Japan Honeymoon: Day 2 - Hakone (Part 2)

As we are trying for baby, we went to the famous Baby Tree at Hakone Jinja Shrine. After reading about how Cheeserland and QiuQiu touched the tree and got pregnant, we die2 have to go and touch also..but alas, I only have food tummy post 6 months of touching the tree :(

We alighted at Motohakone-Ko and walked for approx. 10mins to Hakone Jinja Shrine.

There is a place for you to wash your hands before entering the shrine, I think you start with holding the ladle with your right hand, then pour the water to your left, then switch and lastly use your right hand to wash your mouth. Voila, instructions from a noob :)

Another flight of stairs to reach the baby wishing tree...

Another wash before the mighty tree..

BEHOLD...the mighty 'Baby Wishing Tree'...

Looks just like an ordinary old tree, but I supposed we did not managed to absorb the 'baby making power' from the tree.

After purchasing some amulets, we went to tour the place. Zen is the only word to describe the place. 

Overlooking Lake Ashi.

Overall, both of us really love the place a lot as it is really peaceful and beautiful, will definitely be visiting again!

We rushed back to our Hotel - Mount View Hakone for dinner.

Dinner spread wasn't impressive, there was udon, sashimi, crab claw, tofu, fish, rice and some veges. But I guess for RM990+ per night, it was ok as there's dinner+breakfast+futon bed :)

Fresh sashimi for dinner.

We prepared for our private onsen (hot spring) session, priced at 2000yen (RM76).

There's a nice view from the open onsen. The tub is basically a small round tub with milky hot spring water. The water was hot, but with the wind blowing, you will get used to the temperature very soon.

Breakfast the next day. Loved the pork sausage, crab soup and the coffee...

The ryokan was spacious with nice fluffy futon beds. The only cons is there wasn't any shower in the room, so we had to go to the public hot spring on the Lobby level.

Apart from the public hot spring, there is also a private hot spring for family (no charge), and the difference with those that you have to pay is that there is no view. So, use the onsen as much as you can during your stay!

And that's the end of our Hakone 2d1n trip. We will definitely include Hakone in our next trip to Japan again, or at least any other place in Japan with Ryokan + hot spring experience!

Japan Honeymoon: Day 2 - Hakone (Part 1)

Woke up early as we need to catch the train to Hakone. Reserved our seats with the JR pass, reserving seats is easy, just walk in to the ticket office and show them your JR pass. There are few different ways to get to Hakone, but since we have the JR Pass, we took the 'by JR way'.

We bought the Hakone Free Pass once we alighted at Odawara. Priced at 4000yen (RM152) / pax, the Free Pass provides unlimited usage of transportation (bus, ship, cable car, train) at Hakone.

We took a bus to our ryokan, Mount View Hotel from Odawara station, journey took about half and hour. And it was a fun uphill ride, with view of foggy forest, it feels like we are on our way to find Totoro :)

We left our luggage at lobby and also reserved for the private open air hot spring, 2000yen (RM76). We wanted to reserve for a better looking one, but it was fully reserved.

We walked down the street, about 5 mins walk to take a bus to the nearest Hakone Tozan Railway.

Pretty-looking flowers on the way to the bus stop.

We had trouble taking the bus, but there was a friendly obasan, although not being able to converse in English, she helped us on the directions and bus to take.

With her help we managed to reach where we wanted to go. Can't remember where we stopped, but our intention is to experience the Hakone Tozan Railway.

Some warm Hot Spring bun @ 110yen

To fully utilised the Hakone Free Pass, we took all mode of transportation :)

We took the ship last, and there were 2 stops for the ship, we stopped at Hakone Machiko. Do take note the last ship leave at 16.20pm.

Went to a random restaurant for late lunch at 3pm, and the place was empty.

My Chirashi Don was good, with plenty of fresh sashimis, me likey!

His Spicy Salmon Don, abit too spicy but fresh nonetheless!

With a full tummy, we walked around the pier and took some photos :)

Will continue with Part 2 in a separate post..till then!

Japan Trip 2: Mythical Egg in Owakudani Japan?

Finally had some time to continue my Japan trip blog post. These few months had been a tiring months for me at work as I need to start fresh and a lot of things need to learn hence neglected my lovely blog. :D

After a fulfilling lunch break at Lake Ashi, our next destination is Owakudani which located 30 minutes away from Lake Ashi but we took almost 1 & a half hour to reach as it is the public holiday for Japan on that day!!! >.<

'Have you ever wonder if there is 'anything' that can prolong your life?' That's what our tour guide asked during the journey (or should I say the jam!) to Owakudani. He told us that There is this egg called 'Black Egg' that was boiled in the sulphurous water in Owakudani which can extend your life and legend says that if you eat 1 egg, you can extend your life for 7 years! WOW!

After 1 & a half hour ride, we finally reached our destination and it was freezing!!! Saw the white smoke coming out at the center? That is the place where they boiled and sell the Black Egg! Everyone is so eager to get one but looking at the distance and path, our mouth goes wide open.......... :O

After 30 minutes of rock climbing, monster fighting, counting the staircase (yeap, it wasn't that bad, they have stairs!!!) *crap crap crap*......... Happily holding the mythical Black Egg! :) The egg cost us around 500 yen.
Their shells are black in color due to a chemical reaction with the sulphurous water, but the inside is quite tasty.  
I must warned you, the sulphur smell is very strong here and we couldn't take it for too long!