Concerning Volcanoes

Choosing pictures from my facebook albums to use on here is always a tough choice - mostly because I take so many and try not to put more than 4 on. Anyway, heres my favourite pics from my trip to Hakone last week. Hakone is a hugely popular retreat for Japanese and tourists alike wanting a few days out of Tokyo. It's nearly 2 hours from Tokyo, if I remember correctly anyhow, and its in the thick of Japanese nature. Lake Ashi, Mount Hakone (a volcano) and the historical Tokaido road are just a few of the tourist destinations in the area. Naturally I was there for the active volcano. And the pirate ship, of course.


After a long train journey and a decent length bus ride, I was ready for some good old sightseeing. Little did I know that Hakone Shrine was currently being invaded by a good three busloads of noisy Chinese tourists who set out to ruin every picture of the shrine I took - but I soldiered on and visited the old Tokaido road Hakone Checkpoint. The Tokaido road was one of the old paths between Kyoto and Tokyo, but not much of it is left - a few stone pavements here and there - but the Tokaido train line travels more or less the same route as the old road (I think).

So yeah, the Volcano. After taking a pirate ship across the lake (a pirate ship!) and then a ropeway up the mountain, I arrived. I kind of had the image of Mount Doom in my head before I got to Hakone. However, it turned out that I was a little bit wrong. No giant fiery crater, no lava - however the volcanic crater of Owakudani was still quite impressive. The crater was created during an eruption a long time ago and is still a hugely volcanic zone, so much so that half of the mountain side was steaming. Quite a sight, especially when it sinks in that the sulphuric steam and boiling hot springs are coming from the volcano directly beneath your feet. Theres a place you can buy eggs that have been cooked in the hot springs, they're black and smell of sulphur... and don't taste so great, but on the plus side it's said to add 7 years to your life. Not bad.

Oh yeah, the Pirate ship. *thumbs up*. Round 2 of the Great March Blog Catchup coming soon!