Hakone, Japan '08

Took a weekend trip to Hakone, Japan. Hakone (箱根町) in a town in Japan, in Kanagawa Prefecture with a population of 14,000. It is most famous for its numerous onsens (natural hot springs) and views of Mount Fuji. We drove from Tokyo which took about 2 hours.

Most of the time on that weekend was going stark naked! and soaking in the hot onsens! I love them!

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. It was @ the toilet entrance of a rest stop along the highway. Allows us ladies to tell @ a glance which cubicles are available! The elusive Mount Fuji behind some clouds as seen from Hakone Natural hot spring water View of the Hakone City from the Ropeway Mrs Ohkubu-san & me Food was the highlight of the trip. We stayed in an onsen hotel where all meals are provided. They were really yummy! Shrimps were in season Steamed chawamushi with plum and roe Shrimp sashimi! Seafood tempura Grilled fish Pumpkin with lady fingers Grilled eel Grilled freshwater fish Bowl of Udon noodles after the road trip back to Tokyo. I was starving so the udon tasted especially great! :P

I'll be back!

Just a short note before I leave; will be outta action for the next three weeks as I soak in the Italian culture, eat Italian food, bask in the Italian sun and ogle at Italian men :P I still have pictures from my other trips yet to be uploaded but do watch out for more pictures coming up!
I'll be back! :)

Kyoto, Japan'08 (Holiday II)

No travel post is complete without one on the food! And I was very happie in Kyoto because Japanese is my favourite cuisine.
Very fresh yummy sashimi Tempura set meal

Sashimi set meal

The obligatory bowl of noodle soup picture - for Ryan Holliday :P

Tools for making my own tofu during one of the dinners. The black pot contains bean "juice" which I am supposed to make into tofu (bean curd) myself. It was fun! Fish appetiser

Sushi appetiser - these sushi pieces were really tiny

Fish on sweet yellow rice

Japanese seasonal veggie

Hot sushi - my first time

Tuna sashimi presented nicely as a flower

Seared raw tuna - very nice!

The sushi was really tasty and fresh

Yummy green tea jelly dessert
Black seasame puffs - these are reeeeeeally good!