Shinhotaka is at the center of the Japanese alps. Rather than a single mountain, it is a collection of mountains making up four of the top 10 tallest mountains in Japan. I wrote a post about all these mountains when I visited last year.
Having visited the warm coastline the day prior, I wanted to show my friends the opposite end of the spectrum, high in the mountains where there was still a bit of snow. I don't remember the temperature, but I don't think we were as prepared as the other folks in the photos.
One of the iconic treats of the Shinhotaka Ropeway are Hot Spring Boiled Eggs or 温泉たまご. Last time in March, it was still very much winter, so they were not available. But, I finally had the chance to try one.
A Hot Spring Egg is just like it sounds. Using the natural boiling water of the hot springs, eggs are submerged and boiled. The hot spring water is often therapeutic because of the natural minerals and chemicals from the earth. These minerals and chemicals are imbued in the eggs giving it a unique flavor, which is probably healthy? Zach and his friend were not so venturous, but at only 100円 for a single egg, it was an easy buy for me.
The Hot Spring Egg was not exactly what I expected. I wanted an actual hard-boiled egg, but the hot spring water not the same boiling hot water you have on the stove. After cracking the egg, it was not solid. You're supposed to dump it in a paper cup, add a little salt, and then down the hatch!
It was pretty good (I think). It had a full robust eggy flavor, but that could have come from a long boil, instead of a short hot boil that I was used to.
Anyways, photos of the trip are below.
Note: This post was made in Feb 2025 and back-dated to the time of the events
