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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOur train made two further track changes and eventually arrived around 600 metres above sea level in Gora. It’s a tiny spa village with a rail crossing and a funicular called a ‘cable car’ that takes you up to the Sulphur mines of Owakudani. First, the ‘Cable Car’ takes you halfway, then you change to a cable car called a ‘Ropeway’. Confusing, I know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We had booked a rather stunning hotel spa, Hakone Gora Karaku. This was a fully immersive Japanese experience with dinner, bed and breakfast included. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Westerners, we must be impatient because check-in was around one hour, and they ensured that they accommodated our times for dining and explained everything about the place. Trust me, there was a lot to show us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, our room, which had a hot spring bath on the balcony overlooking the mountains (to be used only when naked), was stunning. It was a Japanese West Wing room. Robes, four sets of footwear each, pyjamas, and a myriad of electrical appliances for our comfort were everywhere and a full explanation of the public onsens and the complimentary lounge and dining facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nWe explored Gora after checking in, travelling one stop on the train to the Sculpture park. It was stunning with works by global artists such as Picasso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter using our private hot spring bath and dressing in our kimonos and footwear that evening, we headed to dinner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Breakfast and dinner were incredible over the next two days. Much care was taken to explain everything, specifically where dishes were exchanged to suit our dietary requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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