We woke up to this morning view from our room, which set the tone for our pre-brekker onsen in the first of the two private onsen.
We made our way in our yukatas to this absolutely delightful spot. This rotemburo comprises a cedar wood tub set amongst verdant foliage overlooking a waterfall. What a way to start the day !
We returned to our futons having been put away and our yummy western breakfast laid out. No dawdling around once you get up in the Japanese culture.
After breakfast, we made our way back through the gardens to the cable car, and then the Miyanoshita train station. The aim was to spend the morning completing the Hakone circuit, which is the name given to the well trodden tourist path that starts at Hakone-machi and ends at Moto-hakone and involved many different modes of transport along the way including the small gauge train that we had been using called the Hakone Tozan train, cable car, ropeway and boat. The Hakone Pass that we had bought when we had first arrived into Japan covers all the travelling.
We took the train onwards from Miyanoshita to Gora and transferred to cable car.
At Sounzan, we then switched to the ropeway upto Owakudani.
We got off the ropeway and made our way to the Fuji-san viewing point. One can also clamber up the hill to get a closer view (and smell) of the sulphur vents.
Given Fuji-san's notorious reputation of standing tourists up, I guess we were truly blessed to be able to see the perfect slopes rising over the land. My priceless photograph.
The famous blackened boiled eggs of Owakudani which are cooked in the sulphur vents. Y500 for a bag of six eggs.
Back onto the ropeway to Togendai on the shores of Lake Ashi, with great views of Fuji-san along the way.
We disembarked from the cable car and boarded a vintage pirate ship for the cruise across Lake Ashi to Moto-hakone.
The picture perfect view of Lake Ashi with Fuji-san as a backdrop.
We disembarked at Moto-hakone, and made our way by bus to the Venetian Glass Museum. Our first order of business was to forage for food, and we had great hope that the cafe there would feature some basic Italian fare. However, we were in for a disappointment as the cafe had just a few snacks and nothing vegetarian. We decided to press on nevertheless, and look for food later on.
The "crystal bridge" is difficult to miss both for size and placement and the way the sun catches the facets, making them glow like diamonds.
There are many interesting and involved statuettes and other sculptural glass works and the upper floor gives a great view over the museum grounds.
What glass museum would be complete without featuring Dale Chihuly.
This is the gift shop to indulge retail cravings with lots of glass baubles to suit every taste and every budget. some nice jewellery caught my interest.
A picturesque "nature morte" arrangement of free umbrellas to be used and returned by tourists at will.
We made our way by bus to the Lalique Museum. We lucked out here, since their cafeteria was still open and I managed to get sandwiches and fries while Gordon dug into the daily lunch special. Needless to say, we were famished and the great food and wonderful setting bolstered our flagging spirits no end.
The Orient Express Car with the Lalique chandeliers has been converted into a tea room,but one can only visit with reservations for tea, which we did not know and consequently did not have.
The museum is truly worth visiting, housed in a building which itself has great architectural merit. The art and craft involved in creating these Lalique masterpieces will blow you away. Budget about an hour to see everything.
No, this is not a painting by Money hanging in the museum. This is actually what the gardens, which are inspired by the ones in Giverny, look like.
We left the museum after a quick stop at the adjoining gift and souvenir shop, passing this wonderfully preserved vintage car.
We made our way back to Gora station by bus and took the train and private cable car back to the ryokan.
The main activity for the evening was the onsen in the second rotemburo, which is a rock pool stunningly located by the riverside. Can you imagine the bliss when you soak away all the tiredness in the hot water while listening to the sounds of the river and feeling the cool bracing breeze. Truly magical, and one of the most amazing experiences. Bathing indoors will never feel right again.
By the time we left, it was evening, and the gardens and foliage were being lit up in the twilight.
Strolling back to our room in yukata after the wonderful onsen.
The opulent kaiseki meal for the evening was amazing. I loved the dish in the foreground - silken tofu topped with a marinated avocado paste. Delicious !
We had already had two onsen today, but such is the nature of this activity that we actually debated having the usual post-prandial dip, before deciding to call it quits for the day.
