Little known story about black eggs
Located in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan), Owakudani valley has long been a famous destination in the land of the Rising Sun, not because of its beautiful scenery but because of a rare-unique thing that is nowhere else. Which on Earth has!
Owakudani translates as “Valley of Boiling”, but some locals call it Jigokudani (meaning “Valley of Hell”). Owakudani is a valley that looks like “a basin” of volcanic remnants created about 3,000 years ago after Mount Hakone erupted.
A series of landslides created boiling puddles and giant vents that spewed steam and smoke containing hydrogen sulphide and sulfur dioxide.
Hakone’s Incredible Black Eggs
Taking advantage of the boiling hot springs, people from time immemorial have created strange looking black eggs called Kuro-tamago, but the rumors about these eggs are even more astonishing.
The black eggs look extremely strange.
Kuro-tamago, literally “black eggs”, are chicken eggs that are usually boiled in the natural hot springs of Owakudani. The sulfur in the water makes the eggshells a charcoal black color.
According to local legend, eating one egg will help people live 7 years longer. You can only buy black eggs in a combo of 5 with an affordable price of ¥500 (93,000 VND). For the same price as a pint of beer, you can add 35 years to your life.
Even indigenous people believe that it is thanks to eating that black chicken egg that the Japanese live longer.
To witness eggs being boiled in a hot spring, visitors must take a short hike up the mountain from Owakudani Ropeway Station. The trip takes about 15 minutes, or 1/5 of the time it takes to boil an egg. It is known that kuro-tamago is boiled for about 1 hour in a hot spring of 80 degrees Celsius, and then steamed for another 15 minutes. The egg itself tastes like a regular hard-boiled egg. Visitors can buy them directly at the hot spring resort or at the Owakudani cable car station.
Dangerous but worth the experience
Just hearing about it is not enough, you have to go to “hell valley” to feel all the specialness of this place. However, getting there takes courage. Because Mount Hakone is an active volcano. Due to increased volcanic activity in recent years, some hiking trails around the mountains and valleys have been closed for everyone’s safety.
In May 2015, the resort even closed and hasn’t fully opened since. Apparently the mountain hasn’t erupted in more than 800 years, but it’s still quietly active due to underground hot gas and volcanic material.
In 2015, more than 115 earthquakes were recorded in the area in just one day. The Japan Meteorological Agency fears it could mean a low-steam lava eruption is imminent. However, nothing like it has happened since then.
In addition to the eggs that prolong the life, making a trip to Owakudani will not disappoint visitors. You can get there by car, but taking the Hakone cable car is a good choice for picturesque views.
The overhead cable car gives people a clear view of the sulfur vents and makes visitors feel like they’re flying in hell. According to many people, the Owakudani valley is truly a breathtakingly beautiful place.
Source: Tokyoweekender
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