Hakone | Shopping & Sightseeing | Odakyu Electric Railway

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Hakone is just 85 minutes from Tokyo (Shinjuku) by Odakyu "Romancecar," and its easy accessibility makes it a favorite destination for Japanese and foreign sightseers alike. For 400 years, Hakone flourished as a post town on the main road connecting Tokyo and Kyoto; it was also well known as a place for taking a spa cure. Today, it offers many attractions-hot springs (onsen), Lake Ashi, art museums, historic sites-and it is one of Japan's top sightseeing areas. Accommodations range from modern hotels to traditional inns (ryokan), and visitors can enjoy all the famous spots in the area, which is also registered as a national park.

Hakone Sightseeing

Hakone is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Japan.

Its beautiful natural scenery can be enjoyed year round at such places as Lake Ashi, with Mount Fuji reflected on its calm surface; Owakudani, site of ongoing volcanic activity; the centuries-old cedars lining the old Tokaido Highway; the site of the Hakone Checkpoint; as well as numerous hot springs in the area.

Lake Ashi, symbol of Hakone. A caldera lake formed by a volcanic explosion, it has a circumference of 19 kilometers. In fine weather, majestic Mount Fuji is visible from Moto-Hakone Port.

The hell valley is called "Owakudani", which was formed before Christ by volcanic explosion. Walking on the promenade, you can see a wonderful smoking volcano. Never forget to eat the special "Black Eggs!"

Hakone is home to numerous museums large and small. Many of their works are exhibited only here, so make sure not to miss what you want to see. The Hakone Freepass is a convenient and economical way to get around when touring the area.

Sightseeing Map

Access

■From Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Hakone-Yumoto: 1 hour and 25 minutes by the comfortable all-seats-reserved Limited Express "Romancecar"
By express train (non-reserved seats): 1 hr. and 50 min.

Ltd. Exp. Romancecar

■From Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Gotemba, Togendai, Hotel de Yama: By Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus (All seats reserved): approx. 2 hr. 10 min.

Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus

Transportation

Hakone is one of Japan's most famous sightseeing spots. Enjoy the convenience of a Freepass that includes round-trip travel from Shinjuku and a pass allowing unlimited use of transportation in the Hakone area. The Freepass allows unlimited boarding of trains, buses, cable cars and sightseeing boats that make up the transportation network in the Hakone area. With the Freepass, it's easy to visit the great variety of sightseeing spots-hot springs (onsen), Lake Ashi, art museums, historic sites and others-that Hakone has to offer. Enjoy all of Hakone's attractions with the convenient and economical Freepass.
Changing trains and cars, you make a circuit of Hakone. You can see here what you are going to take.