When Hakone meets good weather, it truly looks like a fairyland

Hakone Onsen Village｜A Healing Secret Under Mount Fuji♨️Private Baths + Food Guide

Hakone is a hot spring tourist area in the southwest of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Formed by volcanic activity 400,000 years ago, it features Lake Ashi, a volcanic crater lake, and the volcanic remains of Owakudani. The hot spring resources include 17 hot spring resorts and 380 active springs, with as many as 20 types of spring quality. The area preserves the Hakone Checkpoint site from the Edo period and over a thousand cultural relics, with traditional Yosegi Zaiku marquetry craftsmanship passed down for more than 200 years.

🚅 Transportation Tips
📍 Address: Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture
🚆 It’s more cost-effective to buy the Hakone Free Pass

🏨 Reasons to Visit
Volcanic hot springs + Mount Fuji views! The No.1 hot spring village in Kanto lives up to its reputation✨

🗺️ Route Planning
1️⃣ Hakone-Yumoto Station ➡️ The Hakone Open-Air Museum
The museum is great for photos! Original Picasso works + rainbow glass tower
📸 Tips: Outdoor sculptures are perfect for casual shots

2️⃣ Owakudani
Active volcanic crater with impressive sulfur smoke! Don’t forget to eat the black eggs (legend says they add 7 years to your life)
⚠️ The smell is strong, so wearing a mask is recommended

3️⃣ Lake Ashi Pirate Ship
Red torii gate + Mount Fuji in the same frame for a stunning view! Choose a seat on the right side of the ship
🚢 Route: Togendai Port → Moto-Hakone Port (about 30 minutes)

♨️ Must-Soak Hot Springs
▫️ Hakone Yuryo: Bamboo forest semi-open-air bath
▫️ Gora Kadan: Private bath with views of Mount Fuji

🍱 Food Recommendations
▪️ Onsen Manju: Red bean paste filling, soft and not greasy
▪️ Hakone Donburi: Wild boar meat + onsen egg, a perfect match
▪️ Tamura Ginsentei: 130-year-old soba noodle shop

📸 Hidden Photo Spots
1. Hakone Shrine’s Torii Gate in the water (best to go at 7 AM for fewer people)
2. Narukawa Art Museum Observation Deck (panoramic view of Mount Fuji + Lake Ashi)

💡 Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
• Mountain bus runs infrequently, remember to check the timetable
• The Free Pass does not cover some mountain cable cars
• Private baths require booking one month in advance during peak season