I don't think I'll ever forget the first time I saw Mt Fuji. I couldn't believe my eyes. My eyes were registering the snow-capped mountain, a marvelous sight that still makes my heart skip a beat, but my brain was saying, no no it's impossible. Mt Fuji is known to be elusive; some of my friends stayed in Hakone for two days without even sighting Mt Fuji once — would my bad luck actually allow me to see Mt Fuji the first time, the very first hour, I was in Hakone?


Some Japanese ladies broke my train of thoughts, squiming to get a better view of the scene outside our bus, squealing, "Fuji-san! Fuji-san!" Then, I knew it — the snow-capped mountain I saw was Mt Fuji. My childhood dreams, completed at 21. It was surreal, just like when I first witnessed the A-bomb Dome in Hiroshima. My entire Japan travel was surreal.


In a way, I was glad Hakone Ropeway was suspended at Sounzan or I'd have never discovered Owakudani. There's something about Japan that caused me to be crazy thankful for everything, even the little errors that occured throughout my travel.


Owakudani is known for its black eggs — chicken eggs with black shells due to chemical reactions after being hard-boiled in Owakudani's hot springs. (I know this only because I googled.) It's rumoured to add seven years to your life when you consume a Owakudani black egg. Unfortunately, they only sold the eggs in a bulk of six and I was alone so I didn't have a chance to try the egg.

Most items in Owakudani's gift shop were made of Owakudani black egg

The reality of taking photos via a self-timer when you travel solo

Travellers used to be able to follow this hiking trail to Mount Kamiyama and Komagatake Ropeway, however, Owakudani's hiking trail is currently closed because of the abundance of volcanic gases.

The hiking trails were once closed in April 2015 and reopened in April 2016.

Winters are brutal and unforgiving — that's why it's my favourite season.

The winds were so strong and cold, it was impossible to get a good shot.

A pretend shot because I didn't have money to spare hahaha.

After marvelling at the snow (and even bending down to cautiously touch them with my gloved-hands), I continued my hunt for Mt Fuji on Hakone Ropeway with my Hakone Free Pass, travelling from Owakudani to Togendai.

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Japan Solo Travel (January 2017)

Tokyo Summary and Getting Around Tokyo | Tokyo Imano Hostel Review | Tokyo Pokemon Centre & Shibuya Crossing | Tokyo Lockers and Shinjuku Gyoen Garden | Tokyo Harajuku (Shopping, Food, Daiso) | Tokyo bills Omotesando (Tokyu Plaza)

Hakone One Day Itinerary | Hakone Tozan Railway and Cable Car | Seeing Mt Fuji at Owakudani | Hakone Ropeway and Sightseeing Cruise | Trekking to see Hakone Shrine and Mt Fuji

9 Hours Narita Capsule Hotel Review | Tokyo Narita Airport