Souvenirs from Hakone

Onsen Manjyu (温泉まんじゅう) is a very popular souvenir from Hakone. It is a soft steamed bun filled with Azuki bean paste. Brown ones are the basic. They were complimentary at the hotel we stayed ;)



Nanohana (菜の花) is very popular for their Onsen Manjyu. Brown ones (Hakone no Otsukisama 箱根のお月さま) expires in 4 days. They also have black ones Gokurosan (ご黒うさん) colored with bamboo charcoal and black sesame seeds. Black ones can be enjoyed for 20 days but before you open the package.





Amanatu Orange Jelly (甘夏ゼリー) is something I found refreshing and nice! It is only sold during summer season.



Kuro Choco (黒チョコ) is black-colored white chocolate with almond which looks like the black egg in Owakudani (大涌谷), where you can find 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!!! hehe



We (actually I) enjoyed shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlets, too ;)



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Hakone

At first, we didn't have any plan for Golden Week holidays (a large consecutive holiday in May containing public holidays). When everyone is off, usually most places are packed and expensive. However, my mom happened to give us an accommodation coupon for one night at Hotel Harvest Hakone Koshien (ホテルハーヴェスト 箱根甲子園). So, we decided to go to Hakone =) yay!!!

Day 1:

We took Romancecar to Hakone Yumoto (箱根湯本) from Seijyogakuenmae (成城学園前), which is 2 stops away from our closest station. There is only one departure time (10:40) in the morning from Seijyogakuenmae but we thought that is more convenient than taking a train from Shinjyuku station.

It takes about 40min to Gora (強羅) from Hakone Yumoto by Hakone Tozan Railway (箱根登山鉄道). Worth to wait the next train if you think you cannot get a seat... we jumped on the train and it was a pain in the neck standing long...

We had lunch at Yamaji (山路) in Gora. The restaurant is famous for their Oyakodon, Katsudon, and Soba noodles =) I had Tororo Soba.

It was bit cold and raining in the afternoon, so we decided not to go far and headed to the hotel. Believe it or not, we had a nap for 2 hours. LOL

Before dinner, we enjoyed Ashiyu (足湯), foot bath! We decided to have a dinner at the hotel because there was nothing around the hotel. All-you-can-eat buffet was surprisingly good. We thought we wanna visit here again. hehe

After dinner, we enjoyed the hot spring.

Day 2:

Of course in the morning, we enjoyed the hot spring. The hotel breakfast was great, too!!!

Then we headed to Gotemba Premium Outlets! What a splendid day! The weather was really nice and perfect for shopping XD

Our return train was at 17:04 from Hakone Yumoto (again because the train that makes stop at Seijogakuenmae is limited), so we decided to leave the outlet at 2PM. Obviously, 3 hours was not enough for me to shop, so we missed our lunch…

On the way back from Gora, we waited for the next train to get a front seat =) I strongly recommend you to get a seat, otherwise, it is very boring and tiring. lol

We bought Bento and Kamaboko (fish cake is very popular in Hakone) for our dinner on the train. We didn't go many places this time, because we didn't get Hakone Freepass: allows you to get on and off freely within a specified area, as well as providing discount admission to various attractions in the area, and also includes return transportation on the Odakyu Line... but maybe next time!!!

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How to Make Olaf Bento Lunch Box (FROZEN Disney) - Video Recipe

We finally went to see the movie recently!!!

Well… all the characters are pretty difficult to make except Olaf XD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E3FmtETSL8

Great bento idea for both boys and girls :)

---------------------------------

Olaf Bento Lunch Box (FROZEN)

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 40min
Number of servings: 1

Ingredients:
((Olaf Rice Balls‪))‬
‪cooked white Japanese rice‬
Nori sheet
sliced cheese
carrot
Oshaburi Kombu (chewing Kombu kelp snack)
mayonnaise
((Heart-Shaped Tamagoyaki: Egg Omelette‪))‬
A
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 tbsp. sugar
* a pinch of salt
cooking oil
((Snowflake Sausages‪))‬
sausages
((Nikujaga: Stewed Beef and Potatoes))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEBsbECaFPs
((Others))
‪lettuce‬

Directions:
((Olaf Rice Balls‪))‬
1. Season the rice with a bit of salt. Use plastic wrap and form the rice to make the face and body parts of Olaf.
2. Cut out Nori sheet, sliced cheese, and carrot (cook if you want) to make his face parts. Attach them with bits of mayonnaise with tweezers.
3. Cut Oshaburi Kombu (chewing Kombu kelp snack) to make his hair and arms, then attach them.
((Heart-Shaped Tamagoyaki: Egg Omelette‪))‬
1. Mix A. Heat cooking oil in a Tamagoyaki Nabe (rectangular omelet pan) on low heat, pour 1/5 of the egg mixture in the pan and spread over the surface. ‪Cook the egg until the edges begin to dry, then ‬start rolling‪.‬ Move the rolled egg to one side, pour another 1/5 of egg mixture in the space and under the rolled egg. Cook it until ‪the edges begin to dry‬ then roll the egg again. Repeat this until all the egg mixture is gone.
2. Cut the egg into an inch pieces (just about the depth of your Bento box).
3. Place the cut side up, cut diagonally, then turn one of them upside down, and attach to make a heart shape.
((Snowflake Sausages‪))‬
1. Cut Sausages in half.
2. Make a cross incision, then make another incision in each section.
3. Pan fry the sausages (snowflake pattern starts to open).
((Nikujaga: Stewed Beef and Potatoes))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEBsbECaFPs

↓レシピ（日本語）
http://cooklabo.blogspot.jp/2014/05/blog-post.html
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