Hakone - Sightseeing

So off we went to Hakone for an overnight stay and 2 days' worth of sightseeing. We bought the Hakone Freepass that got us a return trip on the train and all other forms of transport within the Hakone area, as well as discounts at various museums and parks. Since we had more time than money, we decided not to upgrade to the Romance Car, which meant that the journey took about 2 hours. This also meant that we couldn't do the Japan Hour thing and eat bentos on the train, which didn't really matter in the bigger scheme of things.

The scenery outside the window as we got closer

Odawara, where we changed trains to get to Hakone Yumoto

At Hakone Yumoto, where you can buy bentos before getting back on the Romance Car

Quite a good variety available

We decided to grab lunch at Hakone Yumoto before heading off to sightsee. It was a busy little town.

Saw a most interesting shop along the main street which definitely had to be selling seafood

Cuttlefish being dried at the front of the shop. We didn't buy anything.

Lots of stuff for sale, including freshly toasted senbei

This display area of a soba shop opposite the station caught our eye

It was opposite the station about 50m to the right, and was the only shop with a decent setback from the street

Long queue+crowded = good food. So we were happy to wait.

The husband's soba in soup, which came with one prawn and various veggies

My soba - which was meant to be dipped - plus tempura on the side.

The soba was delicious with a wonderfully chewy texture.

Nothing quite like freshly-fried tempura. Lovely!

There's extra soup in this pot, which you're supposed to pour into the bowl of dipping sauce and drink as a finish to the meal. I thought it was extra dipping sauce and had wondered why the Japanese wanted to drink it. The soup was lovely. But the meal wasn't cheap at all, at around 3000Yen per person.

Scenery at Hakone Yumoto just next to the train station.

We also visited the Hakone Open Air Museum, which has a permanent Picasso exhibition. I'm sure it was just an unfortunate coincidence that this statue of someone bending over was placed strategically in front of the large black letters.

They even had a foot bath, with towels on sale for 100Y each.

Lovely surroundings, and a perfect place for enjoying the sculptures.

Another view of the surroundings.

Looking out to the hills beyond

After the museum, we headed to our ryokan for the night (more on that later). The next day, we took the trolley car out in the direction of the lake.

Which later led us to the cable car station

Lovely views all round

Including that of Mount Fuji

We stopped at this town called Owakuwani which had eggs cooked in the hot sulphur - didn't try any though.
Another view of the elusive Mt Fuji from the cable car

We picked this up waiting for the boat at Lake Ashi

The pirate ships at Lake Ashi, which were a bit contrived although good fun in the end.

Mt Fuji from the middle of Lake Ashi. We stood out in the 2 deg C weather, with wind chill, waiting for just this view.