Day 7 30/3/06 - Japan

Nigyocho -> Odawara -> Miyanoshita ->Chokokunomoli -> Gora -> Sounzan -> Owankudani -> Togendai -> Lake Ashi -> Sengoku -> Miyanoshita

Highlight

• Time to say goodbye to Tokyo and head off to see Mt Fuji. We said goodbye to Hotel Kitcho and it was on the skinkensen to Odawara, the gateway to the Hakone-Yumoto area.
• Our first stop was Gora Park, a beautiful landscaped garden. The highlight of which is the fountain with cherry blossom trees surrounding it. We could see the snow from the park too.
• There are a couple of ways to get around the Hakone area: train, cable car, bus and boat. The cable car gave us absolutely the best view, and it was also snowing a bit while we were riding up the hill too.
• Eating eggs cooked with sulfur fumes in the freezing cold at Owankudani. The black eggs are famous in that region. They even have Hello Kitty dolls made in the likeness of the eggs.
• Viewing the sulfur mountains with steam rising up everywhere.
• Riding the Hakone ropeway between Owakudani and Togendai. The sun came out and the view of Mount Fuji was spectacular.
• The cruise on the "pirate ship" on Lake Ashi.
• Our Ryoken (Japanese inn), Taiseikan. From the ride down via cable car, to the beautiful valley setting and staff who bow at you all the time. See review here.
• The elaborate Kaiseki style dinner.
• This should actually be a lowlight - but Slokky lounging around in a yukata and tanzen is NOT a good look.
• Our "maid" Yoko, who is very funny as she didn't speak much English.

Food

• Bento box from Maysuya Ginza (682).
• Sushi leftovers.
• Warm mochi cakes (100 for 2).
• Sulfur black eggs (500 for 6).
• Taste test.
• Almond Porky.
• Cafe au lait (50).
• Taiseikan Dinner:
  • very sweet sake (apple grape taste)
  • pink tofu with beans and wasabi taste
  • mixed entree with prawn, fish cake, salad, sushi, vegetable, miso seafood
  • mochi, prawn, bamboo hot pot with wasabi sauce.
  • mixed sashimi with fresh wasabi
  • rice ball with fish in thick miso sauce
  • black vinegar noodle
  • beef tatiki
  • almond coated crab with beans, prawn cakes, with miso dipping sauce
  • rice
  • miso soup
  • mixed pickles
  • strawberries with almond
  • tea
  • Soup with fish tofu and vegetables