Hakone National Park (or, to give it its full name,
'Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park) was established as a protected
space in 1936. Although the park covers a large area collectively,
it is not all connected - more that the conservation efforts are
dispersed tourist sites throughout the region. The largest
attraction in both size and popularity is Mount Fuji, Japan's
largest mountain at 12,389 feet (3,776 metres) tall.
The mighty snow-covered peak of Mount Fuji has become an iconic
symbol of the country, and is depicted on many of its postcards and
souvenirs. Even though the mountain is about 60 miles (97
kilometres) from Tokyo, on a clear day it can be seen in the city's
skyline. It is believed that the first ascent was made by a monk in
663 AD, and the first ascent by a non-Japanese person was made in
1860. Close to the mountain is the immense Lake Ashi, a huge crater
lake that was created by Fuji's last eruption. At 2,400 feet (732
metres) above sea level, the lake offers great views over the
surrounding scenery.
Another highlight of the park and its unforgettable views is
Owakudani, also known as the 'Great Boiling Valley'. Accessible by
the cable car known as the Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani is very
popular with tourists. The area is favoured because of the
fantastic panorama over the valley, but also mainly because of its
hot springs and sulphur vents. One unusual attraction here is
'Kuro-tamago', a local speciality of eggs hard-boiled in the hot
springs. This particular kind of boiling makes the eggs go black,
and they have a slight sulphuric smell, but according to legend,
eating one will increase your longevity. It is believed that each
one will add seven years to a person's life!
The travel and hotel arrangements were excellent. One gripe for the elderly is having to constantly move cases at each hotel (with one exception, Thank you Granvia, Kyoto). The Tokyo tour had perhaps one too many historic visits (I personally would have passed on the Edo museum for a daytime look at Shibuya crossing).One day in Tokyo is simply not enough. Similarly, too much Kyoto in 1 day where a 'rest' day would have been priceless. In retrospect, I now query the value of the Hokkaido sector in the tour. Perhaps the time spent here would have served us better elsewhere as it is more of a specialist winter destination, just not enough content for 3+ days.