Through Fog & Steam
Hakone, Japan
Hakone is a mountainous town southwest of Tokyo known for its onsens and large red shrine that sits on the edge of Lake Ashi. This Shinto shrine is often photographed with Mt.Fuji (or Fuji-San as the Japanese would call it) filling the background and completing a most picturesque scene. As luck would have it, I was there in the middle of a rainstorm that lasted over a week. Instead of an iconic view of Fuji-San, I got clouds and fog. Regardless, Hakone makes for some beautiful pictures.
Rain or shine, this town lived up to its description online. From the old, iconic temples nestled in between the massive red cedars to the new, open-air museum, everything was stunning. Another attraction that cannot be missed in Hakone is Ōwakudani Valley which is a volcanic valley with active sulfur vents and natural hot springs. The fog that surrounded the mountain only enhanced the eerie feeling you get when standing at the mouth of these sulfur vents as they bellow steam skyward. When you get tired of the smell of eggs in the air, the best cure is to head inside to buy some hard boiled eggs to snack on. These are no ordinary eggs, however, they have been boiled in the sulfur springs which has caused the shell to turn black. These black eggs (or Kuro-Tamago), which can only be found here, are thought to extend one's life by seven years. You better believe I ate two of those bad boys.
Everything in the town shuts down around 5 pm. At first, that might sound inconvenient, but it forces you to slow down, enjoy a delicious supper, and take a relaxing dip in an onsen.
