Day 7 - Hakone (Part 2) - The Shining Hotel

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Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ.

The Bullet train dropped us off at Odawara then we transferred to the Hakone train. It was bit like a mountain train in Switzerland. The map inside quoted about 300 metres up to the final destination with 3 switches of direction along the way. Journey was more like a ghost train ride – as people got off, the more deserted the train got. Saw glimpses of street lights and town life amongst the pitch darkness as the train twisted and the wind howled for added effect. Arrived at the station we needed and walked down the steep hill to the Fujiya Hotel. It looked very grand from the front but needed a fork of lightning, some banging shutters and twitching curtains to complete the look. A tiny red ornament bridge crossed the pond of more koi carp and we stepped into a time warp which reminded us of The Shining hotel. An absence of hunting trophies on the wall and an assortment of hunting knives and axes missing though. The receptionist had the best English so far (considering it was the middle of nowhere) but also the worst breath. The hotel porter looked like he’d been here since they built the place so had to carry our luggage ourselves. Our room was…not as grand as the hotel itself and looked more like a Fawlty Towers B&B room. Bathroom smelt of damp and furniture from a house clearance/charity shop.