Thetraveljunkie.org – It’s 7am. Your alarm goes off. You open tour eyes, you get up and look out of the window. The light, the white trains and the sun reflecting off Tokyo’s skyscrappers wish you a good morning. It’s the first time we’ve woken up at The Tokyo Dome Hotel in Tokyo, bang in the middle of Tokyo. Being so near everything and having a bird’s eye view to enjoy it all is amazing. We had an incredible room which allowed us to take in Tokyo’s unique light.
Thetraveljunkie.org – We went to Hakone Sekisho and sat in Sekisho Tabimonogatari restaurant. I loved that there were so much space in the restaurant. There were lots of tables and lots of seating. It was roomy and comfortable. I really liked the fresh, Japanese modern feel, yet it had a warm, quirky atmosphere. It was a really lovely lunch for me. And such a treat!
Thetraveljunkie.org – Sometimes, when we reminisce about our trip to Japan we struggle to decide what our favourite city is. Tokyo is breathtaking, futurist and totally incredible but Hakone has something which we absolutely adored: magic.
Hakone sightseeing cruise
A video posted by The Travel Junkie (@traveljunkieid)
Thetraveljunkie.org – Everyone says it. Hakone is not a city where one can act like a tourist, it is a city that must be experienced for real. The best thing to do is to relax and enjoy its atmosphere. Planning a trip is always a good idea but we recommend that one also improvises when in Hakone.
Thetraveljunkie.org – In the middle of Hakone’s lush greenery, Owakudani is like an entirely different dimension. The surface of the earth turns white and the wilted woodlands; a desolate landscape spreads before you. But this is just another form that the living earth takes. Let yourself feel the Earth’s breath.
Thetraveljunkie.org – When in Gotemba, we went to our go-to destination is Owakudani (volcanic valley) in Hakone and there is no better time than during Autumn when the air is crisp and the leaves are colorful. Here is a little guide to my absolute favorite places in the Owakudani Valley with ropeway. The trip was a success and I enjoyed it a lot. It was still a nice experience.
Thetraveljunkie.org – After such a hectic November we decided that it was time to slow down and recover from all the madness, so when in Gotemba in Shizuoka Prefecture, we spend the weekday in Gotemba Kogen Resort and we did not think about it twice. With the Mt. Fuji as a backdrop, we were able to relax surrounded by peace and nature. We ‘onsen’ed in thermal waters, enjoyed some of Japan’s most amazing views and attended an early Christmas party.
Thetraveljunkie.org – Hello from Japan! We made a promise during our last road trip around Nagano: to repeat the experience in Tohoku. That is why a few days ago we packed our rucksacks and set off to spend a great days. We visited places that none of us had previously visited to see amazing things. The plan was that there was no plan, we just wanted to enjoy nature and our friends. Now the plan is to do the same thing again as soon as possible.
Thetraveljunkie.org – We are in Shosenkyo yet again but this time we will be walking on a cold day. We are looking forward to a fun of day, but before cracking on we decided to charge our batteries at Sengataki waterfall (30m), was formed by upheaval of the earth. We also chilled among the temple and restaurants. Stay tuned, plenty more to come very soon!
Thetraveljunkie.org – We arrived in Shosenkyo to Museum of Shadowgraph on a very special. We are so happy and drying to tell you all about it.. In the meantime, here are some photos of the museum. We cannot stop falling in love with Shosenkyo, we enjoy its bridges, panorama-dai and museum, coffee shop terraces and it’s magical light.
Thetraveljunkie.org – To grab a bite with friends, and as per someone’s recommendation, we headed to Houtou Kaikan in Shosenkyo. The hoto is delicious and the decor so gorgeous that it’s practically impossible not to into the best Japanese cuisine. The Houtou Kaikan offers a variety of seasonal dishes featuring the local specialty hoto noodles, the delicious embodiment of the local culture of the Kai region and the perfect culinary companion to the scenic beauty of Shosen Gorge.
Thetraveljunkie.org – As soon as we got to Karuizawa we left our cases and went to Shosenkyo, where about 3 hours later, we came across one of the most beautiful places that we’ve ever seen, Shosenkyo Gorge outside central Kofu City, one of Japan’s most beautiful gorges. It is part of the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, which covers more than 1250 square kilometers of forested mountains, valleys and some rural towns in the prefectures of Yamanashi, Saitama, Nagano and Tokyo.