Travels of a Camel Racer

  Last day. Pathetic breakfast then another 2 ½ hr journey back to Tokyo bus to the train station then train to Shinjuku. Our hotel is the Star Inn Tokyo. Quite pleasant but by now I just want to be home.   We went out for a last meal together although sensibly Gary and Iris, and Chris and Peter didn’t come. The meal was OK but again probably a sign that I’m more than ready to come home, I just didn’t want to be there. However after dinner Jarrod took us for one last walk around Shinjuku to see all the bright lights. We walked down a tiny little street full of bars and restaurants that hold no more than 6 – 8 people, called Piss Alley.   Then whilst the others headed off for a final drink I went back to the hotel for “one more sleep until home time”.

 Not too early a start saw us on the 8:24 Shinkansen to Hakone. Once again rain and low level clouds stopped us from seeing Mt Fuji. We got the train to Hakone Yamoto station then boarded a private bus which was ours for the day. We went up the windiest, longest uphill road I’ve ever been on climbing to a height of > 100m to Sounzan where we took the Hakone ropeway to Owakudani. Sulphur Springs at Owakudani The views should have been spectacular but the inside windows just steamed up and the outside was covered in rain drops. We walked up to the sulphur springs and ate a traditional black eg – supposed to give you 7 years extra life.  We then took the ropeway down to Tokandai where we boarded the lake sightseeing cruise on a replica “galleon” type ship to Moto Hakone for lunch.   After lunch we explored the reconstructed Hakone Checkpoint ( https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5205.html )   Hakone Checkpoint Stone Shrines on Tokaido Highway above Hakone Checkpoi...