sam heart travel

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...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 4 – Hakone Tour – SMBC Shinjuku – Mar 12, 2025   So excited for today! This is the day we've been looking forward to – our Hakone adventure! We booked a package tour through Klook for JPY 13,000 (PHP 5000), covering five amazing spots, although the Pirate Ship ride on Lake Ashi will cost an extra 1200 yen. The best part? It's a guided bus tour, meaning less hassle and more sightseeing! Our meeting point was 8 AM in front of the SMBC Bank in Shinjuku.   We woke up at 5 AM, packed our breakfast, and headed out. The trip from Senkawa station to Shinjuku took nearly an hour, with a few minor navigation challenges. We arrived at the bank with just 15 minutes to spare before the 8 AM meeting. Luckily, we found our guide, Tom, and were among the early birds. By 8:30 AM, the bus was full, and... that's the start of our Hakone Tour! I'm already anticipating stunning views and unforgettable experiences. Wish us luck (and hopefully som...