posted by admin on Mar 6

Owakudani, meaning “Great Boiling Valley”, is an active volcanic zone with sulphurous fumes and hot springs in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. This place was formed during the last eruption of Mount Hakone about 3,000 years ago. It is a volcanic caldera located on the northern side of Mount Kamiyama. It lies between Sounzan and Togendaiko.

In Owakudani, there are many boiling pools of sulphur rich mineral water and huge vents spewing vocalnic fumes of hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide. The whole place has smell of suphur. This place is popular among tourists for its scenic views of the mountains, valleys and hot springs. It is also well-known for kuro-tamago, which is a local specialty of hard boiled eggs in hot natural spring waters. The boiled eggs are black in colour and consuming the eggs is said to increase longevity. The eggs are actually ordinary chicken eggs but the shell turns black when being boiled in the sulphuric hot springs. The eggs are popular among the people in Hakone. There are so many souvenirs associated with these eggs!

Tourists can go to Owakudani by taking a ride via a funitel, the Hakone Ropeway, or by road to a visitor’s centre below the Kuro-tamago hot springs site. Visitors using the funitel can experience a stunning view of Mount Fuji (if the sky’s clear) and an aerial view of the crater with the sulphur vents. The short walking trail, from the ropeway station to the volcanic zone of steam vents and hot springs, takes about 10mins. The black eggs can be purchased from the actual site where they are boiled. Due to constant volcanic activity, landslides may occur at the area. Hence, the walkways may be closed during times when dangerous conditions arise.