Tokyo part 2 - Hakone and Shinjuku

Hello!!

Sorry for the long hiatus. Been busy with my job lately... I wish someday I don't have to start my blog post with the word "sorry". hehehe...

So, where I was? Oh.. yes, still in Tokyo... (OMG it's almost one year ago, and I totally miss Japan T_T).
The next day, we went to Hakone via Owakudani to see the glorious Mount Fuji!!! Because we still have a valid JR Pass so we took a train to Odawara Station. And when you reached Odawara, you can get a free map or you can buy a 2-days / 3-days Free Pass. This pass will allow you to take any kind of transportation during your stay at Hakone. Apparently Odawara is not Hakone yet. We still have to take another train ride to reach "Hakone-Yumoto" Station. I can't believe I have to google everything again because I already forgot T_T. If you're using my blog as your guide to visit Japan, please don't do it! Kindly refer to this website instead, which is more accurate and detailed.

And we didn't buy the Free Pass because we didn't intend to stay there for 2-days. There is no 1-day pass. With our simple calculation and math, we thought that all the transportation cost won't that expensive. The 2-days pass is 4,000 JPY. Quite expensive rite. Then multiple by 2, it's already 8,000 JPY!!

But it was a WRONG DECISION!!! The officer kept telling us to buy the pass as it will be cheaper, even the pass is for 2 days. We thought it was just another tourist trap. But the Japanese never lie!! At the end of the day all our expenses for transportation in Hakone cost us around 4,800 JPY.

This is a simple map i found from google. There are few routes to choose.
Since we only had 1 day, we choose the shortest route.

First photo taken after we stepped out from the train. I guess this was at Hakone-Yumoto.

After another train ride, which I spent with sleeping. We reached at some place, I thought Hakone it's just one big place, then we can just walk around. But i was wrong. There's not so much things to see outside the station. And we quickly went back and take another train ride..

If i'm not wrong, the second ride that we took is the Hakone Tozan Railway. It's an oldschool train that walk very slow. I didn't really excited on this ride as the train make several stops for nothing, just to change the conductor.

After 3 train rides, we arrived at the Cable Car station. I was totally lost, I don' t know what station is this, I don't know where to go. What I do is just follow another tourist. Then we just walk walk walk until reached the cable car platform. Not so much queue. There is one uncle who help to open and close the cable car door. I really amazed and touched. Because once we already on board the cable car, the uncle wave and smile and say some japanese i don't understand. He do it very sincerely, and he really wave so hard like he's sending his son go overseas. I have no choice but wave back to him, until the cable car has already move quite far, the uncle still keep waving and smile. I can't imagine if he have to keep doing that for every cable car. Must be tiring. Maybe at home he cannot feel his mouth and hand anymore.

Me inside cable car. The uncle smile was way wider than my smile here.

View from top. No mount Fuji in sight.

And finally after this cable car ride, there's so called a proper place to have lunch. I've been hungry and want to eat something. Let's not waste stomach space while in Japan. Eat anything while you can!!

This place apparently is the one i saw at cheeserland and qiuqiu blog. The place at Hakone that sell the Black Egg!! It's called Owakudani.

Black Egg in the making. You eat one egg, your age will increase by 7 years?? I'm too lazy to google.

We didn't buy the egg. Because they only sell them in 5 or 6. Who will eat all the egg. And from what i heard it tasted the same as the normal egg. I really want to buy just to take photo with it though. I almost ask random tourist whether we can share or not. But i chickened out.

We bought this instead. Our lunch.
Spicy Ramen with Black Noddle. Tastewise, just so-so. Nothing really special.

And we went explore the place. The view was surreal. The path covered with tree branch.

that cheeky gal

the man behind the camera

Finally! A photo with the black egg. T_T

From Owakudani, we continue our journey to Togendai. To ride the boat. According to the map, we also can see mount Fuji from the boat, if you're really really lucky.

When we reached at the Hakone-machi actually we can walk and go to the Shrine. The famous red gate in the middle of the lake. But we had no time. We had to catch the last bus to Odawara Station. If we missed the bus then we have to either take cab or spend the night there.

The view near the bus stop is soooo pretty. I can imagine living here, and have an evening walk. OMG....
Oh yeah, for the entire journey through mountain-crater-sea. THERE IS NO MOUNT FUJI AT ALL... I'm so sadddd... Maybe it's because the weather is a bit cloudy. Luckily it didn't rain. Just cloudy and foggy.

My black on black on black attire. The weather was so chilled.

I think that's the way to the Shrine. No time though. Maybe next time.

Spotted this cute "Mr. Bean" car.

Bought snack at nearby conbini. Can you believe they sell salad?!?! OMG, I wish we also have salad at Alfamart here in Indo.. T_T

The hub bought this one too. Doesn't look appealing from the packaging. But It tasted damn nice!!! Super crunchy and the chocolate taste is super yummy. Actually I ask my friend who stayed in Japan to bought for us again.

Then we took Shinkansen and go back to Shunjuku area. It's still a bit early. So we decided to have Tontaksu for dinner. We followed what ladyironchef has recommended. The nearest one is Katsukura, located near Takashimaya, Shinjuku. The restaurant is a bit formal. The waiter will help you to take care of your coat. And everyone who dined there dress nicely. Errr... I think everyone in Japan dress nicely. The price is not so cheap, but trust me IT WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Oh my long hair.. I miss you

The best Tonkatsu. The cabbage is sweet. If you like the cabbage salad in Singapore, this is even better!!

I love their Barley-Rice

After happy-tummy session, we continue to explore around Shinjuku. It's so pretty during the night. All the shops are illuminating. There're some restaurant with super pretty window display. Yes, not only boutique have attractive window display, apparently in Japan, restaurant have too.

Stylish Office Ladies

Panchinko

Go-go Curry!! They don't open anymore in Singapore. Regret didn't try the one in Japan.

Spotted! Ichiran Ramen at Shinjuku

See the shop there "Ranking Queen"? I spent a quite long time there buying makeup products. They put rank for each categories depend on the people polls I guess. Read about it on cheeserland's blog. I bought some blush on, heels' pad and eyeliner. Sometimes the #1 product is not the most expensive. 

The commuters

Isn't this photo is cool? Half-half

Ok, so here's the end of the post. See you in my next post: "Tsukiji Fish Market and Life changing Cheese Tart".

Don't miss me! XOXO