Japan is full of “only in Japan” type foods.  And Kuro Tamago is one of those and, according to local lore, each one will add a whopping 7 years onto your life.  Where can you get this protein-packed fountain of youth? Head over to Owakudani, an active volcanic region located in Kanagawa Prefectures town of Hakone.

Owakudani (大涌谷) is literally “the big boiling valley”, (“great” if you want to be more poetic), and nature lives up to the name.  In May of 2015, there was a volcano eruption followed by some 100+ earthquakes in a single day. I remember it being a big deal as “Fuji is due”, as they say.  It took several years before this area was open back up to the public.

Be worried about impending death from an unexpected eruption or cook eggs in the boiling pools?  Let them eat kuro tamago!

What is Kuro Tamago?

Japanese names always sound so exotic, but most of the time, they are very straight forward.  黒玉子, kuro tamago, black egg.

“Egg” can also be written as “卵”, pronounced the same, “tamago” but more specific to fowl.  The first, 玉子 is literally ball-child which is just odd, but that’s Japanese. It makes learning kanji that much more fun!

In other areas of the country, I’ve had onsen eggs which are soft boiled in the boiling waters of volcanic activity.  Most notably I can think of is in Beppu on Kyushu, known for it’s “seven hells” hot springs. You can find the style in restaurants (especially in ramen dishes) all over Japan with a splash of broth and soy flavoring — AMAZING. 

Owakudani black eggs or kuro tamago are different in that they are hard-boiled.  Reportedly the water isn’t hot enough to cook them thoroughly so they are finished off with steam at the end.

What makes them black though?  The volcanic waters are very rich in sulfur and iron and this reacts with the shell of the egg, making them the interesting black colors.  The end result is much cooler than any Easter egg I’ve ever painted.

How much for my added 7 years?

As of August 2018, you can get 5 eggs for 500 yen.  They are only good till the next day though so watch for that if you are wanting to bring omiyage back (what? you’re the only one to get the bonus years?). 

Oh, and remember, while it’s a local belief that Owakudani black eggs will add seven years to a person’s life, don’t get too crazy with it! As always with too much of a good thing, it starts becoming bad luck the more you have so share them with others.

What else to do in the Owakudani?

If you have a nice clear day, the ropeway is probably the best for seeing amazing views of Mount Fuji. There is also plenty to do around Lake Ashi including visiting Hakone Shrine’s torii gate in the water of the lake!

Outdoors your thing? You can rent bikes and take them on the loop around the lake or just go for a nice stroll on the paths. The area also has some great hiking, plenty of onsens and of course, ryokan.

I highly recommend a few days to relax in Hakone!

How do you get to Owakudani?

The best way is to take the Hakone Ropeway across the mountain. There is a transfer point at the top at Owakudani so you can’t miss the stop. Driving or taking the bus are also options but the road tends to be quite crowded.

There are shops that you will find Owakudani black eggs.  On top of that, if it’s a nice day, you’ll also get spectacular views of Mount Fuji from this area as well!

End result?

They are just hard–boiled eggs, but they make a really cool story.  And I’ll take that extra 7 years.

Would you try a kuro tamago or Owakudani black eggs?