japan diaries: traveling to hakone via fuji & onsen | april 2025
Blue skin. Blue skin. [Music] You Number 139 speed boat pier. Heat. Heat. [Music] I got one. I just [Music] [Music] Huh? I love you. [Music] [Applause] [Music] I just arrived uh from Fuji to Hakon. Um I just went past my hotel as well. They just gave me some information about booking a private onen which I’ve done. Um so I’ll go there after check check-in actually. Um which I’m very excited about even though it’s a very warm day today. I think I could use some like spa experience or some cleansing, some healing. Um, so I’m looking forward to that. And yeah, then I’ll also be served a traditional dinner tonight at my hotel. So I’m very curious to see how all that is. But since I had some time before check-in, I came to the shrine um and did a little offer offering. I guess. Um, there’s no one here and it’s awesome. I really feel like I’m in the mountains and it’s so beautiful here and bit like I’m in a Giblly movie which was exactly what I wanted for this trip. So, I thought I’d give you guys a little room tour since my room is kind of special tonight. So, this is an area where you come in. And then you’ve got just the rush room here. I’m also wearing the traditional dress which is so comfortable. So yeah, here you’ve got toilet, Japanese of course, and then this beautiful sliding door actually. So I can actually close off the rest of the room from here. But then the main event. So you’ve got my bed here with the window. I’m excited to wake up there. It’s on the floor on a futon. Quite a thick futon, I would say. And then the tatami mats here. And then you’ve got a little seating area on the floor, but with backs to the seats. So that’s kind of nice. And actually here they’ve provided like a whole tea set, which is so cool. So I can make tea. Maybe I’ll do that before dinner actually. That could be nice. Anyway, so that’s there. And then you’ve got more sliding doors leading onto a kind of seating area with a mirror with a let’s say western seat maybe. And then just I think in there it’s like a wardrobe with a safe as well. But then the view can open this up. And then I’ve got a view of the mountains. Lovely. It’s going to I think the sun is going to set soon. So yeah. But that’s that’s the room. I love the way it looks. So yeah, [Music] I thought I would tell tell you guys a little bit more about my onen experience um while I sip some tea. [Music] I booked a private onen here in my hotel and it was lovely. It was like two short bathtubs with uh really hot water. I actually I had the the onen booked for 45 minutes, but I didn’t manage to stay in there for probably more than 5 minutes. It’s really hot. And they actually recommend that you put like a a wet cold towel like on your face or on your head, which I didn’t do. Maybe that would have helped. But it’s so relaxing and I feel my skin feels really soft right now. And the water also looks a little bit murky. Like if you’ve ever been to like a natural hot springs with clay, like they have in Iceland, they also have that in Italy. Uh that’s kind of what it looked like and felt like. Um so it was really really nice. And I did even feel like I have a little scratch on my finger and I did feel it sting when I put it on underwater. And I don’t know, they say that it has like healing properties. I definitely think it’s like nourishing with all the minerals in the water. Lovely experience. I’m considering if I should do it again tomorrow, but it’s only available, I think, from 3:00. Anyway, I’ll figure that out tomorrow. But it did say in the kind of guide the hotel provides for onsense that after an onsen experience, you should have plenty of water and plenty of rest. So, I’m just like fully enjoying this experience of this room um and just lounging around really. And then I’ll I’ll probably, you know, go out and explore the sites tomorrow. But for now, I also feel like I really needed some rest. I’ve been up since 6 or4 6. So, it’s been a long day. I decided to go and see Mount Fuji one last time. So, and I saw Mount Fuji all throughout the day, like even on the bus ride here, which is really cool. It’s a good experience. I’m looking forward to dinner, which will be at 6:30. I’m considering I think I will wear this actually um since it’s really comfortable and might as well fully embrace the I’m sorry. Excuse [Music] [Music] me. Okay, I use English I think already. I have some heat. [Music] [Music] It’s all finished. Mhm. Okay. This is well, thank you. Mhm. Thank you. Uh there [Music] It’s finished. Okay. Thank you so much. I love I love that. [Music] [Music] Wow, that dinner was crazy. I wonder if there’s ever anyone that comes back from that dinner feeling like, “Oh, I’m actually still hungry.” It was great, though. It was really like something I’ve been looking forward to. And it was great. like it was lovely to try so many different kinds of dishes all together. But anyway, that knocked me out. So, I’m going to get out of my lovely yucata and go to sleep. [Music]
sorry this took me a while!! i edited this one with premiere pro so it took me some time to learn how to use it. anyway, this is a fun one where i travel from fujikawaguchiko to hakone by bus. i then stay in a traditional inn hotel that serves a traditional dinner and where i experience a private onsen. enjoy!
12 Comments
Videos like these are very underappreciated on youtube i swear. loved your video! keep making more. hope you had a very fun and safe japan trip 😉
sensational
9:10 Next time you come to Japan, please don’t wear slippers on tatami mats.
On tatami, it’s best to be barefoot or just in socks.
はじめまして！今も日本に滞在中でしょうか、日本滞在を充分に楽しめていただけたなら嬉しいです。
P.S
浴衣の着方を見ただけで日本文化を理解人だとわかりました。
What for dinner?
スリッパは畳の上はダメですよ😀
Thank you for posting your video. We are truly grateful that you are sharing your experience of a tranquil and beautiful Japan with the world.
To help you experience Japanese culture even more deeply and comfortably, here are two points regarding general customs:
Etiquette at Shrines (The Bell)
If there is a bell (suzu) at a shrine before you offer your prayer (hairei), the custom is to ring it first as an act of self-purification. Please try it the next time you visit a shrine!
Etiquette on Tatami Mats (Slippers)
It is customary in Japan to take off your slippers or shoes when stepping onto tatami mats (straw flooring) in places like a ryokan (Japanese inn). We hope you keep this in mind to fully experience the culture of the Japanese-style room.
Do not walk on tatami mats in slippers. Please take off your slippers before entering a room with tatami mats.
I hope you’re having a wonderful time in Japan! I watched your video and just wanted to gently share a small cultural tip for the future. In the video, I noticed you were walking on tatami mats while wearing slippers. In Japan, those slippers are usually meant for walking in the hallway outside your room. When entering a tatami room, it’s customary to take off your slippers at the entrance. I hope this helps you enjoy your stay even more!
Regarding the use of rooms at Japanese inns, please note that once you enter your room, walking around the tatami room with your slippers on is unhygienic, and in Japan you take them off at the entrance. Please refrain from walking around the tatami room in your slippers.
静かでいい宿ですね。
The stuff of ryokan has to teach that when you get in tatami you take off srippa.