Japan: Hakone

In which we role-play a Tokyo family on a weekend getaway, at the hot spring town of Hakone and surroundings.

What

There is also a geothermal area 大涌谷（owakudani）, which was off-limits until a week before our visit due to increased gas activity.

There was barely a whiff of sulphur inside the ropeway, but they handed Adam a wet napkin and he

They also have a nice lake: 芦ノ湖 (Lake Ashinoko)

...and views of a very large volcano whose name you

According to everybody and their dog, when in Japan &quot;you have to book a stay in a ryokan&quot;. So we stayed in a nice ryokan (Yutorelo-an) for two nights. Here

The food at the ryokan was amazing, of course.

Adam

...

&quot;I don

A private onsen (hot spring bath) at the ryokan

Heading up, and down, to lake Ashinoko

Boarding a lake cruise. The ferries on Ashinoko are designed to resemble man-o

Fluffy friends near the ferry terminal

Ah, the rejection..

Good on ya, buddy!

A short walk on the lakeshore

This torii gate situated in the waters of the lake is an extremely popular photo spot.

How popular? I

Posing for the young photographer, again

A few last looks at Fuji, then off to Tokyo :-)