Hakone Hotels

Relaxing Hakone

Combining a relaxed vibe and a freakin’ truckload of things to see and do, the Japanese city of Hakone is an absolute must-visit… even if it’s just for the epic hot springs! Our fave? Hakone Kamon. Warm, bubbly heaven. ... Read more »

If you can tear yourself away from the hot springs at Yumoto, make sure to explore the greenery of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park via a hike or, for another perspective, from the Hakone Tozan Cable Car. If your hunger for views is still raging, score a ride on the Hakone Tozan Railway to witness thousands of pretty hydrangea blooms and breathtaking scenery.

Feel like some art after all those views? Visit the POLA Museum of Art for some Cezanne, Monet and Renoir, and the Hakone Museum of Art for some classic Japanese works. No matter what you’re into, Hakone has relaxation covered.

HAKONE’S TOP 10

10. Gotemba Premium Outlets Japan's most popular outlet mall is a short bus ride from Hakone and packed with over 200 stores. Shopping nirvana!	5. Hakone Open Air Museum Sculptures scattered on the grass and an indoor gallery showcasing the best in printed art (even Picasso!).
9. Gora Park This French-style landscape park is home to gardens, fountains, restaurants and a craft house.	4. Mototsumiya Shrine A beautiful shrine that lights up spectacularly at night and is simply magical in the morning mist.
8. Hakone Glass no Mori Beautiful gardens and a rockin’ glass museum with gorgeous glassware and art.	3. Lake Ashi Get your bum on a boat and take one of the most beautiful cruises ever. Don’t forget the camera.
7. Hakone Detached Palace Once a private summer getaway for the Imperial Family and now open to all who want a spy. Very luxe.	2. Owakudani Created by a Mount Hakone eruption over 3,000 years ago, this active volcanic zone is packed with hot springs and steam vents.
6. Hakone Botanical Gardens Over 1,700 species of sweet-smelling flora call this home.	1. Hakone Shrine At the foot of Mount Hakone and on the shore of Lake Ashi. Go for the breathtaking scenery, stay for the spiritual awakening.

HAKONE TOP 10

Head to Lake Ashi at the end of July for the Lantern Floating Festival, a beautiful Japanese tradition honouring the souls of the dead.

The Hakone Summer Festival (July/August) hosts includes the ‘Torii Burning’, when the locals build two massive gates along Lake Ashi, burn them and then watch their remains float away. Sounds bizarre but looks amazing.

Daimyo Gyoretsu is a must-see. This early November event features a huge chanting procession of hundreds dressed as armed samurai warriors and pretty princesses.

WHEN TO GO

· This city has distinct seasons – very chilly winters and hot ’n’ humid summers. Winter averages at about 5°C (41°F) and summer can reach 29°C (84°F).

· June is the wettest time of year, so be wary of getting caught in some serious storms around this time. The best months to avoid the rain? December and January.

· If you want to enjoy plenty of pretty flora, head over in spring and summer. Blossoms galore!

GETTING AROUND

· Making your way around Hakone is simple, with a convenient network of trains, buses, trams, cable cars and even boats. They all run on scheduled timetables and are reasonably priced.

· Grab a Hakone Free Pass for value and convenience. It can be used on all Odakyu transport and costs ¥5,000 for a two-day pass and ¥5,500 for a three-day pass.

HotelClub Blog

The Five Weirdest Spa-Resorts on Earth

The Oddest Spa in the World

iPhone App Guide to Asia

« Hide