Top 10 Recommended Tourist Spots in Hakone! From Popular to Off-the-Beaten-Path

In this article, we will introduce recommended tourist spots in Hakone. These spots are packed with fun for everyone, whether you're alone, a couple, or with children. So, when you visit Hakone, please refer to this article.

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Top 10 Recommended Tourist Spots in Hakone!

With good access from Tokyo or about an hour by train, and also popular with tourists, it is bustling all year round, but there are still many spots that are not well known. This time, we will introduce everything from the classics to the hidden gems, so please read to the end.

1. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is a hot spring theme park perfect for families and couples, where you can enjoy both day trips and overnight stays. The Yunessun, a hot spring spa area where you can wear swimsuits and enjoy with both genders, the Mori no Yu, a hot spring area where you can enter naked, and other facilities such as a water athletic area and a food court, are popular because they offer a variety of ways to enjoy for the whole family.

Located in Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture, which is convenient for sightseeing, it is also a happy point that you can make a day trip from Tokyo in about an hour by train.

2. Hakone Tenseien

Tenseien, where you can also stay overnight. In the garden, there is a power spot, Tamadare Falls, and Tamadare Shrine, where the god of matchmaking is enshrined. After enjoying the hot springs, it is recommended to take a leisurely stroll in the garden in a yukata. The yukata enhances the Japanese atmosphere and gives you a feeling of time travel.

With a height of about 8 meters and a width of about 11 meters, the cascading clear water, which is as fine and beautiful as a "beaded curtain", has come to be known as the Beaded Curtain Waterfall. The beauty of the sound of the water is also a feature.

3. Hakone Art Museum

The Hakone Art Museum is the oldest museum in Hakone. Nowadays, Hakone is synonymous with art and culture, but the Hakone Art Museum has been showcasing a wide range of artworks since before this became the case.

The exhibits mainly consist of pottery from the Jomon period to the Edo period, including jars and vases from the Six Ancient Kilns produced during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. It boasts one of the most impressive collections of medieval ceramics in Japan. The museum also has a garden that reflects the changing seasons, which is popular among tourists. During the autumn foliage season, the entire garden of the Hakone Art Museum is dyed red, attracting many visitors.

4. Hakone Garden Aquarium

The Hakone Garden Aquarium is a marine aquarium located at the highest altitude in Japan, in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture. Originally, it was only a freshwater aquarium, but later the marine aquarium "Sea Water Pavilion" was added. You can see adorable Baikal seals in the spacious outdoor pool.

The aquarium is divided into three areas. The "Baikal Seal Square" where the popular hot spring seals live, the "Sea Water Pavilion" with an open-air large aquarium, and the "Freshwater Pavilion" where you can observe rare and large fish. From the facility, you can overlook Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, and the view is unquestionable.

Hakone-en Aquarium Ticket | Kanagawa

5. The Hakone Open-Air Museum

The Hakone Open-Air Museum, the first outdoor museum in Japan, was built in Hakone with the aim of harmonizing nature and art. One of its features is the abundance of outdoor exhibits. Artworks are placed everywhere on the vast site of about 70,000 square meters, and you can enjoy viewing them while sometimes looking up at the sky and sometimes experiencing their world inside the artworks.

Unlike typical museums, the Hakone Open-Air Museum is a place where you can walk around and experience the art. It can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages, from families with children to solo adult travelers.

6. Hakone Pirate Ship

Located in the southwestern part of Kanagawa Prefecture, Hakone is one of the leading tourist destinations in Japan. Recently, it has been visited by many tourists from abroad. Lake Ashi, located in the mountains of Hakone, is surrounded by many tourist spots and rich nature, making it an excellent location and can be said to be a symbol of Hakone.

A recommended sightseeing activity around the 22km Lake Ashi is cruising, where you can enjoy a spectacular view from the boat. There are two types of sightseeing boats operating on Lake Ashi: the Hakone Pirate Ship and the Lake Ashi Pleasure Boat. The Hakone Pirate Ship travels via Hakone Town Port, Moto-Hakone Port, and Togendai Port, while the Lake Ashi Pleasure Boat travels via Hakone Sekisho Port, Moto-Hakone Port, and Hakone Garden Port.

7. Owakudani

A scenic spot formed by volcanic activity that has been ongoing for 400,000 years. There are plenty of attractions such as Owakudani Station, Owakudani Kurotamago Hall, and Hakone Geomuseum.

Owakudani in Hakone is the trace of the explosion of the sacred mountain crater created by the last explosion of Hakone Volcano about 3000 years ago, and you can still see the smoke rising and feel the power of volcanic activity. The smoke containing hydrogen sulfide can be seen everywhere, and you can closely observe the dynamic activities of the volcano, such as boiling hot springs, fumaroles emitting smoke, and their heat.

8. Hakone Shrine

Located in Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Hakone Shrine has been revered as a god of fortune opening, known for its divine virtues in bringing good luck, fulfilling wishes, and ensuring traffic safety. Within the shrine grounds, there is a treasure hall displaying the historical treasures of Hakone Shrine, and you can also hold a wedding ceremony in front of the deity.

The large cedar tree standing in the precincts of Hakone Shrine, known as the "Tree of Fortune," is called the "Easy Delivery Cedar." As the name suggests, it has been said to be a sacred tree with divine virtues for prosperity and safe childbirth. It is said that Minamoto no Yoritomo, who established the shogunate in Kamakura, and his wife, Hojo Masako, also prayed to this cedar for safe childbirth and were blessed with children.

9. Yumoto Onsen

Yumoto Onsen, which opened in the Nara period, has a history of 1200 years. It is still the oldest hot spring village in Hakone where hot springs naturally spring up. The alkaline hot spring is gentle on the skin, colorless, transparent, tasteless, and odorless, so people of all ages can comfortably bathe.

10. Kintokiyama

Kintokiyama is a mountain located north of the Hakone outer ring mountain, counted as one of the 300 famous mountains in Japan. The vegetation near the summit is sparse, and because it is higher than the surrounding mountains, you can enjoy a magnificent view, including Mount Fuji.

Kintaro, who is said to have played around Kintokiyama, left many legends in this area. There are landmarks and signs on the course that tell the legend of Kintaro, so it might be interesting to look for them while climbing.

At the summit, there are two teahouses, "Kintoki Chaya" and "Kintaro Chaya", which have been in business for a long time. The specialties are curry udon and nameko soup, and these are shops you definitely want to stop by when you visit Kintokiyama. Kintaro goods are also sold, so they are recommended for souvenirs. Toilets are also available for a fee.

Enjoy Hakone!

We have introduced popular tourist spots in Hakone so far. From classics to hidden gems, each spot is enjoyable for all ages and genders. Please refer to this when you visit Hakone.

Top 10 Recommended Tourist Spots in Hakone! From Popular to Off-the-Beaten-Path