
You've probably heard of Japan's “Golden Route” - the standard route to take when traveling in Japan. Over the years it has become quite common with foreign travelers.
We will cover Hakone, one of the spots located along the Golden Route, and its main sightseeing areas of Gora, Lake Ashi, Hakone Yumoto and Yugawara.
Hakone and its Many Attractions!

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 Yumoto: Many Attractions at the Entrance to Hakone!
■Hakone Enmusubi Fukuya Kuzuryu Mochi
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.

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Hakone En-Musubi Fukuya Kuzuryu Mochi箱根縁結び 福久や 九頭龍餅
- Address 729 Yumoto, Hakone Ahigarashimo District
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Nearest Station
Access: About a 5-minute walk from Hakone Tozan railway Hakone-Yumoto Station
- Phone Number 0460-85-8818
(Weekdays) 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
(Weekend and Holidays) 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closed: Not scheduled
■Amidaji Temple
Amidaji Temple, also known as the Hydrangea Temple, was established in the Edo period. During 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 the 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 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. every day, and it costs 1,000 yen per person (includes tea and souvenirs); it is a great opportunity to feel Japanese culture first hand.

Also for foreign travelers who don’t understand Japanese, they offer tablets for translation so you can enjoy the performance.
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Amidaji Temple阿弥陀寺
- Address 24 Tonosawa, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
About a 40-minute walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, about 5 minutes by car.
About 15-20 minute walk from Haknoe Tozan Railway Tonosawa Station
- Phone Number 0460-85-5193
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
■Hakone Yuryo
Hakone Yuryo is a popular hot spring facility that offers large communal open-air baths and private open-air baths, which is 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 is used to blow 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.

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Hakone Yuryo箱根湯寮
- Address 4 Tonosawa, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
Three minutes via the free shuttle bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station
(By car)
About 10 minutes from Odawara-Atsugi Road Hakoneguchi IC
About 45 minutes from Tomei Expressway Gotemba IC
Free parking (92 vehicles)
- Phone Number 0460-85-8411
Hours:
(Weekdays) 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (final admission 8:00 p.m.)
(Weekends and Holidays) 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (final admission 9:00 p.m.)
*Dining facility and relaxation ends at 10:00 p.m.
Closed: none (irregular maintenance)
Prices:
(Communal Open-Air Bath)
Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,500 yen
Children (elementary school students) 750 yen
(Private Open-Air Bath)
Up to 2 people 18m2 4,300 yen (2,150 yen for 30 minutes extension)
Up to 4 people 24m2 5,300 yen (2,650 yen for 30 minutes extension)
Up to 4 people 32m2 6,300 yen (3,150 yen for 30 minutes extension)
* All prices mentioned include tax.
Gora: Fully Enjoy Art by Visiting Museums and Making an Original Work!
■Hakone Open-Air Museum
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.

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Hakone Open-Air Museum彫刻の森美術館
- Address 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
About a 2-minute walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Chokoku-no-Mori Station
- Phone Number 0460-82-1161
Admission: General 1,600 yen, university and high school students 1,200 yen, junior high school students and elementary school students 800 yen.
*Group discount available.
*Admission prices includes tax.
■Hakone Museum of Art
Unlike the Hakone Open-Air Museum, at Hakone Museum of Art, you can experience “Japanese” culture and traditions. Here you can enjoy beautiful gardens throughout the four seasons, such as the moss garden and Ishirakuen (stone paradise), a traditional garden made 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.
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Hakone Museum of Art箱根美術館
- Address 1300 Hakone-machi, Gora, Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
Near Hakone Tozan Cable Car Line Koen-Kami Station
- Phone Number 0460-82-2623
(April - November) 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(December - March) 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
*Final admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Closed: Thursday (closed on holidays and November), New Year’s Holidays
Admission Ticket:
(General) 900 yen
(High school student) 400 yen
(Under junior high school student) Free
(Senior discount) 700 yen
(Disabled discount) 400 yen
*Group discount available (for groups with more than 10 people)
*Admission prices includes tax.
■Hakone CRAFTHOUSE
If you are interested in tradition Japanese culture, we recommend Hakone CRAFTHOUSE where you can experience 8 traditional craft making.

Popular activities among foreign visitors are the “Lampwork Bead” and “Pottery.” The “Lampwork Bead” session is extremely popular 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 nice.

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.

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HAKONE CRAFTHOUSE箱根クラフトハウス
- Address (In Gora Park) 1300 Gora, Hakone-Machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
About a 5-minute walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Gora Station
About a minute walk from Hakone Tozan Cable Car Line Koen-Shimo Station
Right by Hakone Shisetsu Meguri Bus Gora Park Station
- Phone Number 0460-82-9210
Open: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. * Times may vary according to the season
*Facility may close due to bad weather such as snow and Typhoon.
*Final admission is 30 minutes prior to closing
*Depending on the activity the final sign up time are different. *Please contact the facility for more detail
Closed: None
Entrance Fee: Adult 550 yen, children (elementary school student or younger): free
*Admission prices includes tax.
Lake Ashi: Enjoy Hakone at the Lakeside!
■Hakone Shrine
There are many different types of spots you can enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Ashi. Hakone Shrine, located near Lake Ashi, has prospered as a great spiritual place for mountain worshiping in the Kanto region. Many warlords such as Tokugawa Ieyasu cherished this shrine.

Recently the Heiwa-no-Torii (Heiwa = Peace; a torii is a traditional Japanese gate found at shrines) is gaining popularity. It is a photogenic spot where many people take pictures of the torii standing on Lake Ashi's surface.

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.

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Hakone Shrine箱根神社
- Address 80-1, Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
13-Minute walk from Hakone Tozan Bus “Hakone Jinja Iriguchi” stop
- Phone Number 0460-83-7123
Hours:
(Good Luck Charm Vendor) 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(Parking) 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed: None
*The Homotsu-den may close due to exhibition replacement
Admission fee: Free
■Premium Shop & Salon de thé Rosage
Next up 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” (1,604 yen for one, 2,317 yen with the tea set, includes 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 the 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 - 1,728 yen) and the Tea Strainer (1,944 yen).

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Premium Shop & Salon de thé Rosageプレミアムショップ&サロン・ド・テ ロザージュ
- Address 80, Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
15-Minute walk from Hakone Tozan bus Moto Hakone-ko stop
*Free shuttle bus
- Phone Number 0460-83-6321
Open: 10:30 AM a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last order 5:00 p.m.)
*December - February 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Last order 4:00 p.m.)
Closed: Closed on some days in the winter season
■Hakone-en
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 in the highest elevation in Japan and has three areas of 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.

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Hakoneen箱根園
- Address 139, Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa, 250-0522, Japan
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Nearest Station
Right by Izuhakone Bus Hakone-en stop
- Phone Number 0460-83-1151
Hours:
(Hakone-en Aquarium) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(Lake Ashi Cruise Ship) 9:00 - 4:35 p.m.
(Komagatake Ropeway) 9:00 a.m. - 4:50 p.m.
Closed: always open
Prices:
(Hakone-en Aquarium) Adult 1,500 yen / Children 700 yen
(Lake Ashi Cruise Ship) Adult 760 yen / Children (elementary school student) 380 yen (one way)
(Komagatake Ropeway) Adult 1,600 yen / Children (elementary school student) 800 yen (round trip)
*Admission prices includes tax.
Yugawara: Enjoy the Four Seasons and Nature!
■Manyo Park
Finally let’s head out to Yugawara and take a look. The first place to stop by is Manyo Park, which was selected in the top 100 historical parks in Japan. Yugawara Onsen was sited in Japan’s oldest poem Manyoshu, with that the park has planted many plants from the poem and became a place of relaxation for people.

Manyotei near the park entrance is a tea room that imitated the ancient architecture of the Manyo period. For 500 yen you can have a cup of matcha green tea and sweets, it is a great place to relax.

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.

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Manyo Park万葉公園
- Address 566 Miyakami, Yugawara-Machi
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Nearest Station
Hakone Tozan Bus, Izu Hakone Bus, (Okuyugawara, Fudo-taki Direction) Ochiaibashi Stop
- Phone Number 0465-64-1234
Hours:
(Manyo Park) Open year round
(Manyotei) 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(Doppo no Yu) 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (From November - December closes at 5:00 p.m.)
Closed:
(Manyo Park) None
(Manyotei) Monday and Wednesday
(Doppon no Yu) Last Thursday of every month
Fee:
(Manyo Park) free
(Manyotei) 500 yen per drink (tax included).
(Doppo no Yu) Adult (15 years and up) 300 yen, Elementary and Junior high school students 200 yen (tax included)
■Fudo-Taki
Fudo-taki waterfall is located upstream of Fujiki River, a tributary of 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 the discovery of the Yugawaralite, a new stone discovered in 1931 at the waterfall basin. Since the minerals of the stone is 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.
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Fudoudaki不動滝
- Address 750 Miyakami, Yugawara-Machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
Hakone Tozan Bus, Izu Hakone Bus, (Okuyugawara, Fudotaki Direction) Fudo-taki stop
- Phone Number 0465-64-1234
Hours: Open year round
Closed: None
■Tivoli Yugawara Sweets Factory
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 “Tivoli Cookie Drawing Course,” 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.

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Tivoli Yugawara Sweets Factoryちぼり湯河原スイーツファクトリー
- Address 1-15-4, Doi, Yugawara-machi, Kanagawa
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Nearest Station
3-minute walk from JR Yugawara Station
- Phone Number 0465-63-0404
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closed: None (will close few times a year for maintenance, and New Year’s Holidays
Fee:
Tivoli Cookie Drawing Course 900 yen (tax included)
Cookie Buffet 594 yen (tax included)
*All you can eat 60 minutes, comes with one drink
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.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
Limited time offer: 10% discount coupons available now!
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