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The aerodynamic power coupler is like something out of a steampunk retro futurist animation

Leaving the city, heading into the opening scenes of a Miyazaki movie

The Hakone-tozan railway does several turnaround switchbacks (swapping the direction of travel) to navigate the steep grade.

🤓🚞

Train to cable-car / gondola connection at the station

Cheers from the roof of our 3 storey single stair hostel .

Nice day for a bit of Picasso and co at the Hakone open air museum. Walking distance from town so no car needed.

Inset tatami

Each of the two cable cars is reeled in/out independently

Fuji (at last)

It is a compelling mountain.

Volcanic vents and the infusion/pump stations that send water down to the Onsen bath resorts below

The Black Eggs are cooked in the springs (and bring long life apparently)

Bullet Train Regional Train Mountain Switchback Train Cable Funicular Train Gondola Now… Pirate Ship (of course)

A single ticket provides access to all the regional modes - including the pirate ship

Hakone-jinja is known for the waterfront torii-of-peace, but it’s mostly a torii-of-instagram. I liked the big cedars (that rivaled vancouver island)

Bullet Train Regional Train Mountain Switchback Train Cable Funicular Train Gondola Pirate Ship Now the Bus 7 car free modes this trip

What I really like is the Suica app that lets you tap your phone as a transit pass (for buses and subways) vs carrying a transit card. It works across multiple cities and can be refilled on the fly.

Ok. Excellent dinner at the Gora Brewery. Great food and a really nice DIPA. Nice design with rock garden behind the kitchen. First euro style efficient windows I’ve seen (centre mount w alu sills 🤓). And! A hot spring fed foot bath between the brewery and cafe.

Stars competing with the Tokyo Glow

Today we’re walking the Tokaido road, a stone path laid down in the 1600s to connect Kyoto and Tokyo (Edo)

Tea and a snack at the thatched timber Amasake Tea House.

Prettier than my usual takeout lunch