Sun 14th Sep

Up early and headed for Hakone. Our first experience of the Shinkansen or Bullet Train. Its fast oh yes its fast. After that train we took the bus to our Ryokan which is a traditional Japanese Inn with tamarin mats and futons to sleep on. We dumped our bags as we were too early for check in. We headed down to Lake Ashi and had a german sausage for lunch(randon i know) Next we boarded a big pirate ship to sail along the lake. Unfortunatly it was a bit too misty to see Mt Fuji San. Next onto the cable cars up to the top of the mountains to a place called Owakudani which has hot sulphur springs. We got to eat some back boiled eggs. some crazy tourist decided we were the tourist attraction and asked to have his photo with us. Probably because we stick out as everyone else is asian. Next it was down the hill on a cable car and then onto a Funicular train to the bottom of the hill. We got back to our hotel and had some lovely green tea and Kimonos for us to wear. The place was great and the wee lady that ran it spoke very good english.

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OK...so the random japanese guys that wanted our photo might have been my fault- i was taking photos and then he gestured his camera towards me and i thought he was asking me to take a photo of him and the group he was with....so i was like yeah yeah....next thing we know hes coming over to us shouting something to his group and click we become a tourist attraction...then all the other guys want one!!!! whoops!! sorry adele!! the hot springs were great smelt horrible though...gotta luv the black eggs! The ryokan we stayed in provided kimonos for us( well day/night robes really) found out that they were robes to wear to bed ...so cool!!! Next Kyoto...Claire