First, let’s take a look at the Hakone map and see where each area is located.

Here we have the 4 major spots in Hakone - Hakone Yumoto, Lake Ashi, Gora, and Yugawara - and their unique features. Hakone, which has great access from Tokyo by train, has different attractions depending on the area you visit.

With a plethora of various activities, Hakone attracts man repeating visitors from Japan and overseas and claims its position as one of Japan’s major sightseeing destinations. Let’s dive in and take a look at each area.

Hakone Enmusubi Fukuya Kuzuryu Mochi is a gift shop where you can see how the sweets are made at their workshop.

Their main item Kuzuryu Mochi is an amazing gem that only uses domestic ingredients. The “Roasted Mont Blanc” with a large bittersweet chestnut and almond paste is very popular with foreign visitors

Another reason behind Fukuya’s popularity is the foot bath with hot spring water flowing directly from the source (adults 200 yen, elementary school students, and below 150 yen, tax included, towel provided). The simple alkaline hot spring helps ease sore muscles, arthralgia, sensitivity to cold, and relieving fatigue. After looking around for souvenirs, this is the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate.

Amidaji Temple, which is also known as the Hydrangea Temple, was established in the Edo period. In the rainy season, the temple is surrounded by colorful hydrangeas. The temple was founded by Tansei Shonin, who practiced mokujiki. Mokujiki is a practice where a monk only eats nuts and fruits from trees. About 350 meters behind the main hall, there is a cave where Tansei Shonin would meditate.

Another famous feature of the temple is the biwa instrument performance by the 38th head priest. The performance starts from 11 AM until noon every day for groups of 3 ppl and above, and it costs 1,000 yen per person (including tea and souvenirs); it is a great opportunity to feel Japanese culture firsthand.

Also for foreign travelers who don’t understand Japanese, they offer tablets for translation so you can enjoy the performance.

Hakone Yuryo is a famous hot spring facility offering large communal open-air baths and private open-air baths, perfect for groups and families on day trips.

We highly recommend experiencing the Finnish loyly sauna. Aromatic water is poured over hot stones, and you enjoy the steam. However, at Hakone Yuryo, a fan blows the hot steam on you to promote more sweating. It is popular as it leads to the promotion of metabolism.

Also at Irorisaryo Hachiri, you can experience authentic irori (hearth-cooked) cuisine, by the head chef who formerly worked at an Odakyu Group hotel.

Hakone Open-Air Museum was ranked in the top 10 for the “Popular Sightseeing Spots in Japan by Foreign Visitors.” It is the first open-air museum in Japan and has about 120 sculptures on its large premises.

There are many art collections, such as works from the world-famous sculptor Henry Moore, and there are also art pieces where you can play on, which is great for families with children.

The most popular spot at Hakone Open-Air Museum is the Symphonic Sculpture. It’s a large tower covered in stained glass, and entering the tower feels like going inside a kaleidoscope.

The Hakone Museum of Art is a great place for experiencing Japanese culture and traditions. Unlike the Hakone Open-Air Museum, this museum offers a variety of beautiful gardens that reflect the four seasons. You can enjoy the moss garden and Ishirakuen, a traditional garden with large stones.

In autumn when the leave colors change, the garden is filled in bright colors with over 200 maple trees. The breathtaking view mesmerizes many visitors.

They also have important cultural property on display, such as haniwa (clay figure) and Jomon doki (straw-roped pattern pottery) from ancient Japan, and pottery from the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. If you would like to start looking around from the garden, we recommend taking the route from the left going along the moss garden, team room, ishirakuen then to the museum.

If you are interested in traditional Japanese culture, we recommend Hakone CRAFTHOUSE, where you can experience eight traditional crafts making.

Popular activities among foreign visitors are the “Lampwork Bead” and “Pottery.” The “Lampwork Bead” session is trendy as it is easy to try out. There are over 100 beads you can combine to make an original item. Also, with the “Lampwork Bead,” you can take home what you make on the same day, which is always lovely.

Also, at Komamonoya Hakone, which opened in July 2019, you can acquire crafts from artists in the Hakone and Odawara area and cute handmade accessories, which are only available here. Stop by, and you might find a special item.

There are numerous spots from where you can enjoy the stunning view of Lake Ashi. Hakone Shrine, situated near Lake Ashi, has been a prominent spiritual site for mountain worship in the Kanto region. Many warlords, including Tokugawa Ieyasu, held this shrine in high regard.

Recently, the Heiwa-no-Torii, which means peace gate, has become increasingly popular. It is a picturesque location where many visitors take photos of the torii gate standing on the surface of Lake Ashi.

Another place to visit with Hakone Shrine is Kuzuryu Shrine. The shrine enshrines a god that brings good fortune to matchmaking, and on the 13th of every month, many ladies attend the monthly festival.

Next is the Premium Shop & Salon de thé Rosage right by the lakeside. Their popular dish is the “Traditional Rosage Hot Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream” (1,800 yen for one, 2,600 yen with the tea set, including pot service). The combination of the textures of the apple and the pie crust, the hot pie and cold vanilla ice cream, and the harmony of sweetness and sourness, the total experience is incredible.

Also Rosage has been designated as a “delicious tea store” by the Japan Tea Association, and at the select shop there are many people who purchase the “Original Domestic Tea” (1,620 yen ~) and the Tea Strainer (880 yen ~).

Located by the lakeside of Lake Ashi, Hakone-en is a consolidated amusement facility that offers activities such as Hakone Komagatake Ropeway, an aquarium, a zoo, a golf course, and panoramic parks.

The aquarium is located at the highest elevation in Japan and has three areas: Seawater Hall, Freshwater Hall, and Baikal Seal Square. They also have scheduled shows such as the “Bika Seal Show,” “Underwater Sow in the Large Tank,” and the “Shake Hands with the Asian Small-Clawed Otter.”

Many people fall in love with the baby otter that was born in late 2018. Getting a glimpse of the adorable otter will be a great addition to your trip.

Let's visit Yugawara and explore the area. Our first stop should be Manyo Park, which is considered as one of the top 100 historical parks in Japan. Yugawara Onsen, which is mentioned in Japan's oldest poem Manyoshu, is also located here. The park has many plants mentioned in the poem and is known as a relaxing place for visitors.

Manyotei is located near the park entrance and is a tea room designed to imitate the ancient architecture of the Manyo period. You can have a cup of matcha green tea and sweets for just 500 yen, and it's an excellent spot to unwind.

Further in the park there is the Doppo no Yu, a place where you can enjoy 9 foot baths. It uses hot spring water and said to help ease 9 different troubles.

Fudo-taki waterfall is located upstream of the Fujiki River, a tributary of the Chitose River. It is a small 15 m water fall located in the bamboo forest, however the volume of water flowing is quite extraordinary, and surprises many visitors.

Fudo-taki is also famous for discovering the Yugawaralite, a new stone discovered in 1931 at the waterfall basin. Since the stone minerals are almost identical to Yugawara onsen’s hot spring source, they believe that Yugawaralite is connected to the hot spring.

After absorbing the negative ion from the waterfall, head to the Migawari-Fudoson on the left and Shusse Daikokuson to the right and make a prayer. There is also a tea shop where you can take a break on your way back.

After enjoying the scenery of Yugawara, how about spicing your trip up by visiting a sweets factory? Tivoli Yugawara Sweets Factory is a consolidated facility that has a shop, cafe, factory and a cookie buffet, which is run by the famous baked confectioneries company.

The “Mini Factory Visitor's Course” is popular with all visitors. You don’t need to make a reservation so you can stop by anytime and see how cookies and other baked confectioneries are made.

Another course we recommend is the “Sweets making experience,” available for children above 3 years old. Children below 5 years must join with a guardian. Here you can draw on a cookie with a sugar pen and make an original cookie! However this course requires a reservation.

We covered 3 popular spots in the 4 major areas of Hakone Yumoto, Gora, Lake Ashi and Yugawara. These popular destination can be congested at time, but please follow the rules and be mindful of others while you enjoy your visit.

*This article was written based on infomation available in April 9, 2019 and updated in October 2023.