Hello, this is Okuyama from the sales department.
In my previous article , I introduced my beloved dog, a toy poodle named Kurumi.
This time, I would like to tell you about the joy of "traveling with a dog," which was one of the reasons I wanted to have a dog. I also hope that this will be a hint for people who have given up on having a dog because they thought it would mean they couldn't travel.
Train trip with my dog
This summer, I went on a three-day, two-night trip to Gora in Hakone. It takes about an hour and a half to get from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto on the Odakyu Romancecar. It may not be well known, but you can bring pets on all lines except JR. All Romancecar seats are reserved, so you should pre-order and purchase express tickets online one month before reservations open. I bought the Hakone Free Pass , which is highly recommended if you're going to Hakone. On the day of departure, I purchased the Hakone Free Pass at the Odakyu Line ticket counter at Shinjuku Station.
This is the new Romancecar!
This free pass allows you to use all public transportation around Hakone for the duration of the pass. It would be quite expensive to buy tickets for each trip, including the round-trip Romancecar, mountain railway, cable car, and ropeway, but with this free pass you won't have to worry.
We bought lunch and beer at Shinjuku Station and got on the Romancecar. Kurumi always travels in this marshmallow bag when she goes out.
The Marshmallow Bag is a carry bag made by Design F. When I travel, I spread out the mesh part and use it as a bed.
This is what the Romancecar seats like
Stroll around Hakone-Yumoto Station
When you arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station by Romancecar, you will find a river called Hayakawa flowing nearby. We recommend taking a walk along the riverbank. Toilet spots are very important when traveling with dogs, so having a place like this is very reassuring.
You can refresh yourself by taking a walk after a long train ride.
Of course, there are many souvenir shops nearby, so you can do some shopping (if you buy souvenirs at the station, you can get a discount with your free pass). After that, take the mountain railway to Gora Station.
Enjoy a fun stay with your dog
I went to " Regina Resort Hakone Ungaisou " for the fifth time since my first visit in 2015. This is a dog-friendly Japanese-style hot spring inn designed and constructed as a place where you can stay with your dog. There is also a hot spring source on the premises.
After walking up the hill from Gora Station for about 3 minutes, we were greeted by the hotel staff waiting at the entrance. We were shown to our room immediately without having to wait in the lobby, and check-in was done in the room. This kind of consideration is reassuring for dogs who don't like other dogs.
While chatting with the staff, I ate some Hakone Gora mochi and tea from the shop next to Ungaisou. I then spent the time relaxing in the hot spring until dinner time.
The key features of this lodge's dog facilities are the non-slip flooring that is gentle on the feet, and the sofas and dining chairs are made from materials that are resistant to scratches.
There is no need to bring anything with you, as amenities such as pet sheets and deodorant sprays, as well as dog dishes, are provided. There are also leash hooks and a gate to prevent dogs from jumping out at the entrance.
Anti-jump gate
The dog amenities also include treats that your dog will love.
Of course, there are plenty of facilities and equipment for people. There is free LAN, a desk where you can work, a microwave, a DVD player, etc. In addition, there are samue and yukata robes for you to wear in the room, so you don't have to carry much luggage.
The room I always stay in is barrier-free, and the bath is a semi-open-air structure with windows that can be opened. You can enjoy the hot spring water by turning the tap. It's not a problem even in the cold season, and in the summer there are no bugs, so you can take your time in the hot spring.
Other rooms come with open-air baths and dog runs.
Then it's time for the long-awaited dinner. Both dinner and breakfast are served in your room and are delivered in three separate meals. You can also choose the time of your meal.
Kurumi was happy to be played with by the staff every time they came. I was full after enjoying the seasonal Japanese food that changes every month. There is a Japanese food menu for dogs, but unfortunately Kurumi can only eat dog food, so I bring it from home.
Introducing recommended spots for walking your dog
Hakone has many facilities and tourist spots, such as the Hakone Open-Air Museum and Lake Ashi. Dogs can ride cable cars, ropeways, and sightseeing boats as long as they are in a bag or cart. Here are some recommended spots that are easily accessible from Gora.
Hakone Gora Park
If you go up the hill from Regina Resort Ungaisou where we stayed, you will come to Hakone Gora Park (again, if you use the Hakone Free Pass, admission is free!). Dogs are allowed in the park, with some exceptions, as long as they are on a leash. Flowers bloom with each season, and roses bloom twice a year, which is a lot of fun. It was very hot that day, so we bought and ate soft serve ice cream at Isshikido Saro in the park. The terrace seats are reserved for pets, so you can bring your pets along to your meal.
I shared a little bit of my soft serve ice cream with you.
Owakudani
Take the cable car from Gora Station to Sounzan Station, then change to the ropeway to reach Owakudani. From the ropeway, you can see white smoke rising from everywhere and the smell of sulfur fills the air. This time, it was a long weekend, so there were a lot of people, so we couldn't take a long walk, but they seemed satisfied.
Owakudani
Active volcanic activity continues even now, and volcanic gases are being emitted. You can see the steam rising up close, so if you don't mind the smell of sulfur, this is a popular spot that is highly recommended. Also, boiled eggs that have turned pitch black from being boiled in the hot spring pond are popular as "black eggs," and it is said that eating them will extend your life by seven years. I also bought some at Kuro Tamago-kan , and it seems that the freshly made warm eggs have a stronger umami component than regular boiled eggs. They can only be bought at Owakudani, so why not give them a try?
Black egg
Enjoy your trip with your dog
We have introduced you to Hakone trips with dogs, but what do you think? In addition to the spots we have introduced, there are many other spots in Hakone where you can go with your dog, such as Lake Ashi and Hakone Shrine, and there are also inns (dog inns) other than Regina Resort Ungaiso that allow you to stay with your dog.
Recently, dog lodges have been increasing in number, not only in Hakone, so even if you have never traveled with your dog, why not try one out? Many people travel in dog carts, with multiple dogs, or with large dogs. I think you will be able to create fun memories of your trip with your dog.
Traveling with my dog, which was once my dream, has now become one of my life's work, and I go on trips more than six times a year. I hope to continue traveling to many different places as an important form of communication between Kurumi, who loves to go out, and us.
OKUYAMA Hideno