Travel in Japan is a treat. Things work! Everyone is polite and so helpful and their systems make sense.

We were able to take our bags down to the foyer this morning and have them measured and then forward them onto Kyoto where we arrive in two days. Paid in cash by the size. how fabulous.

We were able to travel to Shinjuku station in a maxi taxi with hand luggage holding our two days of clothes and toiletries. It makes travel easy.

We were on the Romance train for a 90 minute trip to Hakone where in a good day you can view Mt Fuji. We found our way through this giant of a station because the signs were simple to follow – lots of easy English signs everywhere.

I thought with a name like Romance we might have violins play us aboard. But no! It was the usual efficient lining up and boarding in an orderly manner. And no it wasn’t pink with red love hearts ♥️ but straightforward comfortable seats.

We left on the crack if 10! And glided out of Tokyo past the neat and tidy suburbs, with no graffiti tags to be seen. Just plenty of potted plants and tidy houses.

Arriving in Hakone Yamato was different. On to a more tourist type train, crowded, so we had no seat and swung from the hanging handles for nearly 40 minutes.

Not fun! Especially with no coffee.

Then into a local bus to our hotel.

We found reception after entering through an adjacent building which had an October beer festival starting.

Or rooms weren’t quite ready. It was only 1 PM. So we headed back to the beer feast and had lunch and a beer before walking down hill to the Harkone Open Air Art Museum What a gorgeous place.

Spread around a park like area of rolling slopes were the most amazing sculptures, a maze, separate small galleries featuring world famous sculptures, bronzes and even a gallery dedicated to the work of Picasso. He was one very busy artist with work in galleries world wide.

A free bus saved us from walking 19 mins uphill which gave us time to get to our very comfortable rooms and be ready to go to dinner at 5. Yes very early but we decided it suits us after big days and also gives plenty of time to relax in our lovely room with a private onsen on our verandah.

It seems we are encouraged to wear the traditional pyjamas to dinner. So just the girls embraced it. It took the decision of what to wear away and we felt fabulous.

Most people wore either the pjs or the yakata.

Dinner is included in the cost at our hotel the Hakone Kowakien Tenyu. It’s a buffet- but a beautifully presented one and we were given a private room to sit and enjoy.

After dinner we thought we were heading to our room but got distracted in the foyer.

There are machines with free ice creams. Drumsticks , icey blocks as well as biscuits, lollies teas and sparkling wine. Then a jazz band started so we sat and enjoyed the music with some of our group eating ice cream ( guess who) and some having a last drink.

Then the end if the day treat. A beautiful soak in the private onsen in the open air. It was gorgeous so I stayed in for at least an hour.

Now can hardly keep my eyes open to finish this blog. Excuse mistakes.