Food, Travel and Doodle: Japan 23 Mar to 5 Apr 2017 Day 9

We were really keen to have a look at Mt Fuji, so decided to take a day trip to Hakone before going down to Kyoto. To get to Hakone, we planned to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Odawara, store our luggage at the station before making our way to Hakone. We had to get back to Odawara to catch the 4.08pm Hikari to Kyoto.

Let's goooo

Honestly, when you reach Odawara it doesn't feel like you're anywhere near quaint mountainous towns. But luckily, there was a blue line that told us, we were heading in the right direction.

Follow the line

Always feel satisfied when I manage to get a locker at the train station

Everyone going Hakone. Lots of local tourists too.

Hakone Tozan Bus to get to Hakone-Yumoto Station

Places recommended by the tourist centre. We decided to go to Lake Ashi….

See You Later!

Hakone-Yumoto Station here we come

Turning into the station

Hakone-Yumoto Station

Realised at about this moment that I left the umbrella opposite the station omgg, I ran like a mad person to find it.

Safe!

On the train

Unfortunately seated opposite a very trying neighbour who was trying to get a reaction out of me by kicking me and watching my face carefully. If it was an adult doing that, I would use another adjective to describe the situation.

I was happy to exit the train at Kowakidani Station, but it was raining and coldd and the area felt totally deserted..

Sadness Part 1

BTW check out the segregated Unisex toilet - abit strange..

Empty deserted feels, cold drizzlee

Sadness Part 2

We sought shelter at a nearby bus stop to get our bearings, and this little shop at the bus stop is amazingly vintage and old-school

Check out this fridge

Ok ok, reaching Lake Ashi.

We managed to get to the Lake Ashi stop. And somehow the road crossing feels like abit dangerous and out of the blue, and no serene scenery happening yet

Sadness Part 3

Finally at Lake Ashi

But..

where the scenery..

Sadness Part 4

On hindsight, we should have planned to spend at least a night at Hakone to fully enjoy the sights. The weather also put a damper on the trip, sadly.

Trying to stay upbeat but check out YK's bitter happy smile

We decided to enter this restaurant - Tsuiki. It has a banner that says Ramen

Very family restaurant style

Pretending to take own pic but actually trying to capture the surroundings

Pretending to take own pic but actually trying to capture surroundings Part 2

Thank goodness for pictures

Looks yummy!

I thought it this was an interesting pickled side

1350Y - very reasonably priced, although not eyebrow raising-ly good

This restaurant opposite Tsuiki looked really interesting, so in we went; Hakone Karaage Karatto.

Welcomed by a cutie, heart melt

I decided on the set menu that was displayed outside the restaurant. And it looked fabulous!

Karaage, beer bread, soup of the day, salad, fruits

Zoom in good soup

Zoom in beautiful bread

I really loved it. I felt that everything was exquisite, from the taste to the presentation and the service. This restaurant totally made my day!

Happy

We had to catch the train to Kyoto from Odawara so it was time to leave.

It was actually not a big deal if we missed the train because we had the JR pass, but we rushed to keep to time! And we were so proud that we managed to get onto the platform with 5minutes to spare.

There was a train waiting at the platform, and I suggested that we get on the train first and walk to our car from the inside. However, about 3 minutes before 4.08pm, the train started to move... and I knew something was wrong.... because the trains move on the dot in Japan.

We got onto the wrong train and the only thing I could say was, the compartment looks nice and abit luxurious.

Sadness Part 5

Sadness Part 6

There was a family of tourists in front of us, and it was clear that both our groups were meant to be on the train to Kyoto, not towards Okayama. We were advised after many hand signals and broken sentences to get off at the next stop and reserve another train ticket to Kyoto.

There are no pictures here, because once we got off, it was a mad run to the ticket counter to reserve the train tickets and a mad run to the platform to get on the train to Kyoto. I can only say I will not forget the stressful wait in front of the ticket counter with the ticket buyer of the other tourist family in the same plight as us.

Finally reach Kyoto

Got to take bus to Airbnb Apt near Ichijoji Station

YK looks kinda happy here, but I think it's probably relief after settling into the bus because the bus queue was crowded, the roads weren't really luggage friendly, the floor was wet, and it just seemed wrong of us to bring up 2 big luggage onto the cramped bus. No one seemed to care, although you'd never know what's on their mind..

When we got to Ichijoji, we had to walk in quite abit to get to the apartment. It was dark and abit drizzly, and when we got to the place, it was dark... and we almost missed it. We were like loitering around outside cos we weren't really sure if it was the right place.

But, it was an amazing place. The entire 2 storey apartment.

Staircase to bedroom

The long journey with the luggage felt totally worth it. >.<

After settling in, it was time to eat and explore. YK was also not feeling so good so we wanted to get some medicine. I learnt something new then, that convenience stalls in the area don't usually sell aspirin / pain relievers / medication. When I attempted to ask the convenience store staff, I got this 'why are you asking me this super weird question' look. Anyway we managed to find a pharmacy and got the flu medicine for YK. And then...…...