Following our Mt. Fuji experience, the comfort and relaxation of the onsen hotel in Hakone was a nice respite. The hot springs helped soothe sore muscles (at least for Kelly and me, Ryan and Jason opted out of the nudity required onsens), and the Japanese style sleeping mats in the hotel were very comfortable. We opted for the breakfast buffet in the hotel Wednesday morning with both Japanese and western style breakfast foods, allowing us to try the unusual items, and then eat eggs, cereal, yogurt, and fruit. Check out our room and Ryan, Kelly, and Jason in the traditional yukata robes.

           

Jason requested flowers for our room at the onsen, the first night of our honeymoon spent in a hotel, but there was a bit of miscommunication. The front desk presented us with the flowers upon check-out, and we couldn’t quite get across the point that they were supposed to be in the room. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts, and they were very nice flowers.

After breakfast began the complex journey to Jogasaki, taking a bus to a train to a train to a train. Kelly had all the directions well detailed, and we surprisingly managed to get on all the correct trains. The trip was definitely worth it! This section along the eastern coast was created by lava from the Omuroyama Volcano over 4000 years ago and has beautiful rocky cliffs with magnificent views of the ocean and the city. We climbed the Kadowaki Cape lighthouse, crossed the suspension bridge at Kadowakizaki point, and went for an easy hike along the coast line . . . because we didn’t get enough hiking on Mt. Fuji and had no sore muscles whatsoever.

The journey then continued with a train to a train to a train (to maybe another train, I lost count), landing us in Kyoto in time for a late dinner.