DAY 1:We took Romancecar to Hakone Yumoto (箱根湯本) from Shinjyuku. Since it was during the Bon vacation (8/13-8/17 this year) the train was fully booked!!! My favorite Bento is なだ万 (Nadaman). You can get this Bento at Odakyu department store!
I didn't want to push myself to go far on the first day, so we decided to stay close to the hotel (Harvest) and visited Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (箱根ガラスの森美術館) which is 5 minutes away from the hotel! If you like glittering and sparkling stuff, you will enjoy this place!!! The path to the museum was really pretty, crystals glitter in the sunshine :3 There are several workshops where you can make your souvenir. I can't wait to go back here with my child! hehe
We ended the day having early dinner at the hotel, and enjoyed swimming at the pool. It was a relaxing day~ no housework! haha
We decided to use the Freepass effectively XD We took Hakone Tozan Cable Car (箱根登山ケーブルカー) and Hakone Ropeway (箱根ロープウェイ) from Gora (強羅) to Owakudani (大湧谷) where you can get black eggs (a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs). Eating one egg is said to add seven years to your life!!! One bag comes with 5 eggs, and they last for 2 days. My darling had 2 eggs and I had 1 egg at Owakudani. Then we had one each on the way back to home on the next day~. We are going to live long for our child!!! haha
Then we enjoyed the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (箱根海賊船) on Lake Ashi, and had lunch at Moto Hakone-ko (元箱根港). Shinsho Soba (深生そば) is a must visit restaurant!!! Their Tempura is very crisp and shrimp is amazingly huge and delicious. I will definitely come here again!!!
We took Hakone Tozan Bus (箱根登山バス) to go back to Gora (強羅). It was a great shortcut and took only 30 minutes!!!
For dinner, we found a famous Kamameshi (釜飯) restaurant called Kamaya (かま家) near the hotel. Kamameshi is a traditional Japanese rice dish cooked in an iron pot called Kama. Their Kamameshi was simple yet delicious XD It is better to call them and ask them to make Kamameshi before you visit or you must wait 40 minutes until cooked (of course we did call them! hehe). I think I want to go back here again as well!!!
Early dinner is always good because we could again enjoy swimming in the evening before taking a bath in hot spring ;) I am happy that I could wear my maternity swimsuit two days in a row. LOL
We first visited Gora Park (強羅公園). No admission fee is required if you have the Freepass :) There are many workshops but they were all fully booked at around 10AM. I think we must line up before the park opens! Anyways, next time with our child! hehe
Then we headed to Hakone Open-Air Museum (箱根彫刻の森美術館). It was such a great place to spend quality time with your family!!! 2 hours were not enough. I think we need a day to fully enjoy the place! We had a quick lunch at Gallery Cafe. Their snacks are very fine and delicious.
Our return train was at 17:18 from Hakone Yumoto (箱根湯本). Time flies~ I wish we could stay longer!!!
BTW, you can enjoy collecting stamps during a specific period of time like in summer, and you can get a gift (this time 2 Anime file folders), so you don't want to miss it, too! hehe
SOUVENIRS:
Onsen Manjyu (温泉まんじゅう) @ Hotel: brown soft steamed bun filled with Azuki bean paste.
Ariheitou (有平糖) @ Owakudani: healthy sugar candies (peanuts, black soy beans, and black sesame seeds)
Earrings @ Hakone Venetian Glass Museum: my darling bought me XD
Ring @ Gora Park: 300yen!!!
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