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Hakone, within the shadow of Mount Fuji, is among the larger Tokyo space’s hottest countryside escape locations, due to its stunning surroundings, luxurious ryokans, and wealth of rejuvenating onsen (sizzling springs).
However it’s not all nature: together with stress-free surrounded by mountains, there may be additionally a lot to see and do in Hakone, together with great artwork, nice hikes, and distinctive sightseeing choices.
A part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu Nationwide Park, Hakone additionally gives putting views of the close by Mount Fuji (Fujisan) on clear days. And onsen lovers will discover Hakone notably interesting, because it’s probably the greatest locations in Japan’s Kanto area to wash in conventional sizzling springs.
As a result of Hakone is well accessed from Tokyo, many vacationers go to as a day journey, although it’s arguably greatest skilled as an in a single day vacation spot, together with a keep of not less than an evening or two at a ryokan (Japanese-style inn).
Initially written in 2014, this put up was up to date and republished on October 24, 2022.
When to Go to Hakone
Hakone is price visiting at any time of yr. Nonetheless, if in case you have the flexibleness, it could be greatest to keep away from nationwide holidays and different peak journey intervals when it’s extra more likely to be crowded.
Because it’s a extremely popular vacation spot for Tokyoites, lodging are likely to refill effectively prematurely over lengthy weekends and different main vacation intervals, reminiscent of Golden Week (the primary week of Might), Obon (in mid-August), and New Yr’s.
For extra on the seasons, climate, and holidays in Japan, see When Is The Greatest Time To Go to Japan?
Attending to Hakone
It’s simple to get to Hakone from Tokyo.
Usually, touring by rail is one of the best and best possibility, nevertheless it’s additionally completely possible to drive. Both approach, it takes roughly 60 to 90 minutes, relying partly on the place in Tokyo you’re beginning your journey.
Touring from Tokyo Station to Hakone
When you’re touring from across the Tokyo Station space within the coronary heart of the town, the shinkansen (bullet practice) is a perfect possibility. From Tokyo Station, it’s nearly half-hour by shinkansen to Odawara Station within the Hakone space. From Odawara, which is simply exterior Hakone, you’ll then have to proceed into central Hakone (see beneath).
When you’re touring to Hakone from the west — for instance, from Kyoto or Osaka — you’ll additionally wish to take the shinkansen to Odawara Station.
Touring from Shinjuku Station to Hakone
When you’re touring from across the Shinjuku Station space of Tokyo, the Odakyu Railways “Romancecar” is a good possibility. It takes just a little longer at round 90 minutes, nevertheless it’s a pleasing trip and conveniently takes you all the best way into the guts of Hakone, leaving you at Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Navigating Hakone from Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto
Whether or not you’ve taken the shinkansen to Odawara Station, or the Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto Station, the next move relies on the place in Hakone you’re staying. From Odawara, you will get to close by Hakone by practice, or it could make sense to have a non-public switch to your lodging (in some circumstances this could save fairly a little bit of effort and time).
For our vacationers, we additionally usually suggest the Hakone Freepass, which provides you entry to native transport choices together with the Hakone Tozan Railway, Hakone Tozan Cable Automobile, Hakone Ropeway, native buses, and the cruise throughout Lake Ashi (Ashinoko).
What to Do in Hakone
Along with stress-free at your ryokan, Hakone gives a lot to do.
Discover Hakone’s Artwork Museums
Hakone gives a handful of wonderful artwork museums, together with these three standouts. (If in case you have extra time within the space, and love structure, additionally see Enoura Observatory beneath.)
Hakone Open-Air Museum
With Hakone’s pure magnificence as its backdrop, the Hakone Open-Air Museum options spectacular sculptures by famend artists together with Rodin, Miro and Henry Moore, to not point out a formidable Picasso assortment. Consistent with the spirit of Hakone, there are additionally pure sizzling spring foot baths the place you may chill out after exploring, and family-friendly play areas for these touring with youngsters.
Pola Museum of Artwork
Additionally making use of Hakone’s pure setting, the Pola Museum of Artwork options works by each celebrated Japanese and European artists. The engaging fashionable construction goals to spotlight the encompassing forest, and together with the artworks, it’s price having fun with the museum’s “Artwork Nature Path,” which showcases the luxurious panorama and native wildlife of this pretty slice of the Fuji Hakone Izu Nationwide Park.
Okada Museum of Artwork
The Okada Museum of Artwork makes a speciality of works from all through East Asia, with an excellent assortment of ceramics and sculptures from Japan, China, and Korea. Different artwork kinds are additionally represented, with a slight emphasis on historic works but additionally items from the current. To enrich the artworks take pleasure in a stroll within the museum’s Japanese backyard, or a peaceable break in its teahouse.
Benefit from the Views from the Hakone Sightseeing Loop
We often keep away from touristy actions, however Hakone’s sightseeing loop (additionally known as the Hakone spherical course) generally is a enjoyable option to spend just a few hours (or so long as a full day) taking in a wide range of landscapes.
The Hakone Freepass (talked about above underneath Attending to Hakone) makes doing the loop simple, and there are many issues to see, do, and eat alongside the best way. Meals lovers will probably be tempted to cease off at Owakudani, a Hakone Ropeway switch level, to pattern the famend kuro-tamago (black eggs boiled in onsen waters containing sulfur and iron).
The Hakone loop takes you across the space on numerous modes of transport together with:
Hakone Tozan Railway
The Hakone Tozan Railway is Japan’s oldest mountain railway. It consists of two sections: the decrease part from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto, and the higher part from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora.
The second part is the extra spectacular of the 2. The small mountain practice winds via a slim wooded valley, taking you thru tunnels and over scenic bridges, with switchbacks and stops at small stations alongside the best way.
Hakone Tozan Cable Automobile
The Hakone Tozan Cable Automobile is a funicular railway that hyperlinks the primary cease of the Hakone Railway, Sounzan Station, with the final cease, Gora Station, transporting passengers to a peak of 702 ft (214 meters). Your entire journey takes round 9 minutes, and also you’ll be capable of take pleasure in views of Hakone as you ascend.
Hakone Ropeway
As soon as at Sounzan, you may hook up with the Hakone Ropeway, an aerial carry that hyperlinks Sounzan and Togendai through Owakudani. A full journey on one of many ropeway’s gondolas takes round half-hour, and alongside the best way you may absorb views of the steaming sulfur fields and sizzling spring sources of the Owakudani Valley.
Cruise Throughout Ashinoko (Lake Ashi)
Hakone is positioned on the shores of Ashinoko, a crater lake fashioned 3,000 years in the past, after Mount Hakone’s final volcanic eruption. Out on the clear lake, climate allowing, you’ll be surrounded by views of forested land and mountains.
When you’re fortunate and the climate is further clear, you could take pleasure in unobstructed views of Mount Fuji as you cruise throughout the lake. A cruise from one finish of the lake to the opposite takes roughly half-hour on the quirkily themed boats, and can take you previous the long-lasting crimson gate of the Hakone Jinja shrine.
Go to Hakone Jinja (Hakone Shrine)
After cruising throughout Lake Ashi (see above), it’s a pleasant stroll of about half-hour from Hakone-Machi to Moto-Hakone, the place you’ll discover the gorgeous Hakone Shrine. The stroll takes you alongside a part of the outdated Tokaido freeway, which linked Kyoto and Tokyo through the Edo Interval.
You’ll cross the reconstructed Hakone Checkpoint (an attention-grabbing cease for historical past lovers), and stroll via the engaging Cedar Avenue, lined with timber planted within the seventeenth century. Lastly, attain Hakone Jinja, a Shinto shrine greatest recognized for its much-photographed torii gate dealing with out onto Ashinoko.
Make a Aspect Journey to the Enoura Observatory
Whereas not positioned in Hakone itself, for lovers of artwork, structure, and design, it’s price contemplating a detour to go to the spectacular Enoura Observatory, designed by Hiroshi Sugimoto. Visits to the Enoura Observatory have to be deliberate prematurely, each as a result of it’s just a little out of the best way, and most significantly as a result of tickets to the observatory are by reservation solely.
If visiting from Hakone, plan to allot the higher a part of a day. In some circumstances, it could be greatest to plan to go to both en path to or from Hakone.
The place to Keep in Hakone
Hakone is blessed with quite a few spectacular ryokans and accommodations, the place you may savor the encompassing surroundings, soak in soothing onsen, and revel in native and seasonal delicacies.
For a lot of vacationers, visiting Hakone is the perfect alternative to expertise a standard ryokan, although the world options non-ryokan choices as effectively (in case you’re unsure what a ryokan keep entails, take our digital ryokan tour).
That can assist you choose lodging, we’ve put collectively a brief listing of our favourite Hakone ryokans, together with a few of our favorites in different areas we love.
When you take pleasure in daydreaming about lodging, usually, see our curated listing of Japan’s greatest boutique and luxurious accommodations.
We hope our introduction to Hakone helps you get probably the most out of your go to! For extra journey inspiration, see our information to Japan’s greatest locations.
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