Hakone was the next stop. It is known for Mount Fuji and some of Japan’s best onsen (hot springs). On our way, we got to enjoy Mount Fuji; the weather was perfect. Unfortunately, our journey to Hakone wasn’t as smooth as we hoped.
On our way to Hakone, there was a massive traffic jam on the highway, and nobody could move. This got me curious since I always thought Japanese people drive relatively safely and that there shouldn’t be any accidents. Well, not quite. While Japan’s accident rate is relatively low compared to other countries, most accidents are due to old drivers. Remember that the elderly population is higher than the young/middle-aged population.
An old man crashed his lorry into a car. Both drivers were okay, and the situation wasn’t bad, but that wasn’t the exciting part. At least ten firefighters and two ambulances arrived at the scene! What the hell?! Talk about hyperbole.
Thanks to the accident, we arrived at our Airbnb around 11 p.m. and still needed to make our BBQ dinner. I was exhausted not from driving but from waiting in the traffic jam. I felt bad for not helping with the BBQ meal, but I needed the rest.
What a first day at Hakone. In the next post, we will head to the onsen.
