Finding the Mountain View: Hakone Japan Map
Also known as Hakonemachi, this place is found in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan. It is most popular for its wonderful views of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi. The entire area has been considered as a Geopark by UNESCO in 2012. The place takes about an hour’s worth of travel from Shinjuku in Tokyo and is a very popular place for Tokyoites looking for a weekend getaway. The best way to travel to Hakone from Tokyo is through the Odakyu Railway line.
One of the most popular places to visit will be the town of Gora. Filled with hills and hot springs, this is the best place to go for a short stay in Hakone. It is where most tourist destinations in the Hakone region is found. What is special about this place is that their spring water comes in a different color which is often described as “the hot spring with five pastel shades” ranging from transparent, yellow, white, green, and brown.
The Most Luxurious Hakone Japan Hotels
A trip will not be complete without a good night’s rest and where else can that be other than a luxurious hotel in the city. There are a number of hotels in the region, and the ‘best’ would depend on what a tourist is looking for.
One of the most popular hotels in the area is the Yumoto Fujiya Hotel. This is a Japanese style hotel found in the Hakone-Yumoto area and is most popular due to its in-house hot spring. It is a 3-minute walk from the Hakone-Yumoto Station. Visitors enjoy going to the Yumoto Fujiya Hotel primarily because of its amazing buffet that serves various authentic Japanese food including sushi, soba, and more. This place is not to be confused with the Fujiya hotel. The place has been built in the last century and the hotel is quite popular due to its historical feel to it. There are even a museum and a Japanese garden inside the hotel.
Since the places in Hakone are often filled with tourists yearning to find an enjoyable journey through nature, it will be difficult to book a hotel within short notice. It is best to find and book a hotel weeks or days before a trip to secure a booked room.
Hakone Japan Guide:
The Most Luxurious Hakone Japan Hotels
A trip will not be complete without a good night’s rest and where else can that be other than a luxurious hotel in the city. There are a number of hotels in the region, and the ‘best’ would depend on what a tourist is looking for.
One of the most popular hotels in the area is the Yumoto Fujiya Hotel. This is a Japanese style hotel found in the Hakone-Yumoto area and is most popular due to its in-house hot spring. It is a 3-minute walk from the Hakone-Yumoto Station. Visitors enjoy going to the Yumoto Fujiya Hotel primarily because of its amazing buffet that serves various authentic Japanese food including sushi, soba, and more. This place is not to be confused with the Fujiya hotel. The place has been built in the last century and the hotel is quite popular due to its historical feel to it. There are even a museum and a Japanese garden inside the hotel.
Since the places in Hakone are often filled with tourists yearning to find an enjoyable journey through nature, it will be difficult to book a hotel within short notice. It is best to find and book a hotel weeks or days before a trip to secure a booked room.
Hakone Japan Ryokan
For centuries, the Hakone region has made its name as the most popular hot spring destination in all of Japan. For those who do not wish to stay at a normal hotel, there are great bath houses and ryokans in the region.
Ryokans are Japanese bath houses that offer up private rooms with futons for a good night’s sleep. These are inns that offer up dinner and breakfast for their guests. The problem is that popular ryokans in the area cost roughly about 2000 yen on average for daytime rates and a whopping 20,000 yen for an overnight stay.
Most Visited Hakone Japan Restaurants
There are a number of specialty restaurants in the Hakone region which have been reviewed a number of times on popular travel websites. One of the favorites would be the Sky Lounge in Hotel Okada, which serves mostly Western, Mediterranean, and European delicacies. A lot of people visit this place because of the amazing and romantic view.
Another good restaurant is the Yoshiike which serves iron grilled meat known as Teppanyaki. This restaurant is a go-to place for meat lovers who like grilled meat and vegetables. A place known as the Yamabico Sushi is also one of the most popular places in Hakone for good food. They offer delicacies that are most popular in the area such as local Hakone-style soba.
The Lovely Hakone Japan Weather
The best time to enjoy the place is during spring and summer when the forests on the mountains are most flourishing. This is the time when most flowers are in bloom, fruits are abundant, and everything is a lush color of green. During the fall season, the trees turn hues of red, brown, yellow, and orange that gives a warm vibe to the cooling weather. This is the best time to visit the area for a romantic getaway.
Since the place has a quite a high altitude, the temperature in Hakone is lower than most places in its surroundings. Although most places in the region are closed during the wintertime, especially hiking trails and open-air museums, there are still places that offer up great experiences for the winter such as snowboarding and sledding parks.
Hakone Japan Travel Itinerary: A Wonderful Hakone Japan Day Trip
A Place for Culture
Going to Hakone-machi is a great way to enjoy the arts. There are a number of museums, gardens, and halls that could satisfy any visitors’ cultural cravings. A great place to visit is the Hakone Picnic Garden art museum which is a great place to see from spring through autumn. Hakone is also home to the wooden handicraft center. There is also a teddy bear museum, toy museum, and music box museum.
A Full Day of Sports
For those who wish to enjoy a day full of sports, Hakone-machi is a great place to be. For those who wish to enjoy some quiet, luxurious time to play ball, the Hakone Golf Course is the best place to be. For winter sports, the Hakone Picnic Garden is the best place to enjoy some snowboarding and sledding. There are also tennis courts, basketball courts, and other games within the area. Sports car fanatics can also visit the Gotemba Sports Car Garden.
A Dive into History
Being a powerful old town, there are a lot of historical places to see in Hakone. One good place to visit is the Detached Palace Garden which used to belong to the Imperial Family of Japan. Tourists could also enjoy a full hike at the Old Tokaido Road which is a great place to enjoy the historical look of Japan, taking its visitors through memory lanes preserved through the centuries.
Another good place to visit in Hakone for a historical trip is the Odawara Castle which serves as the symbol of power in Hakone. It was originally built in the 1500s and was ordered for demolition in the late 1800s. However, it was rebuilt in the 1960s to serve as a tourist destination in the area.
An Appreciation of Nature
The number one aspect that region boasts of is the fact that Hakone is home to one of the most beautiful spots to view Mount Fuji. Furthermore, the Hakone area is part of a large national park which spans from Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Tokyo known as the Fuji-Hakone-Izu national park. This place has several hiking trails that can serve a variety of difficulty depending on what hikers are looking for.
Some people enjoy fishing at Lake Ashinoko, not only for its relaxing view but also for its variety of fish. Trout is abundant, especially during springtime. During summer, the fish wakasagi becomes quite abundant as well. There is torii on the lake which makes the experience even more Japanese authentic.
For those who wish to go on a short sightseeing tour, riding the small train along the region is a great way to enjoy the mountainside. There is also a cable car ride available known as the Hakone ropeway service. This is a 30-minute cable car ride that starts from the Sounzan Station to the Togendai station. The entire trip highlights the views of the beautiful lake Ashi, the fumes of the Owakudani, and the towering beauty of Mount Fuji.
For people who wish to go to Hakone for a relaxing trip, going to an onsen is the perfect daytime activity. The region is blessed with an abundance of natural hot springs and there are a number of resorts throughout the towns. One particular place everyone wants to visit are the onsens that offer black eggs cooked from the Owakudani. These are freshly boiled eggs which are cooked from the natural hot springs. They got their black color due to the volcanic materials found in the hot spring.
Hakone Japan Things to Do:
Hakone Open-Air Museum
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is one of the most visited places in all of the region. It was originally built in 1969 and is the first of its kind in Japan. It features 120 pieces of permanent exhibition made by famous sculptors all over the globe. On top of these pieces, the places are also made popular by their Picasso Exhibit which has about 300 art pieces from the artist himself.
On top of all the wonderful artwork, the entire museum features the natural exhibition of Japan’s mountainous beauty. A view that changes with the seasons, the surroundings of this open-air museum is one of its primary attractions. Nature is one of the most important assets being featured in this museum.
Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands
As nature is one of the most important and highlighted features of Hakone, it is without a doubt that tourist destinations all over the region focus on exhibiting its beauty. One particular place popular to many tourists is the Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands.
Relatively new, this garden has been developed in 1976 and has flourished in more than 40 years with thousands of plant varieties from the wetlands of Japan. It is located in the Fuji Hakone Izu National Park. It is highly visited during the summer months of June, July, and August because these are the times when the wetland plants are most flourishing.
The best thing about this place is that it provides a relaxing element to a trip, and encourages strong appreciation for nature. On top of that, although it is closed during the winter season, all other times of the year the admission tickets are free.
Hakone Glass Forest
A museum of a unique kind, the Hakone Glass no Mori (Hakone glass forest) is a place that features Venetian glassware which is made from both classical and modern designs. Because of the product that the museum is exhibiting, the entire resort is built with classic, Italian-Styled buildings giving the European touch to the destination.
Inside the resort are glass trees which feature top to bottom glass elements – including the leaves, the cherries, and the trunk. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this place is that tourists and visitors are allowed to do hands-on crafts and activities involving glass elements. There is also a glass-making workshop as well.
Hakone Detached Palace
This beautiful palace is a home to the Imperial Family during the summer season when it was first built in 1886. Located atop a hill, it boasts of its impressive view of the mountain side. What both local and foreign tourists enjoy in this destination is the amazing view of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashinoko. There are walking trails leading to viewing spots surrounding the palace. It is most enjoyable in the early morning and the late evening.
Years since it was built, the former palace complex was soon demolished and only a small portion of the palace remains as a memoir to its old beauty. It is now considered as one of the most visited places in all of Hakone. The admission is free and it is open Mondays thru Sundays, however, for security purposes, it is closed during night time.
Old Tokaido Road
Since Hakone-Machi is located very near Tokyo, it played an important role in military activities during the earlier times. A particular road, known as the Old Tokaido Road, is a highway linking Tokyo to Kyoto during the Edo Period. It has been used as a control traffic or checkpoint during the ancient times.
Although the original checkpoint has been demolished centuries ago, the local government of Hakone-machi has decided to reconstruct the building in 2007. On the other hand, the original stone-paved roads of Cedar Avenue found between Moto-Hakone and Hakone-Machi has been preserved. It is a good place to hike, enjoy the scenery, and appreciate nature.
Hakone Tozan Railway
Hakone Tozan Railway is Japan’s oldest working mountain railway. It consists of small-sized trains which travel through tunnels, bridges, and rails throughout the Hakone region. It features a great view of the mountainside as the train runs through valleys and forests.
The train is most enjoyable during the spring and summer seasons as these are the times when the forests and gardens are lush with life. The small stations are usually home to hundreds of flowering plants. A single ride costs about 400 yen between Hakone and Gora and usually takes about 20 minutes. A number of tourists enjoy this trip because it shows its passengers the hidden beauty of Hakone.