This morning we were very lucky to see a ‘shooting star’ as we left Kyoto….well two in fact, in the form of two practising Geisha girls with their manager.

When we asked our Japanese tour guide about how often they are seen in public, we were amazed to hear that these were only the second ones she’d seen in 10yrs!! How lucky were we.

The geisha girls were fully dressed in traditional costumes and their faces were as white as snow.

After leaving Kyoto we started our latest adventure to Hakone, involving numerous trains, a bus, a pirate ship, a cable car and finally a funicular.

Arriving in Hakone we were amazed to see the cleanliness of the station, which was possibly helped by the staff hoovering the platform!

Once in Hakone we made our way to the pirate ship for a trip across Lake Ashino-ko. Sadly the picture below was from an advert and shows the ship in summer time, looking its best.

Our boat trip was a little more autumnal with driving rain and a cool breeze.

We were hopeful of getting a glimpse of Mount Fuji, but as it wasn’t a clear day it was lost somewhere in the mist.

After the pirate ship across the lake, formed after the last eruption some 3,000yrs ago, it was time to ride the cable car up to Mount Hakone and check out the volcano top.

Once at the top, we went in search of the active sulfur vents, hot springs and bubbling pools. We also checked out the famous ‘black eggs’ which are said to add years to your life!

The cable car ride offered panoramic views of the area, but due to the mist it was here one minute gone the next.

Heading back down the mountain we picked up the funicular to our final stop and the hotel stay.

Once at the hotel it was time to dry off and try on the hotel’s fetching slippers. Jenny had brought her own and rocked a pink pair to stand out.

Tonight we were back in hot springs in the hotel’s Onsen, and then dressed to impress with our kimonos for dinner.

Halloween is only a couple of days away and our hotel was preparing for this big event with ghosts and pumpkins around the reception area.

Dinner was a 6 course affair with beef stew as the main course which then cooked in front of us.

It was a real experience to try this selection of dishes all dressed in our fetching kimonos.

Tomorrow is our final day on the Japanese tour and we are heading back to Tokyo for a night, before we go our separate ways and head back out to the country and a two day trip to Nikko.