So on my second day in Japan, I went to Hakone! I’ve always wanted to visit, but for whatever reason, hadn’t. This was the time!

I slept in, and then went to Shinjuku station to get breakfast. At the station, I spotted a new Happy Lemon store, so I HAD to get a drink, and then I went to a noodle spot to munch on some things. Then I got some onigiri from my favorite place, and some breads from one of the bakeries in the station.

I toured Hakone in the most default way, which means utilizing the Odakyu Line’s all inclusive ticket. I paid extra for a seat on the Limited Express Romancecar train, to get there quicker, and cuz that train is cool (the conductor sits in the bubble up top!). Here’s a summary of how it all went down!

^It’s even kid approved!

Before you board the train, you should buy a bento box to eat on the train (for this trip, it was the onigiri and melon pan), and when the train arrives at Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the bus to Lake Ashi, and get on the Pirate Ship!

When you’re on the boat, learn about cute knots!

and get your insta shots!

Also, marvel at views of Mt. Fuji. It showed itself off for about 5-minutes during the boat ride, and then the cloud cover came back…

Once the boat docks, you proceed to a gondola station.

From the gondola, you get even more views of Fuji-san! It’s great because the tour packet tells you where to pay attention to the views, and they nailed it.

After a few stops, you leave the gondola, and get on the funicular train that is the Hakone Tozan Cable Car. Everyone was taking photos, so I did too!

The trains all have cool logos!

Once you’re back at Hakone-Yumoto Station, you can spend some time walking around town, visiting all the tourist shops, eating the local bites, getting some fried chicken from a Lawson, checking out JDM classics, and doing some bird watching at the river that runs through town.

This is not an American dog (what the Japanese call a corn dog). This is a piece of fried fish. It was delish.

^I was totally expecting an American dog…

Drool…

Once your belly is full, walk to your onsen of choice, and relax.

Then catch the train back to Tokyo, and eat some more! This time, it was pizza! (the Italian food game in Japan is pretty strong. Stronger than Seattle at least…)