The Hakone ropeway's gondolas depart every minute and fit around ten people each. Traveling the full length of the ropeway takes around 30 minutes. 

Along the journey, passengers can enjoy views of the active, sulfuric hot spring sources of the Owakudani Valley between Sounzan and Owakudani that literally means ‘great boiling valley’, it's a bubbling thermal springs and provides a multi-sensory experience of heat, smell, sound and taste. 

White steam hisses out of cracks in the earth, and a strong smell of sulphur pervades the bleak valley. Steaming pools, hot streams and bubbling mud pits dot the rocky landscape, hinting at the immense power that lies deep underground.  

Discover Owakudani Black Eggs in Hakone, Japan: Legend holds eating just one of these black eggs can add seven years to one's life.  This was an ordinary egg before it was hard-boiled in sulphurous spring water. Thankfully it’s only the outside that’s turned black.  It tastes like a regular hard-boiled egg!

They also offered green frozen custard made from green tea - that was also good!

Nature's magic dazzles on this national park tour featuring this beautiful lake that you can Mt. Fuji in the distance.  We hopped aboard the Viking-style boat for an amazing 30-minute cruise and taking great photos of all the beauty that surrounded us.  What a wonderful experience!

Created 3,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption, this lake is cruised by boats year round and, from its southern edge, offers the view of Mt. Fuji often seen in tourist brochures.  Sightseeing destination for lake cruises on pirate-style ships with scenic mountain views.  Lots of great pictures on our download!

As we traveled on our luxury bus drive across the area, we stopped at a rest area and they had a food stand and all kinds of machines available for snacks and drinks and when we arrived in town, there was a McDonalds and a purple train ride.

The next day our cruise ship arrived in Kobe, Japan for our 9-hour tour!  We were in for an authentic taste of life in Kyoto and to experience the Japanese culture, food and performing arts!

Kinkaku-ji Temple, known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’ is one of the symbols of Kyoto and its most famous attraction. It was originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for the Shogun and later converted into a Zen Buddhist temple. 

The magnificent temple’s top two floors are completely covered in brilliant gold leaf making it very picturesque against a lush green background.  It was beautiful and the surrounding area was so magnificent with something special on an island surrounded by water.  Lots if pictures for you on the download!