sam heart travel

Tokyo 2025 – Day 4 – Hakone Tour: Yamanaka Swan Lake – March 12, 2025   Okay, so after our lovely time at Oshino Hakkai, we piled back onto the bus. Tom, our ever-cheerful guide, announced our final stop: Yamanaka Lake, famous (supposedly!) for its swans and stunning views of Mount Fuji. The "stunning views" part, however, turned out to be a bit of a fib… at least for us.   Stepping off the bus, it was… underwhelming, to say the least. The area felt pretty deserted. No restaurants, no shops, no real touristy activities – just the lake itself. There were swans, yes, but the overall vibe was… sad. The shoreline wasn't particularly pretty, probably due to the weather (which, let's be honest, wasn't doing anyone any favors). It was a bit of a letdown, a far cry from the exciting energy of the rest of the Hakone tour. This place seriously needs a bit of a boost; a little injection of life wouldn't hurt!   We didn't hang around fo...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 4 – Hakone Tour – Oshino Hakkai – March 12, 2025   Okay, so picture this: I'm practically snoring on the bus when Tom drops the bomb – our next stop is Oshino Hakkai! He starts telling us this amazing story about the spring water, all about how it's melted snow from Mount Fuji (seriously!), and how drinking it adds a day to your life! Sounds crazy, right? But after the whirlwind of the past few days, I was honestly just ready for a nap. 😴   We get there, and guess what? It starts pouring rain! And of course, we're completely unprepared, no umbrellas. But you know what? The moment I started walking those little paths towards the village, all my tiredness vanished. It was seriously magical.   I mean, seriously gorgeous. Crystal-clear spring water everywhere, these adorable little watermills, charming bridges, and these traditional Japanese houses – it was like stepping into a postcard! I kept imagining how amazing it would ...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 4 – Hakone Hakone Tour – Lunch at Fuji Premium Hotel – March 12, 2025   It was almost 3 PM, and man, were we starving! After all that exploring, our tour guide, Tom, dropped a sweet announcement: lunch! We were only 20 minutes from Oowakudani, and let me tell you, we were not patient. 😂   Before the tour even started, Tom asked what kind of lunch we wanted. I went for the karage (because, duh!), while Badet opted for BBQ eel. Our bus pulled up to this huge hotel with a canteen, and everyone practically sprinted inside to grab a seat. We only had 30 minutes to eat, so it was a seriously fast-paced lunch!   But seriously, this place was efficient. I'm talking 40+ people fed in under 10 minutes! They even had free extra rice, which, of course, I took advantage of. My karage was fresh, hot, and unbelievably delicious. Badet's eel, however, wasn't so great – a bit too fishy for her taste. Still, it was a filling meal that totally hit the s...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 4 – Hakone Tour – Hakone Ropeway – March 12, 2025   Okay, so Hakone Ropeway. Picture this: we're crammed onto a tourist bus, buzzing with excitement (and maybe a little bit of jet lag). Next stop? The Hakone Ropeway – basically a cable car that whisks you up to Owakudani, home of those legendary black eggs. You know, the ones that supposedly add seven years to your life? Worth a try, right? 😉   Now, being the VIPs we are (don't worry, I'll spill the tea on that later), we totally skipped the queue. Straight to the front! The cable car itself? Think cozy, slightly swaying metal box, enough room for about 15 people. It was a total novelty for us; we don't have anything quite like this back home. It's one of those experiences that makes you feel like a kid again.   The weather, unfortunately, decided to play spoilsport. Gloomy skies meant Mt. Fuji was nowhere to be seen. Our tour guide, bless her heart, pointed out where it should have bee...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 4 – Hakone Tour: Ahoy, Matey! (or, How I Conquered the Lake Ashi Pirate Ship) – March 12, 2025   Okay, so Hakone. Picture this: We're trekking, a merry band of tourists, towards Lake Ashi, all hyped for our pirate ship adventure. The walk from the Hakone Shrine? A pleasant fifteen-minute stroll, though I wouldn't call it a leisurely amble – the anticipation was palpable! And the queue? Yeah, let's just say it rivaled the line for the latest iPhone. But hey, worth it, right?   The "Pirate Ship" – I'm using air quotes because, let's be real, it's not exactly Blackbeard's vessel. No skull and crossbones, no swashbuckling crew. Instead, think plush seating, Renaissance-style murals on the ceiling, and even crystal chandeliers! Seriously, it was more luxurious than what I Imagine. There's even a coffee bar – perfect for those who prefer a warm beverage and a window seat to the dramatic scenery. The "pirat...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 4: Hakone – OMG, Those Tori Gates! – March 12, 2025   Okay, so the bus ride from Shinjuku to Hakone? Two hours of my life I won't get back, but hey, the scenery was pretty sweet. Seriously, the temperature dropped like crazy as we got into the mountains – even with the heater blasting! And snow on the sides of the road?! So unexpected and cool. Mount Fuji was playing hide-and-seek though. Total tease!   First stop: Hakone Shrine and those AMAZING torii gates in Lake Ashi. Our guide, Tom, gave us the lowdown on the shrine – it's like, super old and important, and people pray there for good luck. The lake reflecting the gates? Picture perfect (even without Fuji showing off).   We had an hour – bathroom break first, obviously, after that bus ride! Then, straight to the gates. They were even more stunning in person. It was like something out of an anime – seriously, I felt transported! The crimson red against the lake and mountains… chef's kiss. ...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 3: Kamakura Ramen, Shibuya – March 11, 2025   Two hours at Shibuya Sky. Amazing views, but by 3:00 pm, our stomachs were screaming for food! We needed a serious refueling session after all that sightseeing. Shibuya's restaurant scene is insane – so many choices, it was almost overwhelming! We spent a good fifteen minutes just wandering, paralyzed by decision fatigue. Everything looked amazing!   Then, BAM! We spotted this little ramen joint called Kamakura. They had these killer combo meals – ramen, tonkatsu, and karage! Perfect for two hungry travelers like us. The place was tiny, a real hole-in-the-wall kind of vibe. It felt like eating at a bar, with the kitchen right in the middle of everything. We shed our winter jackets immediately – the place was seriously toasty!   Ordering was super easy – one of those automated ticket machines. You punch in your order, hand the ticket to the staff, and wait. About ten to fifte...