The Lake Ashi area is one of Hakone’s more renowned tourist locations, as is the Hakone Shrine in Gora. For the trip to the shrine, take the Hakone Mountain Bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station and alight at the Hakone Shrine Entrance.

The Hakone Shrine is home to a high-ranking deity who gives blessings of better fortune and warding off bad luck, as well as granting safe passages and earnest wishes. It’s said that the shrine receives more than 2 million visitors a year.

Within the extensive compound lies myriad shines and lacquered toriis, not to mention a repository of data and treasures. The Kuzuryu Shrine, a subordinate shrine who specializes in marriage, business and economic protection, is also located further in. Visiting both will surely prove to be an interesting experience. Moreover, the “Lake Ashi Summer Festival Week”, which lasts from July 31 till August 6, runs firework displays across several nights, which are accompanied by various shops and taiko drums along the river bank, so it draws quite a crowd.

While it depends on the crowd, at the right time, it’ll only take 30 minutes to get there.

Lake Ashi is home to several ports, like the North Gora Bank Port, the Motohakone Port, and the Hakone-En Port, and the Yuransen ferry service operates between all three.

The northern bank Kojiri Port area consists of Owakudani and Sengokuhara, as well as the South Hakone Checkpoint Atoko, whereas the Motohakone area contains the Hakone Sekisho and the Hakone Shrine. The Hakone-En Port area has an aquarium and the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway, so the entire surrounding area is perfect for those staying over.

Alternatively, you can take the Pirate Ship around the area, which ferries across the 3 piers Motohakone Pier, Hakone-machi Pier and the Hakone Pirate Ship Togendai Port.

Compared to the cruise, the Pirate Ship floats merrily across Lake Ashi, and stands out vibrantly against the scenery. It's a fun scene indeed, especially for those thinking of strolls along the lake shore or relaxing at the benches there while taking in the view.

Once you’ve had enough of the lake, take the Hakone Mountain Bus again down to Gora Station. There are plenty of famous tourist locations here as well. In fact, right in front of the station is one such place: at the Meisanten, you can enjoy a hand bath free of charge.

The best part of the hand bath is that there’s no need to take off your clothes or shoes. Even just washing your hands is enough to warm your body up. If Gora Station is part of your itinerary, be sure to check this place out.

At the Soun Hakoneyaki Togeikobo, even without a reservation you can try out how to make ceramic pottery. The whole workshop takes about an hour to shape your creation right before heating it. If you’re flying back soon after you can also opt for the place to send your completed masterpiece by EMS (prices may vary with the number of articles and location).

At the workshop, you can opt to either use a manual lathe or an electric-powered one. For the manual one, making small pottery like sake cups or tea bowls would cost 1800-yen per pax while larger items like mugs and cups would cost around 2800-yen, though prices might fluctuate with weight. The motorized lathe on the other hand, costs 2800-yen per pax as well as an additional fee around 600 yen depending on the size of your creation.

Depending on the enamel the resulting colour of the tempering is also different, which is one of the charms of pottery. Colour samples are also provided so you can consider what colour you want your creation to have. Making pottery in a workshop surrounded by nature, now that’s certainly a unique experience to have.

Gora Park is only a 7-minute walk away from the station of the same name, and is the first French garden constructed in Japan. The grand expanse has seasonal flowers dotting the premise surrounded by Hakone’s natural greenery.

With no shortage of stairs and inclines, there is a 40 meter height difference between the main gate and the west gate. Depending on the temperature, you might even get to see a winter wonderland as the park gets blanketed in a rare shower of snow.

In the spring, you get to see the azaleas and cherry blossoms blooming. For summer, the hydrangea. Autumn, maple trees, and lastly poinsettia in the winter. Depending on the season, you get to experience a different park. A tropical greenhouse as well as a tea room are also available, not to mention a pottery workshop, so visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities.

For the crafting workshop, depending on the item you can take about 15 minutes up to 1 and a half hours. If you include making a complete walk around the interior, going through the park should take about 2 hours for the full experience.

After having your fill of Gora, take the Hakone Mountain Train down to the following stop, Chokokunomori Station.

The Hakone Open-Air Museum is just a 2-minute walk from here, and is the first outdoor art gallery in Japan. Boasting 70,000 square meters in area, it has over 120 artworks by various modern sculptors which change by the season, surrounded by Hakone’s expansive nature.

With a collection of just over 300 items masterpieces exhibited at the Picasso Building and the other 5 indoor exhibition areas, there regularly have a wide variety of events and exhibitions. Their also not short of facilities, with a buffet restaurant within the premises, as well as cafes and shopping malls, not to mention a footbath that uses all-natural hot spring water straight from the source.

Leisurely enjoying an extensive collection of artwork in a vast expanse, not a bad way to spend the day, right? For the full experience without any rush, we recommend spending an hour and a half here.

At last, we return to Hakone-Yumoto Station. Here, we recommend trying Yubadon Naokichi’s complimentary foot spa located at the store front., the store in question being located along Hayakawa street just a little way from the station.

Their signature item, the Yubadon costs 980-yen (tax inclusive), and uses Hakone’s water to make their tofu. It’s one of the top items in Hakone’s gourmet rankings and is Hakone’s specialty. If you’re visiting Hakone, we highly recommend trying this exotic dish.

Your trip can’t end without a visit to the Hakone Yuryo. Only 3 minutes away via their free shuttle bus service, the establishment is reminiscent of an old Japanese private house. Enjoy a relaxing respite within this satoyama onsen which brings forth the full elegance of Hakone-Yumoto’s mountain-side.

Their public bath has both indoor and open-air baths, as well as 19 reservable private open-air baths, which means guests have a variety of ways to relax and unwind.

Entry to their public bath “Honden Yurakuan Oyu” costs 1500-yen for adults (13 and above) and 750-yen for kids (12 and below). While there are no towel rental services, you can purchase them at the front desk (450-yen for bath towel, 250-yen for a face towel, and 300-yen for yukata rental).

The private open-air baths are 19 in number, and each are of the highest quality. There are 3 types of rooms and are meant for 2 to 4 guests, each room costing 4,300-yen per hour. You can extend your stay by paying extra for every 30 minutes (prices vary depending on room).

The private rooms are furnished with basic amenities like towels, so you can enjoy your stay empty-handed if you wish to do so. We recommend spending about 60 to 90 minutes relaxing here to shake the weariness from your travels off.

Hakone is big and teeming with so many tourist spots which makes it really difficult to see everything in a day. It’s easily accessible from the city, so even on a whim a trip here is totally feasible as well. When you plan your next daytrip, do consider the places we’ve mentioned.

Written by: Naho Jishikyu