It has a fresh lick of paint today, but when we ventured to Hakone a few weeks ago, it was four in the evening, and it wore a deserted look. Tickets in hand we saunter in. The first to catch our attention was the Olympic-sized pool where you could paddle. So paddle we did.

Next was the bull ride. You sit on a motorised bull and when it starts, the deal is to stay on its back if you can. The music is on and the bull starts his work. Thank god for the crash mats. By the third attempt you are invariably shaken off and dropped unceremoniously off its back. Since it was more entertaining to watch people of all ages and sizes clamber the back of the bull and stay on (in vain), my intrepid kids chose to ogle.