Today was my birthday and I planned to spend my last full day in Japan at Hakone which has views of Mount Fuji across Lake Ashi. Originally I was supposed to go on day 2 but I had to keep moving things around due to bad weather.

As I left my Kyoto Business Cabin hotel they were excited as they put the tvs on during breakfast claiming the weather was going to be nice.

I'd checked train times again online but when I got to Kyoto station at 8am there was a big line at the ticket office when I needed to make my seat reservation. Eventually I was served and rushed to make the 8.33 train to Odawara.

It was clear skies and rolling fields but the clouds were starting to grey again the further I went. At Odawara there was an english speaking guide to assist in the ticket office when I went to get my day pass.

I was going to get the Hakone zone day pass for 4000Y ($50) which includes the train, the mountain railway, funicular, ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise, and all the bus lines. Unfortunately my visa card had been blocked by the bank for a second trip so I had to pay with another card.

I also found a locker to park my luggage for the day for 400Y ($5).

First I had to take the train for one stop after which we transferred to the mountain railway. The train was packed and many people had suitcases taking more room to stay at nearby hotels.

We ascended up the mountain in a zig zag manner as the train climbed to higher elevation. It was also starting to get cooler higher up.

At the top we then had to switch to a funicular to climb the rest of the way. This was even more crowded packing everyone into smaller carriages with luggage but somehow we fit.

It was much cooler at this height but surprisingly people were getting off with luggage at the stops for some of the high elevation hotels here.

At the top we now had to transfer to the ropeway gondola cars. Not one for heights this had given me the most anxiety looking at the pics on google.

It was surprisingly smooth compared to other gondolas and no rocking when we passed thru support pillars. As we crossed the ridge at the top I didnt look and just heard loud gasps from everyone.

Expecting a vast chasm and huge drop I looked up and it was in fact the sulphur valley and fumes that everyone gasped in amazement at.

We had been given face masks with our ticket for the fumes. In recent months this area has been closed due to the intensity but fortunately for today it has since been reopened.

The landscape was coated by the fumes giving the foilage a snowy white ghost appearance. It didnt smell that nice though.

You used to be able to walk thru the sulphur field but the walking paths are currently closed. I didnt want to eat anything in this area as it smelt like rotten eggs and giving me a bit of a headache.

I made my was back to the ropeway for the descent down to Lake Ashi.

Again I had some trepidations about deep chasms but we were on a slope and the cables were very smooth and vibrationless in the descent.

At the bottom a waiting pirate cruise ship was ready for departure. This was meant to be the highlight with views of Mount Fuji across the lake.

Unfortunately it was completely overcast and not a sight of Mt Fuji today.

It was quite windy out on deck and the temperature seemed to be dropping today.

The boat was divided into First Class and Economy. Our economy section was crowded while first class had their own private outdoor deck.

We passed by another pirate shop and there were a couple of floating todoris in the lake.

At the base of Lake Ashi there is more to explore but I didnt want any more walking and it was colder today.

There was a small tourist area where I got Mt Fuji chocolate cookies and Green Tea Kit-Kat as gifts before heading to the bus back to Odawara. I managed to get Bus H which went all the way to Odawara even thouth I was told to take bus K which was more frequent back to one of the train stops.

I got to Odawara at 4.36 and was just able to get the last direct train to Kawasaki at 4.46 after retrieving my luggage.

I'd wanted a stunning shot of Mt Fuji for my birthday and final day in Japan but the weather was not to co-operate as it had been doing since leaving Hokkaido Island