For more freedom and flexibility, we decided to take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Odawara Station and rent a car for a couple of days. On the train, I glimpsed Mt. Fuji for, what it turned out to be, my best view of this iconic mountain.
Kayla, who as a Brit is used to driving on the left, was our designated driver. She drove like a champ to gorgeous Hakone shrine, Lake Ashi, and Hakone Open-Air Museum. The shrine was busy with people posing for multiple shots with no regard to the many people waiting for their chance to capture the moment, something we discovered at many photo opportunity locations. The lake, however, was beautiful! Autumn colors began painting the scene. Furthermore, the outdoor sculptures at the open-air museum delighted my creative and photographer senses!
After the Hakone Open-Air Museum, we followed the long and slow line of cars up to Owakudani for views of Fuji and the volcanic landscape, reminiscent of Iceland’s interior. At one point, the clouds cleared enough that we could kinda sorta see the tip of Mt. Fuji!
At our hotel, we enjoyed the onsen, our first public bath experience. There, I learned how to shower sitting down, tie up my hair, and soak in the various hot baths. This hotel, too, had the wine vending machine, so we of course had to try it!
Shinkansen, our first bullet train
Mt. Fuji through the train window!
Seen on our walk along the short of Lake Ashi near the Hakone Shrine
Entrance to Hakone Open-Air Museum
Hakone Open-Air Museum staircase
Hakone Open-Air Museum
Owakudani Enmei Jizo, the “Life-Prolonging Jizo,” directly tied to Hakone’s famous legend that eating one of Owakudani’s geothermal Kuro-tamago (black eggs) will add seven years to your life
Owakudani volcanic landscape
Oshino Hakkai, traditional homes with spring-fed ponds
Nighttime arrives in Oshino Hakkai
