the chapanese chapters.: Hakone.

We traveled about 2 1/2 hrs by train to get to the Hakone area. It is a national forest area, the leaves were just barely starting to change, it was beautiful and a sweet oasis from the city life. Hakone is known for it's modes of transportation. You can buy a 2 day pass that lets you get around the Hakone area using any transportation you like...cable car, city buses, ropeway, sight seeing cruise, mountain train. Because Hakone is up in the mountains it is also a very popular onsen area.

Onsen's are traditional Japanese bath houses. They are like hot spring baths, some have natural spring water and others are man made. Some westerns really enjoy going (like Tdub and I) and others will never step foot in an onsen. One reason for the division: nakedness. No clothes or bathing suits are allowed inside the hot baths. Boys and girls are divided, but you have to get nakey! And some people don't want to get naked. I will be honest, it was a little weird for like the first 5 minutes I did it, but then you realize, everyone else is naked and no one is looking at you, no one cares. It is actually a really freeing and beautiful thing. Growing up in America and feeling like nakedness or the human body always has to be distorted into something perverted or sexual the thought of being naked, taking a bath with a bunch of other people was so foreign, I couldn't even imagine how that would work. But to the Japanese people, this is a tradition, a given, a very normal bath. Because people's houses are so small in Japan, many people in old Japan would come here to bathe and relax, it is still a very popular past time, but used more now as an outing or relaxation experience. There are rules to using the onsen, and if not done properly or follow the rules you can be kicked out. I think they will let you put your clothes on before they kick you out. ha!

We stayed at a traditional Japanese hotel, called a Ryokan (yes, you sleep on the floor). They served us a very traditional dinner and breakfast. Of course, Tdub was in heaven having raw fish and octopus for dinner and breakfast. I was ok at dinner, but was hard to eat again the next morning. Where's the cinnamon roll, yo? They spoke no English, so one of my Japanese students had to make the reservations for us. I have been taking Japanese lessons for the past few months, so I was very proud of myself when we actually were able to communicate more in Japanese than in English! I felt like a Japanese rockstar. :) Hakone is a must see while in Japan.

of course starting the trip off right with sushi!

waiting for the mountain train

the train had the cutest little school girls you have ever seen. they were so tired from their day at school. i felt like i was stuck in the middle of a Madeline book. :)ha! (just an informational side note, the backpacks that all the Japanese kids have to wear to school cost $300.)

lookin' hott in his yukata

wouldn't you hate to be a middle schooler on this field trip?

these boys "interviewed" us in English for a school project, they could read the questions ok, but had a hard time understanding our answers in English so we started answering them in Japanese. I'm sure it defeated the purpose. ha!

on the cable car

some good Engrish.

Owakudani is a very popular spot, it has very hot, sulfur springs. They put eggs into the baths and the hot water cooks them and turns their shell black. It is said you have good luck for the year if you eat a black egg.