Day 8; Hakone

On all other days we walked - and walked. Today was all about transportation.

After raining most of last night, we woke to blue skies, with plans to take busses, cable cars, gondolas, and trains, hoping to see pretty scenery, including Mt. Fuji.

We had a great day that began on a “pirate ship” crossing Lake Ashi. Disembarking at the first stop, we walked to a nearby town with shops carrying special patchwork wooden products Eric wanted to check out. We happened upon a beautiful and quiet path through very tall pine trees. Just an hour or so out of Tokyo, it was very peaceful.

Though we couldn’t see Mt. Fuji due to clouds, we still had great views of closer mountains surrounding the lake, and smoking volcanic sulphuric vents (see photos) at the peak of the gondola, where we also bought and ate “black eggs”, said to add 7 years to your life!

The final train we took this afternoon was so steep it required several switchbacks. Bus ride back to our ryokan for a visit to the onsen before supper. Tomorrow we are off to Kyoto.Read more