many times over! Probably thought we needed the information drummed into our heads. Which, in retrospect, was a good thing I suppose because we made it back without a hitch.

First, we have to take the pirate ship at Motohakone across Lake Ashi to Togendai Station to board a cable car (which they call the Hakone Ropeway). The cable car will take us up to Owakudani (the sulphur vents area), where we'll get off to check out the place, and then proceed again by cable car to Sounzan station where we're to take the funicular (which by the way is called the Hakone Tozan Cablecar in Japan. Very confusing!) down the mountain. After the funicular, we must board the train at Gora station, alight at Odawara Station and take the bullet train back to Tokyo where we're to change to the express train and then forward to Omori.

Hiro obtained a map for each of us, so.. no fear. :-)

Before we said our goodbyes, Hiro told us to visit the old path made during the Edo period which travellers used. Had he told us to go farther in so as to visit the Amazake Chaya Tea House as well (which is also very very old) to have tea (only knew of this place after returning home and checking the net), it would have made the visit to the Stone-Paved Road a lot more meaningful. As it were, we just snapped photos again.

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The following is our 'journey' back to Tokyo chronicled by photos and sectioned into the various modes of transport we took:

(1) FIRST LEG: THE PIRATE SHIP across LAKE ASHI

(2) THE ROPEWAY (cablecar) STATION

(3) ARRIVAL at OWAKUDANI (which was enveloped in mist because of the downpour)

Only the cable lines were visible, everything else was enveloped in thick mist

Arrival at the Owakudani station

A brief clear glimpse of the sulphur vents as the mist momentarily lifts

The Owakudani Station in the background

Waiting for our lunch.

A warning sign just before the path up to the hotspring and sulphur area

The little hut where the famous Owakudani Black Eggs are made. Ordinary eggs are put into the hotspring and emerge black, the exterior totally coated in soot.

The belief is that for every one of these eggs consumed, you will gain 7 additional years to your life.

Ivee trying to keep her umbrella upright against very strong gusts of wind

(4) ON THE WAY DOWN from OWAKUDANI:

View of the sulphur vents taken from our cable car. Looks like a scene from the LORD OF THE RINGS movies :-)


Brrr.... Trying to keep myself warm with some steaming hot sweet potatoes.

(5) THE FUNICULAR taking us downhill.

View from the funicular

Checking my map to see if we're on track and where our next stop is.

(6) THE TRAIN downhill to ODAWARA station.

But we made a little stop along the way at Hakone Yumoto for a bit of sight-seeing.

Boarding the train


Waiting in the coach to take us to the Toy Museum

Remember these? The days before we had Playstation and whatever it is kids have now.

The garden outside the museum


Trying some sweetcakes at one of the shops in Yumoto

Our fellow passengers on board the train heading to our final stop at Odawara Station

School had just let out. Cute little schoolgirls everywhere, going home alone without adult supervision. With the crime rate in Malaysia, this is unthinkable but not in Japan.

(7) THE FINAL LEG: THE SHINKANSEN (Bullet Train)

Taking a rest.....

Satisfied but tired....

..and Ivee... indulging in her favourite pastime. HAHAHA! LOL

Whew! What an adventure. We made it back to our hotel safe and sound totally proud of our teamwork and achievement in navigating the trip back from Hakone (in a country that hardly speaks English).

And that's the end of my travel log. Tomorrow, Judy will be flying off to another workshop with Michiko further north while Ivee and I will be boarding our flight home.

Before I conclude, I'd like to say thank you to Hiro for making my trip possible; to the Japanese line dancers for their warmth and for making my workshop with them memorable; to Judy for her friendship and the laughter; and to Ivee for her companionship throughout the trip and also for putting up with me (^<>^)/ Love ya all!

SAYONARA TOKYO! But hopefully not for too long :-)