Hakone, Japan

Hakone Ropeway

They say it's not about the destination, it is the journey that counts. Our trip to Hakone included a subway, bullet train, scenic mountain train, funicular, gondola, ferry, bus and a taxi to reach our final destination of a traditional Japanese hot springs bathhouse…. and getting there was half the fun!

Bullet Train

 

We started out in the morning leaving our hotel which was located adjacent to Tokyo Station. We were the guests of the Yamauchi family who met us and together we awaited the bullet train, which was another first for me. The train with its sleek, long nose pulled into the gate. An entire cleaning crew hurried through the cabin, dusting and sweeping the cars and then changing the seat direction as they put down fresh covers on the headrests. Our journey out of Tokyo lasted only 30 minutes and I am told we reached speeds of 320 km/hour or 198 mph.

Mountain train

The next leg of our trip was the scenic Hakone-Tozan Railway Line. Hakone-Tozan This is a mountain railway composed of several small trains. The cars carry you up into the mountains around scenic vistas. In order to ascend the steepest sections, three switchbacks are involved. At each one, the driver and conductor trade cars and turn the train in the opposite direction.

Funicular

Gondola

Halfway up the mountain, we caught a ride on a funicular very much like the Pittsburgh inclines. From there, we boarded the Hakone Ropeway which is a gondola that carried us above the Owakundai area which is a crater filled with sulfurous fumes and hot springs that were visible from high above in our gondola. Owakudani The car also afforded us great views of nearby Mt. Fuji.

View of hot springs

Mt. Fuji

At the top of the mountain, we changed cars and rode another gondola down the backside of the mountain toward Lake Ashinko.  This is a popular tourist destination for those looking for a break from nearby Tokyo.

Lake Ashinko

Ferry

 Once we reached the lake we boarded a Viking inspired ferry that carried us across the lake where we boarded a bus that carried us around the lake to a bus depot in the area of the hot rivers and bathhouses. From there, we took a cab up the hill to our destination. See Japanese guesthouses in Hakone

As we arrived at the bathhouse, we were greeted at the front door and given slippers since you always remove your shoes upon entering. Our hostess provided us with traditional kimonos, socks and a jacket to wear over the kimono since it was a cool night. We changed into our outfits, pausing for photos. Next, we went downstairs where the men's and women's changing rooms lead to the separate baths. See Fukuzumi

Blowfish

After a relaxing soak in the sulfurous, warm water, we dressed in our costumes and returned to our private room for the evening. Our waitress brought us plate after plate of traditional Japanese dishes... so many.... that I lost count after ten. Just like dinner in any culture, we had good food and good cheer with our hosts making it the perfect end to a perfect day. Completely relaxed and content, we change back into our street clothes and took the quicker, more direct route back to Tokyo Station.