A unique, foggy trip to Hakone

There’s a town west of Tokyo that is worth visiting. That’s Hakone, which is known for its hot springs, unique attractions, and (during clear weather) spectacular views of Mount Fuji. But what is it like to visit this town during such foggy weather?

Touring system and overview

Lake Ashinoko on a foggy Friday morning

We booked this tour on Klook, a popular app for tour reservations. Most tours originating from Tokyo depart from Tokyo Station and also board from Shinjuku Station. We were guided by a tour guide named Rachel, also known by her Chinese name Wanting. It is a usual protocol for guides registered within the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) to contact their tourists on WhatsApp for initial instructions and, if applicable, some post-tour suggestions.

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise and Ropeway

We first arrived at a cruise terminal stop. Wanting told us that we should line up by 10:40 am to catch the 10:55 am cruise. There were lots of tourists lining up; apparently, one of the ships suffered a mechanical failure, causing a reduction in services. This was badly timed, since we boarded it right next to a weekend.

The vessel we boarded on resembles somehow the ones used in Pirates of the Caribbean.

We started our sightseeing experience from Moto-hakone Port. From there, we boarded our vessel, where we also saw the famous torii of Hakone Shrine, which is a popular spot for spectacular photos. After a thirty-five-minute voyage, we alighted at Togendai. Before we alighted, several tour guides reminded their tourists via the PA system on what to do next.

Almost no visibility on the Hakone Ropeway!

Following the conclusion of our voyage, we rode on the Hakone Ropeway, a cable car that led us to Ōwakudani, a volcanic valley located 1,044 meters above sea level. During our trip, we conversed with an Indian family who was on the same group as us.

The cruise and the cable car ride costs 3,700 yen per tourist. The amount was paid at the bus at the start of our tour.

Ōwakudani

On a clear day, you would see the sulfuric vents here, but it was foggy that day.

Ōwakudani was formed 3,000 years ago as a result of a volcanic explosion. It consists of many active sulfur vents and hot springs and is a popular tourist site. One of the famous delicacies here are their black eggs, a type of hard-boiled eggs that were boiled in the sulfuric waters of this valley, making the eggshells colored black. During our photo opportunities at the observatory deck, I told my mom that due to the bad smell of sulfur, I needed to wear a face mask. It is also believed that if you consume black eggs, your life would be extended by seven years.

Hakone Shrine

Hakone Shrine is known for its picturesque torii on the shores of Lake Ashi. Founded in 757, it is one of the oldest shrines in the town. The original shrine was at the summit of the Komagatake peak of Mount Hakone before being relocated to its current location in 1667.

We then headed to Enoshima, which I explained more in the video below:

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