Fascinating places selected by a half-Japanese and half-French, connoisseur of
the Japanese gastronomy, culture and tradition
Louis Robuchon Abe acts as a chief executive officer of a trading company importing French wine and exporting Japanese products including sake. With Japanese and French family background, he has developed and sophisticated his palate and sensibility in both countries ever since he was born in Hakata. He serves as a bridge between Japan and the rest of world, leveraging many years of his knowledge and international networks. Currently, he devotes his effort to delivering lectures and speeches across the nation under the theme "Export strategies towards Europe". His father is Joel Robuchon, unparalleled Michelin-starred, French master chef aka "Chef of the Century"
Hakone is one of the best-known and most symbolic hot spring resorts among the Japanese. With its 1,200 years of history, Hakone has long served as a therapeutic bath for Japanese people. Currently, various transportation systems enable easy roundtrips in Hakone, full of "Japanese uniqueness" with volcanic activities, hot spring, Mt. Fuji viewing places, nature experience of seasonal flowers, and historical/cultural destinations including temples, shrines, and museums.
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The oldest hot spring of 21 sources in Hakone, the Hakone-Yumoto area offers easy and convenient hot spring experiences with its perfect access from the station and many day-use facilities.
Full of inns, restaurants, souvenir shops, and particularly local cuisine using home-grown ingredients this area attract all tourists.
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Mugitoro specialty restaurant neighboring "The Hakone Open-Air Museum". The food offering is "Mugitoro set meal" only. You can also enjoy the view of The Hakone Tozan Train up close while eating at this restaurant.
Address: 1143-42 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Asigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0407
Hours: 11:00 - 16:00 (*Close when sold out)
Closed: No regular holiday
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A food-court type restaurant with a large terrace area. The popular menu is "nama-tofu shake", made of tofu from Tsujikuni Tofu using the famous water of Ohiradai called "Hime-no-mizu" (Princess water).
Address: 3F Mitsuki Bldg. 702 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Asigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0311
Hours: 11:00 - 18:00 (Mon. thru Fri.)/11:00 - 19:30 (weekends and holidays)
Closed: No regular holiday
JAPANESE FOOD
Out through a bamboo grove, you arrive at the mountain hut style restaurant surrounded by a vast garden. As it looks, Somano Sumika means the house of woodcutters. You can savor delicious cold soba with various kinds of tempura, soba with grated yam, or hot soba with tempura.
Address: 60 Tonosawa, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0315
Hours: 11:30 - 16:00 (*Close when sold out)
Closed: No regular holiday
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A Renovated café in the staff dormitory of long-established "Naraya-ryokan", which ended its 300 years of history dating back from to the mid-Edo period. Seasonal events held at the shop is also a can't-miss.
Address: 404-13 Miyanoshita, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0404
Hours: 10:30 - 18:00 (December to February: until 17:00)
Closed: Wednesdays, 4th Thursday, (Winter holiday: mid- to late-January)
Located east of Lake Ashi, the area attracts visitors with its natural and historical tourist destinations such as an excellent lakeside view, stone pavement "Kyukaido (Ancient Highway)" and sekisho (checkpoint) built in Edo period, and many more.
Hakone-jinja shrine
A shrine built beside Lake Ashi over 1,260 years ago. Its precincts are surrounded by nature in its fullness, and as you cross the path along with huge old cedars that leads to the shrine complex, you will soak in an aura of history.
Address: 80-1 Moto-Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0522
Closed: No regular holiday
The Surrounding area is in complete silence, with a sacred and solemn atmosphere. A flight of stone steps, and the red and gold coated main shrine are just magnificent. The view of the lakeside torii gate and Mont Fuji blending together is particularly beautiful.
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Established in the early Edo period, the café offers amazake made of malted rice added with a little salt based on its original recipe, and rice cakes coated with sweetened green soybean flour.
Address: 395-28 Hatajuku Futagoyama, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0314
Hours: 7:00 - 17:30Closed: No regular holiday
CAFÉ MULTILINGUAL MENU
Looking as if floating on Lake Ashi, the hotel-managed dessert restaurant is approved as a cafe with great tea by the Japan Tea Association. Hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream" is your definite must-taste.
A Tea Room where the tea is served to you in a tea pot. You can taste the "Japanese strawberry shortcake" (strawberry, cream and fluffy sponge cake), which is little known by the foreign visitors. The service is impeccable. The pier located just beside the tea room gives guests the opportunity to take excellent photos.
Address: 80 Moto-Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0522
Hours: 10:30 - 17:00 (Last order) *January 15 to March 15: 10:30 - 16:00 (Last order)
Closed: Wednesdays
CAFÉ MULTILINGUAL MENU
You can savor quality bread made from carefully selected ingredients with a wide variety of drinks, overlooking a stunning landscape of Lake Ashi. Seat at counter and open-air seat with foot spa are also available.
I have enjoyed some bread and coffee in the café on the second floor. The Open air terrace with ten seats is equipped with foot spa, which is perfect for a break from Lake Ashi walking.
Address: 9-1 Moto-Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0522
Hours: 8:30 - 17:00 (Last order: 16:30) Closed: No regular holiday
Owakudani and Lake Ashi were created by the explosion of Hakone Volcano about 3,000 years ago. From The Hakone Ropeway, you can overlook dynamic activities of the volcano in Owakudani, still emitting a great deal of smoke here and there. The Gora area on the other hand, serves as a center of cultural facilities such as museums or parks.
Owakudani special black eggs
Local tradition holds eating one of these black eggs, boiled in a hot spring can add seven years to one's life.
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The oldest French style garden existing in Japan, the park holds Hakone Crafthouse offering various workshops including glass-blowing, ceramics, and glass beads workshop.
Visitors can join glassworks or ceramics workshops in the Crafthouse. Turning a potter's wheel to produce one's own work is an exclusive experience. Multilingual instructions and international shipping of the works are available.
Address: 1300 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0408
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (Last entry: 16:30) Closed: No regular holiday
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Open air exhibition of modern/contemporary sculptures combines art and nature experience. Indoor facilities including the Main Gallery and Picasso Pavilion as well as hands-on exhibits children can enjoy and a foot spa provide visitors with full-day attraction.
Address: 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Asigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0493
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (Last admission: 16:30)
Closed: No regular holiday
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Nearly 450 pieces of art, including ceramics and paintings from Japan and the Orient, are on permanent display in the five-story, approximately 5,000-square-meter museum. Its garden and foot spa café add ultimate luxury, indulging in the beauty of arts and nature of Hakone.
Address: 493-1 Kowakudani, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0406
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (Last admission: 16:30)
Closed: December 31, January 1 (*Temporarily closed between exhibits)
A Classical style resort hotel built at the site of the former residence of Baron Iwasaki, one of the perfect locations in the Hakone/Lake Ashi area.
The Classical style interior engenders a historical atmosphere. All rooms offer the excellent view of Lake Ashi and visitors can appreciate seasonal beauty of Hakone with Mt. Fuji as a background. Exquisitely groomed grand garden, privately-owned hot spring, and spa facility on the top floor provide visitors with ultimate relaxation.
80 Moto-Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0522
HAKONE
Located at the junction of Hakone and Enoshima-bound trains from Shinjuku, the hotel serves as an ultimate hub for holiday and business.
Recently renovated guest rooms with a modern interior make you feel at home. Available facilities include a free Wi-Fi service, massage chair, restaurants with a nice view and many more. Truly perfect location for visiting Shinjuku and Hakone.
7F - 14 F Sagami-Ono Station Square, 3-8-1 Sagami-Ono, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-0303
SAGAMI-ONO
The Set meal of "Mugitoro" is your definite must-eat. Barley and rice topped with grated yam is a particularly healthy dish made of locally grown ingredients. An early visit is highly recommended as the restaurant closes once the stock runs out.