Cat's Postcard from Picasso Pavilion

HAKONE, JAPAN, 4th November 2010 - In Hakone's Open Air Museum, more than 300 works by Picasso are gathered.

Here I am outside said building housing not only Pablo Picasso's works but also those of his daughter Maya.

Aside from that come-on, there are also portraits of Picasso taken by David Douglas Duncan for the last decade or so of Picasso's life.

Black or White, its an egg!

OWAKUDANI, HAKONE, JAPAN, 3rd November 2010 - Somewhere on this post is  a picture or two of the kind of egg I almost bought.



A cold wind blew around me and probably slapped some logic into my head.

I came back to my senses and thought of keeping my yen - after all,  whether its black or white shells, its still that - an egg!

I skipped buying black eggs... going a very different way from what almost all the other people around me were doing.

Ha!... who needs 7 extra years of longevity?

Hmm...and that is on a per egg basis too....





Owakudani Nature Trail is the found in the first stop of the ropeway during its trip to Togendai in Hakone, Japan. Its the ropeway's highest point and means "Great Boiling Valley"...later pics will show proof why its called that (either that or the smell will clue you in).

[picture of the eggs being hoisted to//fro boiling area and selling area]

Sulphurically-fragrant postcard from Owakudani!

HAKONE, KANAGAWA PREF., JAPAN, 3rd November 2010 - Although a bit far away from Osaka and more accessible from Tokyo, my goal was really to reach Hakone - if only to try and see some of the stations which were said to have spectacular views.

Truly, Hakone has much to offer the visitor who has the Hakone Free Pass! (though why its called free when I paid for it, is beyond my ken at the moment).


Owakudani is a station along the Hakone Ropeway between Sounzan and Togendai. It is a popular tourist site for its scenic views, volcanic activity, and especially, Kuro-tamago (黒玉子) — a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs.

Fuji-Hakone Guesthouse Site

http://www.fujihakone.com
For the budget traveler to Hakone though its a bit isolated.

A Japanese Inn Group member offers inexpensive and clean lodging in tatami rooms, all non-smoking.

Listed in both Frommer's and Lonely Planet.
Listed in JNTO Hakone brochure.
A Welcome Inn Member.

Listed are:
Fuji-Hakone Guest House and..
Moto-Hakone Guest House

HAKONE ICHINOYU GROUP

http://english.ichinoyu.co.jp/index.html
One of their hotels/ryokans was a recommended place to stay in Hakone (aside from the famous Fujiya Hotel) which will not make your wallet weep but is still a ryokan (think "old").

There I was ready to reserve and look for a room when I read from a review that single accommodations are not accepted. *sigh*

The ryokan has only tatami rooms. The oldest date from the Meiji period. Located near Tonosawa Station, this is next to a roaring river and stands on a tree-shaded winding road that follows the track of the old Tokaido Highway. It claims to be the oldest ryokan in the area and was once honored by the visit of an Edo period shogun.