Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Back in Japan (Summer 2016)...Family trip to Hakone

Open lunch in Odawara

(July 24 - 25)
On the first weekend since my arrival, Tomoko, Wataru and I went to Hakone for onsen (hot spring) and relaxation. We left in the morning by Tomoko's car.

 photo IMG_1388_zpssjqrbnfb.jpg  photo IMG_1389_zpsxiowqvoo.jpg  photo IMG_1394_zpsvhixucnp.jpg  photo IMG_1397_zpsfgehszs3.jpg
On the way there, we made a stop in another historic town, Odawara. We visited Odawara castle, then had lunch at a nearby oden restaurant. Oden is a popular Japanese dish of various ingredients simmered in a broth. This restaurant specializes in the local ingredients. We sat at the counter and couldn't wait to savor many flavors.

 photo IMG_1391_zpski2lrcsy.jpg  photo IMG_1402_zps7uogdqc3.jpg  photo IMG_1405_zpsqzutbvg4.jpg  photo IMG_1442_zpsftwlupan.jpg
My oden was so good...I had daikon, different kinds of fishcake, tofu, shirataki konnyaku, etc. Then, I also had beef tendon udon. It was tasty! Tomoko's cold udon with summer toppings looked so good, too. There were even ice cubes in the cold broth.

 photo IMG_1420_zpsoyjsohsq.jpg  photo IMG_1421_zpscoj3yrsi.jpg  photo IMG_1446_zpswugpi9ih.jpg
In Hakone, we had such a nice relaxing time bathing in onsen. We stay at the same place every time we come to Hakone. Their breakfast is always outstanding, too.

 photo IMG_1426_zpsregxuwcn.jpg  photo IMG_1423_zpsfxrfk1du.jpg  photo IMG_1431_zpsy37dbbcm.jpg
The next day, we stopped by at a soba restaurant in Hakone, before we left town. There are many very good soba restaurants in Hakone. My cold soba with grated mountain yam dipping sauce (with raw egg yolk) was so good.

 photo IMG_1432_zpskpuy4bc6.jpg  photo IMG_1436_zpsbblddb0q.jpg
Then, we paid a visit to Hakone Shrine.

I felt so refreshed.