So off we went to Hakone – where bods go to glimpse Mt Fuji and enjoy the hot springs.

Arrived into town and went straight to the onsen – male and female separate facilities. Basically take your kit off and then wash yourself to within an inch of your life and making sure to rinse off any suds.  Then go outside and sit in the pools from where you can look at the trees and see the kite birds gliding. Big porcelain bowl full of water – was I supposed to get in it or drink from it?  Decided to get in which was the right thing to do!

Off to our hotel – a bit confusing.  Get off the bus and go into a posh hotel – go to the 7^th floor and then go out of the building which rejoins the steep road and then go up it 50 yards and into our hotel.  I had a craving for chocolate and was regretting not getting some in town– but at reception they had a bag of mini kit kats for less than £2 – perfect product placement!

Next day decided to walk some of the Old Hakone Way – only problem was no one knew where it was!  Eventually we found it and shortly after we headed across the river walking along some bamboo poles tied together which balanced on the rocks at a 30 degree angle – a bit like it’s a knockout but we weren’t wearing the costumes.  Of course having crossed the river we then noticed a sturdy bridge!

We stopped at the tea facility, one has been there for over 400 years and the tea provided is for free!

Our walk ended up by a lake.  I headed into the posh bakery whilst Dominic got the coffees.  He’d grabbed a couple of chairs at the counter outside overlooking the lake – and it had a foot bath!  So there we were in glorious sunshine enjoying the view, our feet bathed in warm water eating a chestnut and chocolate pastry.  Delish Marge!

A couple of great art places in town – an open air sculpture park and a private gallery the latter set up by a rich bloke.  He’d been overcome by a panel showing trees, snow and ducks and from this decided to set up his own collection and bought the work that inspired it.  Another coffee and foot bath, thinking about it finding a café in town without a foot bath could be tricky!

Ryokan owner and her mother - Dominic must have grown with all the sushi!

Dominic went off to work on Tuesday and I pondered what I would do the next day for my first English lesson in Japan!!  Yikes!  Group of  4 x 7 year olds. 

Thursday I headed out to a fabric shop.  It was brilliant, but now think my sewing machine won’t work out here.

Friday was Dominic’s welcome party at work (about 35 colleagues).  It was really good fun with an agenda provided!  We had to stand up and introduce ourselves.  There was then free time before the quiz started.  10 people got up and told us two things and we had to guess which of them was true about them.  We found out one colleague had flown to London to see The Who – left Tokyo Thursday, arrived on Friday saw the concert, got plane back on Saturday and home on Sunday.  Then Dominic had a few true and false questions about himself.  Joan will be delighted to know that people thought she was 10 years younger than she is.  All attendees had to pay for themselves and then between them they paid for Dominic and I.

Today we’ve been out in Tokyo with an American colleague of Dominic’s that he only met this week and his wife.  She loves a bit of crafting – I said I do too but more the grab a cereal packet, a bit of glue and make something that looks homemade rather than anything professional.  She said she was the same!

We are off to the races tomorrow!