Ôwakudani, the Great Boiling Valley

Ôwakudani 大涌谷 is a volcanic valley not far from Hakone with hot springs and sulphur vents. You can use the ropeway to go there or drive and walk for a km to the visitor centre.

Wild Lillies on the way up to the hot springs:

Ôwakudani is most famous for its Kuro-Tamago (黒玉子) or black eggs. The sulphur in the hot water turns the egg shells black while cooking and they are very popular with the visitors, not the least because it is said that eating one egg adds seven years to your life. I wouldn't recommend more than one a day, with all the cholesterine they would probably shorten your life more than seven years. Anyway, here is one of the sulphuric springs:

A brave young man from the egg-shop (http://www.owakudani.com/modules/mw_egg/) walks into the acidic water to get out the baskets with eggs boiling in the water:

 Putting them away for selling:

You can buy 5 eggs for a mere 500 Yen, which we of course did:

People trying to extend their life span:

I forgot to take a photo of the eggs themselves, but here is one from a different blog:



http://nekobiyoribekkan.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2010/10/7-0910.html

A look from above looks not very inviting, but it is really worth a visit :)