Day 7- Hakone/Mt Fuji/ Lake Ashi

Depart for scenic Hakone, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is a collection of villages in the mountains near Mt Fuji.

Our pick-up from our hotel Prince Hakone was at 4 pm at Odawara Station, we manage to get a very good deal on their website for approximately $85 for a night. Prince Hakone is located right at Lake Ashi and it is the best place to view Mt Fuji.

The station was so crowded with Japanese, Hakone is also one of their favourite destination for holiday.

We arrived from Hiroshima at Odawara Station around 3pm and hence we had some time to walk around before our pick up. There is a mall right outside the station so we took the opportunity shop a little. Mainly a food mall, with supermarket and foodcourts.

As we had not taken our lunch, we bought some bento back to the hotel. Most of the time will be spent in the hotel and it's compound as there is nothing outside the hotel. What we are looking forward to is the hot spring!

These photos are taken in the basement of the food mall,

After a 45mins ride, we finally reach our Hotel.

We immediately change and went to the hot spring, as we were so tired after travelling for almost the whole day. It is our first experience to have such pampering, the hotel provides you with a set of sleep wear, a set of day wear for walking around the hotel and a coat for you if your are going outdoor. You practically don't have to bring any clothes! And everyone in the hotel dresses the same attire!

The entrance of the hot Spring (Open:6-10am/12-11pm)

This is the attire that we were provided, and yes it includes the outdoor slippers as well!

After the hot spring, it is good to relax back at our rooms and have a good night sleep. The hotel is very proud of their mattress because it is specially make for them by sealy.

If it is your first time going to an Onsen (hot bath) you may be feeling a little intimidated and lost at what you should do, these are the steps:

1. Put your slippers and clothes away in the locker or basket provided
2. Take the small towel that they provide you into the bath area
3. At the bath area, there are usually small cubicles for you to sit and bath yourself. You should be facing the wall while showering. Shampoo, conditioner and shower foam are provided.
4. After you have wash yourself clean, wipe your self dry with the small towel.
5. Proceed to the Onsen, at this point it is really up to you. You may walk to the Onsen without covering yourself or you may hold the small towel in a vertical manner that will nicely cover the front of your body.
6. Once you are inside the Onsen and if you are comfortable you may want to bundle up your hair with the towel.
7. When you are ready to leave, proceed back to the bath area and clean your self again before going into the changing room.
8. Everything is provided at the changing room, there will be dressing table filled with body lotion, toner,moisturiser, hair dryer and brushes.
9. You do need to bring anything to the Onsen except for your self. just remember not to dirty the water so dun put on any hair lotion before going down to the Onsen.
10. Also note that if you have tattoo, you are not allow to go into the Onsen.