Japan Day 42: Sulfur and the Lakeside

Today was mostly focused on Hakone, a district in Kanagawa known for its hot springs and close proximity to Tokyo. I was able to visit Ōwakudani, a volcanic valley in the area, where I hiked to view the steaming sulphur vents! The sulfur didn't smell that great, but is supposedly good for your health. 

Locals say that eating an egg boiled in sulfurous water will add seven years to your life! I ate one, so hopefully it works! The egg tasted like a normal egg, but the shell was completely black from the sulfur! There ere also many other peculiar local wares in the area, such as wasabi and black egg flavored ice cream. I tried the wasabi ice cream, and it was quite good! The wasabi was not too strong, and added a refreshing kick. The black egg flavored ice cream tasted like vanilla but more creamy, like a custard. 

For lunch, we went to another part of Hakone near Lake Ashi. There, we had a delicious meal with a variety of dishes, including one in which the pork was still being cooked by a flame at the table! Nearby, I was also able to drive a mechanical moving panda around with my friend. It was a good time! There were also many ships on the lake, including cruise ships and even a pirate ship!

After touring around Hakone, we returned to Tokyo to the Setagaya Art Museum for a fashion show produced by Showa students. The theme was "Japonism," and the fashion was a mix of traditional Japanese and western styles. It was a very well-done show, even though it was only fifteen minutes. Afterward, we returned to the Weekly Dormy Inn! It has been a while since I was at the Inn, and I have really missed it! It is the place where I can have the most comfortable sleep in Japan (and also the best wi-fi)!