If you visit Hakone, the Owakudani sulfur gorge is one famous tourist spot you definitely have to see. Owakudani is 1,000 meters above sea level, so everyone knows reaching the top is fairly difficult. The gorge is located in a volcanic crater, and although the volcano is extinct, the ground is hot and releases huge amounts of sulfur. Likewise, the powerful plumes of white smoke smell strongly of sulfur.



You can eat black eggs boiled in the hot spring pools of Owakudani, a local specialty. White-shelled eggs transform into black-shelled eggs! It is only the outer shell that turns black, though. The egg itself remains white like a regular hardboiled egg.





Although you cannot boil the eggs in the hot spring pools yourself, they are sold at the shops for ¥500. One bag contains five piping hot black eggs. Eggs are not sold individually. Each bag includes a small packet of salt for the black eggs for free. Those who do not like salt should bring their own Maggi sauce. This time we brought a Japanese sauce that is similar to Maggi. This makes the eggs quite delicious.





Like the name of Owakudani, the shops, souvenir shops, and restaurants each sell unusual items and goods. Some examples include egg ice cream, black ice cream, and black savory pancake (monja) buns. As we walked around we bought these things without a second thought. Before we knew it, our money was also all gone.

[Information]
Location: Owakudani
Address: 1251 Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Telephone: 0460-84-9605
Operating Hours: 9:00 - 17:00
Admission Fee: Free
Parking: Paid
URL: http://www.owakudani.com