We drove to Hakone to stay at Hyatt Hakone Spa & Resort for the weekend. Hakone is a famous onsen region, in Kanagawa Prefecture. This mountain resort is about 2.5-hour drive from Urawa.
On the way to Hakone, we stopped by at a highway service area for a quick snack. I had Asahikawa Shoyu Ramen. Yum.
We got to the hotel in the afternoon. Our room is so spacious and has the panoramic view of Hakone mountains. It was very foggy but I could still feel it.
After the most relaxing time in onsen (hot springs), we went to the hotel bar for Champagne aperitif time. Champagne tasted especially tasty after onsen!
Tonight's dinner was at hotel's sushi restaurant. We had the private room.
More Champagne! We had a toast with Dufour, Champagne Brut. This is a very special Champagne, because it's made from 100% old vine (average more than 50 years old) Pinot Blanc! Yes, Pinot Blanc is, in fact, one of the official grape varieties of Champagne and some producers still plant some of this grape variety. It had the very complex palate of nuts, butter, minerals, pear, etc. Such an elegant wine.
Marinated summer vegetables and mackerel.
Sashimi...Kanpachi, Ama-ebi, and Nama-tako. Mirai Corn, served raw.
Grilled scallop with butter sake sauce.
Cold Chawanmushi with ikura.
Assorted seasonal nigiri sushi...Kinme dai, Hotate, Calamari, Hirame, Toro, Uni, Tamago, Kuruma-ebi. Served with miso soup. My nephew had his own sushi plate.
Ao-ume (green plum) and peach jelly with blamange.
Outstanding master work!! I wish this restaurant was in LA, so that I could come to eat here more often!
Gochisosama deshita!
