Phew, yesterday was epic! Made our way to Tokyo station and jumped on a shinkansen to Odawara. Then onto the Hakone Tozan Railway with a transfer at Hakone-Yumoto and on up to Gora (541m above sea level). It was one of those trains that zig zags up so you’re going forwards then backwards the whole time.
At Gora we caught the cablecar up to Sounzan (767m). Stopped to take in the view and relax in the sun (hot but actually very cloudy/foggy).
Next was a ropeway (gondola) up and over a peak. As we came over the peak snowy Mt Fuji was to our right and a sulphur mine below us. Very cool!! A short stop at Owakudani (elevation 1044m), we had a delicious snack of hot sweet potato.
Another ropeway ride down to Togendai Station (741m) on the edge of Lake Ashi – great views of Fuji, the lake with sailing ship and the forest around us. So beautifully green!
Across the lake on a “sailing ship” to our next stop – Hakone Machi. Sketched a cute car and had a chat to a taxi driver who was interested in my drawing.
Passed through the Hakone Sekisho, which is a rebuilt checkpoint on the Tokaido (Edo period road between Tokyo and Kyoto). This checkpoint’s main purpose was to stop the wives of daimyo (fuedal lords) from escaping out of Edo (Tokyo), but also to control arms entering Edo.
A quick walk through an old Cedar Avenue to Motohakone, where we finally had a very late lunch at a soba restaurant.
Next leg was a bus back to Hakone-Yumoto on a very windy road, hairpin turns galore! And then back home to Tokyo. Massive day!
STUDIO NELLOE 
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