Lake Ashi

To celebrate a family member's retirement, we wanted to include a day trip away from Tokyo. After comparing prices, we chose KKday's "Hakone, Mt. Fuji & Enoshima Day Trip," NT$1,544 per person, including transportation and tickets for each leg of the journey. The ten-hour trip started in Tokyo and ended in the city, saving us the effort of figuring out the transfers ourselves. This decision proved to be a great choice, allowing us to save our energy for the scenery. Our first stop was Lake Ashi, where we took a pirate ship. The ship, painted in gold and blue, with its towering mast and intricately carved prow, looked extravagant from afar, but surprisingly impressive up close. We headed straight to the deck. The wind rippled the lake's surface, and the mountains on either side enclosed the lake in a tranquil basin. However, the lake itself offered a different kind of comfort. Halfway through the journey, a vermilion torii gate suddenly appeared among the trees on the starboard side—the Peace Torii of Hakone Shrine, half-submerged in the water, backed by a dense cedar forest. People were even queuing to take photos on the stone steps. The sound of camera shutters clicking almost simultaneously filled the entire ship. The contrast of red and green, under the sunlight, was so intense it resembled a painting; at that moment, I felt the scene alone was worth the ticket price. The second stop was the Hakone Ropeway. The carriage slowly ascended, with layers of mountain ridges below, the smell of sulfur seeping in through the window cracks first. Arriving at Owakudani, white steam billowed from the mountain walls, the air carrying the distinctive eggy scent of hot springs. A queue formed in front of the landmark black egg monument, with everyone taking turns taking photos; legend says eating a black egg can extend one's life by seven years. We bought a bag of black eggs from "Gokuraku Chaya," the shells were jet black, but the inside was just ordinary white egg white. Standing at an altitude of 1000 meters, by the windy pass, with a hot egg and a cool breeze, it was the kind of taste you'd suddenly crave after returning to Taiwan. In the afternoon, we went to Enoshima. The approach to the shrine is lined with seafood shops and souvenir stalls. Under the sign for "Marudai," freshly grilled fish is on display, the air filled with the aroma of charred soy sauce. A bronze torii gate stands at the end of the slope, overlooking a series of steps and crowds. My family stood in front of the torii gate, arms outstretched, gesturing that we had finally reached the sea. A child walked by, holding a soft-serve ice cream. This is Enoshima in summer: bustling, salty, and vibrant.

Buying tickets online in advance reduced queuing time. The scenery on the boat was beautiful! It was a fantastic experience! Great!

The trip from Mount Fuji 5th station to Kamakura High School before is a very rich and colorful journey, on the way encountered traffic jam, the guide Mr. Zhang Ting clever adjustment route and itinerary, take us to enjoy the scenery and food delicious value for money restaurant dining !

The cable car from Hayato offers a 12-person ride 🚡, which is quite nice.

Our tour guide, Matt Yan, arranged the itinerary well and was a very nice and enthusiastic person. If you want to visit many classic attractions, this is truly a satisfying experience. I thought it was great, but unfortunately the weather was bad; Owakudani was completely shrouded in fog. 😆 I'll definitely come back again next time! 👍

Thank you, Mio-san, for guiding us on this trip. As a bilingual (English, Japanese, and Mandarin) tour guide who has lived in Tokyo for over 20 years, she was professional, considerate, and meticulous. She carefully explained the origins of each place's name and suggested itineraries. Her enthusiasm was just right—moderate and never overwhelming. She was always there with a gentle smile, offering help whenever needed. We really liked this guide; she possessed the solid, down-to-earth demeanor of someone from Tokyo, yet maintained the practicality, efficiency, and approachable politeness of a Chinese person. She ensured a quiet and peaceful trip, making us feel safe and secure. I especially loved her explanation of the origin of the name "Tokyo" (a timeless reversal of "Kyoto"). The pirate ship was exquisitely constructed, and the scenery along the way was beautiful. The black eggs at Owakudani were interesting. Enoshima was also beautiful (we came because it's a scene from a Korean drama 😁).

Unfortunately, the weather was bad, but I'll still choose KKday next time.