Countries Of My Life: Hakone - Shrines, Onsen and a Ghost Town

At this day, Mika-san, Oliver, Ari-san and me went to Hakone. Our first station was the famous Hakone Shrine (箱根神社) with its famous red gate. I'm pretty sure the most of you saw it before on a photo ^^

The famous gate - Okay, it looks better on official photos ;)

The area of the shrine is really big, so we walked quite a time. I think the most impressing thing was the gate in the water. I mean, there is a reason why it's so famous :D There is also much nature in and around the shrine. In my opinion, this place is ideal for each season :)

From this picture, it looks like a magical forest :D

Again, I bought a written fortune. This time, it wasn't as excellent as the last one, but still pretty good. I really wait for the time I draw a bad fortune. Because this seems pretty rare :D

Written fortune #2 - will the effects be added to my other one?

If you don't get a good fortune,
just hang it here and
take a new one :)

Many people also prayed for a few moments at one of the many little shrines within the area. I heard often that Japanese people don't believe in something (Japanese told me this), but when you see them praying so often, there must be a reason, isn't it so?

My guess: They believe that something besides humans exists that influences our life. And it cannot be bad to get (maybe) a good influence by praying. In this relation, Japanese seem to be bipolar. But maybe I just want to see this, because I am that way ;)

After visiting the shrine (area), we made a magnificent discovery in a gift shop: We could make our own little boxes out of wood. To open these, you have to push specific sides in a specific order, so a bit like a trick box. An old manufacturer showed us also some of the boxes he made, with awesome tricks to open.

You really have to concentrate ...

For example: On one box sat a wooden frog with a plate and a glass in his hands. To open it, you had to take a small wooden can and put it on the plate. Or a box with four wooden and red leaves. To open it, take the fifth one and put it between the leaves. They are all magnetic and arrange themselves in a perfect pattern. I think for little kids this should be like a magic box :D

So we created our own boxes, or at least build them from a manufactured set and polished them with candle wax. Right now, I don't know if I will keep or make a present out of it ^^

... Then you get a good one ^^

When we got out, the whole area was covered in fog. Because no one was on the streets, I first thought we were in a Ghost Town. After a while, there was this scream, coming from the fog ... Just kidding ;)

Believe me! Before the fog came, the street was full of people oO

Then we went alongside the big lake you already saw. Because it was lunchtime, we searched for a restaurant. And we searched and searched and searched ... Better said, we discussed a lot which dish would be the best. Of course, I am always for Japanese Curry and Ramen, because these are my favorites. But the others didn't wanted such a simple decision, so we argued and argued and ... decided us for Ramen! And to make it better: I got a set with Ramen AND Japanese Curry. Yeah, I could say that I was right from the start, but this would be too easy :D

Japan: Here do even cats and dogs waiting in lines
until they can come in ;)

Next station: The Old Town of Hakone, or better said the restored parts of ancient buildings. For example an old fort which we visited. In ancient times existed many of these along the roads of Japan. So we could see how and where these people lived. For example, public servants had to live / work for about a month in such a garrison and could then spent a long time at home or do other work.

Public Servants from Ancient Times

There were also many things told about the Daimyous (Feudal Lords) and in what kind of political system the people from these times lived. Very interesting, but unfortunately too much to remember it all oO

The Garrison from Above

For the next station we took the car, in which we came and went to a bit outside. Here we got to "Owakudanai" (大涌谷, Great Boiling Valley). It is an "volcanic region with a volcanic valley with active sulphur vents and hot springs" (quote from Wikipedia). The region is also famous for its black egg, which is cooked in these sulfur vents and got its color from this process. And of course, I tried it ^^

The Egg of 大涌谷

Who came to the idea to
boil an egg in this water?

When we climbed the mountains, it wasn't bad at the beginning. But the higher we came, the more sulfur we could smell until we could barely see and smell something else than sulfur fog. Despite the smell, the region has an interesting nature. But I wouldn't get into this water ;)

When we went back to the car, the rain started suddenly. And not just normal one, it was a tropical rain. So we went to our last station: Onsen. The name stand for hot spring, which is sometimes natural and sometimes man-made. We got in an built one, but nevertheless it was awesome! :)

Imagine a hot bath and the cold rain comes from above. Okay, not in the bath itself, this one had a roof. But of course, I went in the cold rain while changing the pools.
This was 2nd time I used an Onsen and it will be definitely one of many ^^

So in summary: An awesome day with a wonderful ending.