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Coordinates: 35°14′31″N 139°01′14″E / 35.241916°N 139.020667°E / 35.241916; 139.020667
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{{Short description|Hot springs valley in Hakone, Japan}}
[[File:Owakudani Tram-15.jpg|thumb|Ōwakudani as seen from the [[Hakone Ropeway]]]]
[[File:Owakudani_-_Hakone_(27369344357).jpg|thumb|Ōwakudani as seen from the [[Hakone Ropeway]]]]
[[File:Hakone black egg dsc05310.jpg|thumb|''Kuro-tamago'' hard-boiled eggs]]
[[File:Hakone black egg dsc05310.jpg|thumb|''Kuro-tamago'' hard-boiled eggs]]


{{nihongo|'''Ōwakudani'''|大涌谷|lit. "Great Boiling Valley"}} is a [[volcanic]] valley with active [[sulphur]] vents and [[hot spring]]s in [[Hakone]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture]], Japan. It is a popular tourist site for its scenic views, volcanic activity, and especially, {{nihongo|''Kuro-tamago''|黒卵|lit. "black egg"}} — a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs. The boiled eggs turn black and smell slightly sulphuric; consuming the eggs is said to increase longevity. Eating one is said to add seven years to your life.<ref>http://www.owakudani.com/index_e</ref>
{{nihongo|'''Ōwakudani'''|大涌谷|lit. "Great Boiling Valley"}} is a [[volcanic]] valley with active [[Sulfur|sulphur]] vents and [[hot spring]]s in [[Hakone]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture]], Japan. It was created around 3,000 years ago, as a result of the explosion of the Hakone volcano.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planetyze.com/en/japan/hakone/owakudani|title=Owakudani Hakone Things To Do & Itineraries &#124; Planetyze|website=planetyze.com}}</ref>

It is a popular tourist site for its scenic views, volcanic activity, and {{nihongo|''kuro-tamago''|黒卵|lit. "black egg"}} — a local variety of [[hard-boiled egg]]s that uses the hot springs in their preparation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.owakudani.com/kurotamago_hiimtsu_e|title=Secret behind kuro tamago &#124; 国立公園 箱根 大涌谷 &#124; 大涌谷くろたまご館|website=www.owakudani.com}}</ref> As a result of them being boiled in the mineral-rich waters of the valley, which contain high levels of [[sulfur]], the egg shells turn black and give off a slightly sulfuric odour; eating one is said to add seven years to your life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.owakudani.com/index_e|title=The Owakudani Kurotamago-kan &#124; 国立公園 箱根 大涌谷 &#124; 大涌谷くろたまご館|website=www.owakudani.com}}</ref>

Upon seeing the hellish scenery, when [[Kūkai|Kōbō Daishi]] visited Owakudani more than a thousand years ago, he offered prayer to Bodhisattva. The Enmei-jizō in Owakudani is said to have its origin in the prayer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://planetyze.com/en/japan/hakone/owakudani|title=Owakudani – Hakone Travel Guide {{!}} Planetyze |website=Planetyze|language=en|access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref>


==Access==
==Access==
Access to Ōwakudani is via a [[funitel]], the [[Hakone Ropeway]] ([[Ōwakudani Station]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/foreign/en/ |title=Hakone Ropeway |publisher=Hakone Ropeway |date= |accessdate=2015-11-17}}</ref> or a bus line from [[Odawara Station]], [[Hakone-Yumoto Station]], [[Kowakidani Station]] / Kojiri, the Izuhakone Bus (Ōwakudani Bus Stop).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.izuhakone.co.jp/bus_odawara_kojiri_en.pdf |title=Izuhakone Bus timetable |publisher=Izuhakone Bus |date= |accessdate=2018-06-26}}</ref> There is a road to a visitor center just below the Kuro-tamago hot springs site.
Access to Ōwakudani is via a [[funitel]], the [[Hakone Ropeway]].<ref>http://www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/foreign/en/</ref> There is also a road to a visitor's center just below the Kuro-tamago hot springs site. Most visitors hike the roughly 1 kilometer trail or take the Hakone Ropeway to the actual site where the eggs are boiled to participate in the ritual egg eating. The funitel offers a vast view of both [[Mount Fuji]] (on clear days) and the sulphur vents just below the visitor's center. Present day activities surrounding sulphur vents are the result of massive land slides in the past, construction of concrete barriers and stabilization of the area have been under way for many decades.

Most visitors used to hike the roughly {{cvt|1|km}} trail (which has been closed since 2015 due to increased volcanic activity) or take the Hakone Ropeway to close to where the eggs are boiled to participate in the ritual egg eating. The [[funitel]] offers a vast view of [[Mount Fuji]] (on clear days) and the sulphur vents just below the visitor center.

Present day activities surrounding sulphur vents are the result of massive land slides in the past. Construction of concrete barriers and stabilization of the area have been under way for decades.


==Closure==
==Closure==
The tourist site in Ōwakudani was closed in May 2015 due to volcanic activity and remains closed as of October 2015.<ref>http://www.wired.com/2015/05/alert-raised-japans-hakone-earthquakes-continue/</ref><ref>http://www.jnto.go.jp/volcano/owakudani.html</ref>
The tourist site in Ōwakudani was closed in May 2015 due to volcanic activity. It re-opened on April 27, 2016, but not fully, as it is not possible to walk close to the steaming vents due to the hazards involved. People with asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, heart pacemakers, and pregnant women are advised not enter the valley because of high volcanic activity.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Animal Science |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/05/alert-raised-japans-hakone-earthquakes-continue/ |title=Alert Raised at Japan's Hakone as Earthquakes Continue |magazine=WIRED |date=2015-05-06 |accessdate=2015-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jnto.go.jp/volcano/owakudani.html |title=Volcanic Activity in Hakone |publisher=Jnto.go.jp |date= |accessdate=2015-11-17}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
Ōwakudani is featured in the anime [[Neon Genesis Evangelion]] and its manga adaptation. In the anime, the protagonist Shinji ends up near Ōwakudani after running from Misato's apartment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EVA-YA |url=https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/spot/304 |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=Hakone {{!}} Your Guide to All Things Hakone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hannah |first=Dayna |date=March 4, 2020 |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Anime Pilgrimage Locations in Hakone |url=https://alljapantours.com/japan/anime/anime-tours/hakone-evangelion/ |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=Japan Travel Blog}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
{{Commons category|Oowakudani|Ōwakudani}}
{{Commons category|Ōwakudani}}
{{Coord|35.241916|139.020667|format=dms|display=title|type:landmark_region:JP_scale:10000}}
{{Coord|35.241916|139.020667|format=dms|display=title|type:landmark_region:JP_scale:10000}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Owakudani}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Owakudani}}
[[Category:Spa towns in Japan]]
[[Category:Spa towns in Japan]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Kanagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kanagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Landforms of Kanagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Landforms of Kanagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Hakone, Kanagawa]]
[[Category:Hakone, Kanagawa]]

Latest revision as of 16:02, 24 October 2024

Ōwakudani as seen from the Hakone Ropeway
Kuro-tamago hard-boiled eggs

Ōwakudani (大涌谷, lit. "Great Boiling Valley") is a volcanic valley with active sulphur vents and hot springs in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It was created around 3,000 years ago, as a result of the explosion of the Hakone volcano.[1]

It is a popular tourist site for its scenic views, volcanic activity, and kuro-tamago (黒卵, lit. "black egg") — a local variety of hard-boiled eggs that uses the hot springs in their preparation.[2] As a result of them being boiled in the mineral-rich waters of the valley, which contain high levels of sulfur, the egg shells turn black and give off a slightly sulfuric odour; eating one is said to add seven years to your life.[3]

Upon seeing the hellish scenery, when Kōbō Daishi visited Owakudani more than a thousand years ago, he offered prayer to Bodhisattva. The Enmei-jizō in Owakudani is said to have its origin in the prayer.[4]

Access

[edit]

Access to Ōwakudani is via a funitel, the Hakone Ropeway (Ōwakudani Station),[5] or a bus line from Odawara Station, Hakone-Yumoto Station, Kowakidani Station / Kojiri, the Izuhakone Bus (Ōwakudani Bus Stop).[6] There is a road to a visitor center just below the Kuro-tamago hot springs site.

Most visitors used to hike the roughly 1 km (0.62 mi) trail (which has been closed since 2015 due to increased volcanic activity) or take the Hakone Ropeway to close to where the eggs are boiled to participate in the ritual egg eating. The funitel offers a vast view of Mount Fuji (on clear days) and the sulphur vents just below the visitor center.

Present day activities surrounding sulphur vents are the result of massive land slides in the past. Construction of concrete barriers and stabilization of the area have been under way for decades.

Closure

[edit]

The tourist site in Ōwakudani was closed in May 2015 due to volcanic activity. It re-opened on April 27, 2016, but not fully, as it is not possible to walk close to the steaming vents due to the hazards involved. People with asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, heart pacemakers, and pregnant women are advised not enter the valley because of high volcanic activity.[7][8]

[edit]

Ōwakudani is featured in the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and its manga adaptation. In the anime, the protagonist Shinji ends up near Ōwakudani after running from Misato's apartment.[9][10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Owakudani – Hakone Things To Do & Itineraries | Planetyze". planetyze.com.
  2. ^ "Secret behind kuro tamago | 国立公園 箱根 大涌谷 | 大涌谷くろたまご館". www.owakudani.com.
  3. ^ "The Owakudani Kurotamago-kan | 国立公園 箱根 大涌谷 | 大涌谷くろたまご館". www.owakudani.com.
  4. ^ "Owakudani – Hakone Travel Guide | Planetyze". Planetyze. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  5. ^ "Hakone Ropeway". Hakone Ropeway. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  6. ^ "Izuhakone Bus timetable" (PDF). Izuhakone Bus. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  7. ^ Animal Science (2015-05-06). "Alert Raised at Japan's Hakone as Earthquakes Continue". WIRED. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  8. ^ "Volcanic Activity in Hakone". Jnto.go.jp. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  9. ^ "EVA-YA". Hakone | Your Guide to All Things Hakone. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Hannah, Dayna (March 4, 2020). "Neon Genesis Evangelion Anime Pilgrimage Locations in Hakone". Japan Travel Blog. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
[edit]

35°14′31″N 139°01′14″E / 35.241916°N 139.020667°E / 35.241916; 139.020667