Best Visiting around Hakone / Odawara Spot List

Pola Museum of Art, built in the forests of Hakone, is a glass-encased space where you can enjoy art and nature together.

We display works created by people who have been designated as important intangible cultural properties, otherwise known as ”living national treasures.” We have a permanent special exhibition on the recent works of ceramic artist Morihiro Hosokawa. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Kajiya for about 5 minutes We are located right next to the Yamazaki bus stop

On this course, the various changes in scenery will give you a boost as you walk. Walk along the clear stream of the Niizaki River, which is a fishing ground for Japanese salmon and trout, and you’ll arrive at the huge rock face of Makuyama. The peak of the mountain is 626 meters above sea level and you can enjoy wonderful views of Sagami Bay. The grass spreading over the mountain is a treasure trove of wild flowers. While walking through the vast, open landscape, you can enjoy a view filled with seasonal plants. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Makuyama Koen for about 20 minutes The course starts next to the Makuyama Koen bus stop

[Tenshozan course: Takes around one hour 10 minutes at a regular pace (or 55 minutes if walked in the reverse direction)] [Momiji-no-sato course: Takes around one hour 20 minutes at a regular pace] This is a great course for people who want to hike among nature. You can stroll through primary forest containing cedar, pine, and beech trees while the sunlight through the branches creates patterns along the path. As the song of wild birds echoes among the trees, you will feel the atmosphere of the deep mountain forest. Please enjoy the natural scenery of Okuyugawara while stopping by to see the Hakuun waterfall which resembles silk threads flowing through the greenery, and Tenshozan Shrine, which is beautiful in every season. The newly named Momiji-no-sato is best enjoyed in November. However, it can be crowded during foliage season. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 18 minutes Alight at the Okuyugawara Iriguchi bus stop

Manyo Park has been selected as one of the 100 Best Historical Parks in Japan, as it is the only hot spring mentioned in ancient Manyoshu collection of poetry, and has been visited by many notable writers and artists. Inside the park you can see many of the flowers and plants mentioned in the Manyoshu, and take a leisurely stroll while listening to the murmur of the waterfalls and streams. You can rest your feet in any of the nine different foot baths at Doppo-no-yu, or enjoy matcha green tea and sweets at Manyotei. Each year, a ”firefly party” is held in the ”Hanakien” section of the park from early to mid-June, enabling you to enjoy the sight of Luciola fireflies flitting around the park, as well as enjoy stalls set up in the evenings in front of the nearby Tourist Hall. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 12 minutes We are located right next to the Koen Iriguchi bus stop

This shrine has a long history, going back to the time when Yugawara was developed by Shigeyuki Kaganosuke Futami and others. It is said that when Yoritomo Minamoto raised an army in Izu, Sanehira Jiro Doi, the head of the powerful local clan, prayed for his master Yoritomo's victory and offered the sword he carried at his waist to the shrine. The Myojin-no-kusunoki camphor tree spreads its branches by the side of the prefectural road. This tree is estimated to be over 800 years old and has a root circumference of 15.6 meters. An inner section of the trunk has decayed and been reinforced with concrete, which has been used to house a guardian deity. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 5 minutes The shrine is next to the Gosho Jinja bus stop

[Takes around two hours 20 minutes at a regular pace (or two hours and 30 minutes if walked in the reverse direction) - suitable for regular walkers] A course where you can enjoy the view while touring historic relics dating back to the days when Yugawara was called Doi-go. You will get a feel for the close ties between Yugawara and Yoritomo Minamoto as you take in sights such as Joganji Temple, Sanehira’s family temple, the Doi castle ruins (at the peak of Mt. Shiroyama), and Shitodo Cave. The grassy meadow of the picnic area is a best place to stop and have lunch. The superb view from the top of Mt. Shiroyama enables you to look over Sagami Bay, as well as the Izu Peninsula, and even as far as Hatsushima and Oshima islands.

A museum exhibiting works of art under the theme of pumpkins, with a focus on the work of world-famous artist Yayoi Kusama. The museum also has a cafe. [Yayoi Kusama] A painter, avant-garde sculptor and novelist born in Nagano. She began painting pictures based on hallucinations she had in her early childhood. She went to the USA in 1957 and stayed in New York for 18 years, and has also represented Japan at Venice Biennial in 1993. After her retrospective exhibition tour around the US, she held a large-scale, one-woman exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, in 1999. In 2001, she won the Asahi Prize. Her work has appeared at the Yokohama Triennale. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 5 minutes We are five minutes' walk from the Shogakko-Mae bus stop

We serve as a hospitable base for travelers visiting the local sites such as Manyo Park, Kogome no yu and Doppo no yu hot springs, and the historic Kofuso house. We provide local sightseeing guidance and the latest information, as well as toilets and a rest space. We also offer a Wi-Fi access point, so you can use the internet (you will need to provide your own internet-capable device). While you are walking around the hot springs, please stop by. Usually open every Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and national holidays Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 10 minutes We are right next to the Ochiaibashi bus stop

The Yugawara bathing beach is shallow and very popular with children. Size: 500m x 150m Family huts: about 20 Entry fee: Adults - 1,000 JPY, children - 600 JPY *Does not include parking fees Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Manazuru Station for about 5 minutes We are next to the Yoshihama Koban-Mae bus stop

The artist Kyotaro Nishimura visited Yugawara to rest and recuperate, and he was so enchanted by its climate and people that he decided to live here. The Nishimura Kyotaro Museum was opened in honor of him. In addition to more than 300 of his creations, we also exhibit items that represent his life as a writer, including handwritten manuscripts, large dioramas and his secret collection. Please stop by and get a new insight into the life and work of Kyotaro Nishimura. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 5 minutes We are three minutes' walk from the Shogakko-Mae bus stop

Sanehira Jiro Doi is famous for protecting Yoritomo Minamoto from Kagechika Oba’s army after he had lost the Battle of Ishibashiyama. Joganji Temple is the family temple of the Doi clan. The temple grounds contain many sights of historic interest, including Shichikido, a hall which keeps the seven wooden statues depicting Yoritomo and each of his samurai warriors who played an active part in the revival of the Minamoto family, as well as the Doi family’s burial ground (designated as a Kanagawa cultural property). A Chinese juniper tree planted by Sanehira himself (estimated to be 800 years old and designated as a national natural monument) is the largest and oldest in Kanagawa Prefecture, and its straight, vertical trunk is an impressive sight thought to be extremely rare in Japan.

In 1998, an old Japanese inn was renovated and opened as the Yugawara Art Museum. We exhibit works by artists with a connection to Yugawara, such as Seiho Takeuchi, Sotaro Yasui, and Kokki Miyake. In the Reiji Hiramatsu Hall, Reiji Hiramatsu, one of Japan's leading artists, is currently creating an exhibition provisionally titled ”Ten Scenes of Yugawara.” In addition to viewing his works, the atelier where he creates his works is also open to the public. In the Japanese garden connected to the museum you can view seasonal flowers and ”Monet’s water lilies,” which were grown from water lily bulbs given to Reiji Hiramatsu by the Fondation Claude Monet. In the museum's cafe ”And Garden,” you can relax with food and tea while enjoying a fine view of the garden. Please enjoy appreciating great art in our peaceful, soothing museum. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 12 minutes We are right next to the Bijutsukan-Mae bus stop.

Located inside the Yugawara Tourist Hall, this museum exhibits the works and information panels of various writers and artists who have visited Yugawara since the Meiji era, such as Doppo Kunikida, Soseki Natsume , Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Akiko Yosano, Toson Shimazaki, and Junichiro Tanizaki. It also features a walking map for sights connected to Yugawara’s literary history, a brief history of modern literature in Yugawara, as well as panels of photos showing Yugawara in the past and present, and temples, shrines and stone statues. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 10 minutes We are right next to the Ochiaibashi bus stop

Seasonal blossoms can be enjoyed along the paths running past the park’s streams and ponds, providing a chance to take a relaxed stroll while savoring the season. We also offer casual nature experiences, such as observing the ecosystems living in streams, viewing seasonal plants and flowers, and bird-watching. There is also an obstacle course located near the park entrance and we are the starting point for various hiking trails. From early February to mid-March, the entire mountain side erupts in plum blossom, filling the park with its sweet fragrance. BBQ can be enjoyed from April to October. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Makuyama Koen for about 20 minutes We are located right next to the Makuyama Koen bus stop

[Takes around three hours 25 minutes at a regular pace - suitable for regular walkers] From the peak of Mt. Nango, 610 meters above sea level, you can enjoy incredible views of the Manazuru Peninsula stretching out into Sagami Bay. People who are interested in old legends can head to Jigansui pond. It is where Minamoto no Yoritomo is said to have gone to commit suicide after losing the Battle of Ishibashiyama. Legend says, after seeing the miserable image of himself reflected on the water, he returned to the fight. Nearby you can also see the remains of Komichi Jizodo (hall for guardian deities), which appears in “Genpei Seisuiki” (The Rise and Fall of the Minamoto and the Taira Clans), and is a good place to stroll while thinking about the Sengoku period. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Kajiya for about 15 minutes The start is right next to the Kajiya bus stop

On February 26, 1936, this site was part of an attempted coup d'état unparalleled of in modern Japanese history. Kofuso is the only location linked to the February 26 Incident outside of Tokyo. Kofuso was a former property of Itouya, a traditional old Japanese inn, and it is now used to exhibit items related to that period such as items belonging to residents, photos, and newspapers. Guided tours are given by volunteers (reservations are required for weekday tours). Open on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays Business hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (last entrance at 2:30 p.m.) Reservations required for weekday visits (please book at least one week in advance) *We are open on every year on February 26. No reservations required. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 12 minutes We are one minute's walk from the Koen Iriguchi bus stop

A hall built in remembrance of Mamoru Shigemitsu, a former foreign minister who was the government representative who signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on the US battleship Missouri. It showcases his career as a diplomat and politician, using photos, videos and other materials. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Okuyugawara or Fudo-Taki for about 20 minutes We are a five-minute walk from the Okuyugawara bus stop

Two waterfalls located close to Tenshozan Shrine. Hakuun Waterfall is a beautiful 30-meter-high waterfall with water resembling silk threads falling. Kyorai waterfall is located right beside the shrine. The waterfall is used for Yamabushi training, which involves participants reflecting on their past and future life under the waterfall. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Motohakone for about 45 minutes The falls are a 20-minute walk from the Tenshozan bus stop

In 1180, Yoritomo Minamoto raised an army to destroy the Taira family and revive the Minamoto family. He lost the Battle of Ishibashiyama, and guided by Sanehira Doi, hid in “Shitodo-no-Iwaya” (Shitodo Cave). Springwater flows down there and the rocks have become covered in moss. The cave, where it is cool even in summer, has an enchanted atmosphere as it contains rows of statues of Kannon and stone pagodas. Access: From Yugawara Station, take the bus headed to Motohakone for about 40 minutes The cave is a 10-minute walk from the Shitodo-no-Iwaya Iriguchi bus stop