#Motohakone

[emaadsidiki]

Pirate Cruise, Hakone, Japan.

[mandbtravels]

Day four, Hakone-Yumoto

Out of the hotel and on the train to Hakone-Yumoto from Shinjuku by 10am.

Dropped our bags at the hotel then hopped on a bus to the Hakone checkpoint, from here we walked lakeside through the forest to two viewpoints, the second was wonderfully private with an amazing view. An even better view was when I turned around to see that Michael was down on one knee and was asking me to marry him, I guess I had to say yes 😉

We continued walking through the forest and then along to Motohakone-Ko and got on a ferry boat to Togendai to get the Hakone Ropeway towards Sounzan.

Once there we had to get off to change lines but there was a viewpoint that had an onsen footbath which was lovely! We wandered out of the station and came across a temple which was unfortunately closed but still just as beautiful!

Back to Sounzan and onto the Hakone Tozan cable car towards Gora. Then onto the Hakone Tozan train back to Hakone-Yumoto.

A quick pit stop at the hotel to freshen up and change our shoes was what we had thought but as we were staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese living) we were pounced on by one of the maids who explained everything to us in perfect Japanese with some hand gestures and nodding to make sure we understood her completely, which well we got a little bit of!

For dinner we stumbled across ‘Hinomaru-tei Scott’ a very small family run restaurant. Michael ordered sake which came in a very full cast iron kettle and then a pork ramen, I had a beer and fried shrimp with white rice. The food was delicious and the owners were so lovely!

Back to the hotel for an evening onsen dip, we booked the private open air onsen which was wonderful!

[kkonstan]

Jizō-do, Motohakone

[mothmiso]

元箱根 ∣ Motohakone・Kanagawa (2) (3) by Iyhon Chiu

Via Flickr:

(2) 駒ヶ岳 | Mt. Komagatake     

[thejapanhaul]

This is a 3D Evangelion print water bottle featuring Rei and Asuka that I bought from the 7-11 in Hakone near the Motohakone Port!

[rgbagel]

Study of a stone lantern in Hakone-Jinja

Been missing Japan so much recently ;_;

Instagram DeviantArt

[denizibilenbaliklar]

Deniz senin gibi bir ‘Baba’sı olduğu için çok şanslı 🍀🍀Hayat boyu birbirinizin en kıymetli yol arkadaşı olun 🍀🍀🍀 . . Yanımızdaki ve kalplerimizdeki tüm Babalarımızın Babalar Günü kutlu olsun, sadece varlıkları ile hissettiğimiz destekleri sonsuz olsun 🍀🍀🍀 . . . #denizibilenbaliklar #denizibilenbaliklarinjapan #denizibilenbaliklarinhakone #03102017 #motohakone #hakone #lakeashi #lakeashicruise #worldwidetravellerkids #wxplore #hayatevesığar #sevgievesığar #mutlulukevesığar #babalargününkutluolsun (Lake Ashi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBsTYoMA_wR/?igshid=13mlafej06ic2

[gastronomictourist]

#latelunch at #ashinokochaya #motohakone #hakone #japan under nice warm sunshine #food #foodie #foodies (at Hakone, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8lKxeag_7H/?igshid=1phyj6vsc0tlh

[billthoo]

Hakone-Jinja, Hakone,Japan. 2018. Sony A7rii. 35/2.5. ISO200 1/50sec f/11 . #Japan #Nippon #日本 #Hakone #箱根町 #Hakonejinja #箱根神社 #Motohakone #元箱根 #landscape #temple #monochrome #blackandwhite #travel #urbannature #city #sony #sonya7rii #a7rii (at Hakone, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4A4qE8Azjc/?igshid=dktpm17dug4b

[toshiyamtumble]

元箱根は霧の中 #hakone #motohakone (元箱根ルチア) https://www.instagram.com/p/BusmarTAbz3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mkiw1ng47rai

[emaadsidiki]

Lake Ashi, Hakone, Japan.

[vintagelasvegas]

On the Strip, July 20, 1977

Photos by Klaus, scanned in 2019 for his Flickr page Motohakone. He writes, “I'm often amazed how cities or landscapes have changed. And I want to share this with others.”

[kkonstan]

Ashinoko, Motohakone

[yukusaki]

Day trip/overnight from Tokyo: Hakone

x

It’s been about a month since I started my job at the travel agency and I already know more about things to do in Hakone than anyone who’s never been to Hakone should know.  It’s a small but popular town near Mt. Fuji with some pretty good things to do.  If you’re going between Tokyo and Kyoto, this is a good stop on the way.  It’s also a good opportunity to splurge a bit and stay at a nice ryokan with an onsen.  There are even a few—but not many—open-air onsen with views of Fuji (many of those are at ryokan, but may be open to day guests not staying there overnight).  

There’s lots of stuff to do here so I’ll try to keep it short.  Anyone wanting a more detailed description (especially prices and logistics on getting from place to place), feel free to send an ask!  

Getting there from Tokyo:

The shinkansen is only 40 minutes from Tokyo Station to Odawara and for such a short distance is not too expensive (3,000 for unreserved, 4,500 yen for balls-to-the-wall luxury with seats in the premium car).  Take the Tozan train from Odawara to get into Hakone proper--a particularly gorgeous ride during hydrangea season (mid-June to late July).

The Odakyu Romancecar (limited express) from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto is a bit longer (80 minutes). It’s a bit cheaper than the shinkansen (in the range of 2,500 yen), but they’re close enough that it’s better to just decide based on convenience--unless you have the Freepass, in which case the Romancecar is only about 1,500 yen.

If you’re staying overnight or for 2 nights you should absolutely get the Hakone Freepass (2- and 3-day passes available) which give you free public transport basically anywhere in Hakone, and discounts for a bunch of stuff.  

Suggested route:

Train from Hakone Yumoto or Odawara to The Hakone Open-Air Museum: art museum with some pretty notable exhibits (admission 1,600 yen)

Walk (15 min) to Sounzan station and ride the Hakone Ropeway to Togendai station (￥1,480 one-way): some good views going up the mountain.  Easily accessible from Odawara and Hakone Yumoto via bus and cable car (all free with the Freepass).  Stop at Owakudani station (￥920 +￥1,140 from there to Togendai) on the way up to try the famous black eggs—eggs boiled in a sulfur spring with the shells turned black, which are said to add 7 years to your life:

Photo by David Monniaux x

From the top of the ropeway (Togendai station) take the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Ashi/Ashinoko to Motohakone port for Hakone Shrine or Hakonemachi for Hakone Sekisho (the two ports are within walking distance of each other so you can visit both--￥1,040 one way, free with Freepass, cruise/ropeway day pass also available).  On clear days you can see Mt. Fuji, such as in the picture at the top of this post.  

Hakone shrine: some gorgeous views, of course.  One of the torii gates is on the lake.

x

Hakone Sekisho (Hakone inspection point): historically used to prevent weapons from coming into the city and the wives and daughters of feudal lords from getting out of the city. Now restored as a museum.

Then take a bus back to Hakone Yumoto/Odawara/your hotel, etc.

If the Hakone Ropeway is closed, you can try the Komagatake ropeway instead (go to Hakone Shrine or Hakone Sekisho by public transport first, then take the Izuhakone cruise instead of the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise to Hakone-en port; alternatively, just take a bus to Hakone-en.  There’s fewer Freepass discounts with this route).

That’s a pretty good day trip right there, but if you’re staying longer try some of these:

Yunessun onsen complex: One side of the complex is a bit more traditional, while the other (swimsuits required) has rooms with coffee baths and wine baths, just to name a few (3,500 yen for admission to both parts).

And the Venetian Glass Museum.

If you’re going by shinkansen, take some time in Odawara to go to Suzuhiro Kamaboko Village. Kamaboko is a traditional Japanese food made from pureed fish paste, formed into loaves and steamed.  At Suzuhiro, you can try making your own kamaboko at the museum (1,500 yen depending on the workshop.  I recommend going through the Japanese version of the website if you’re able to do the workshop in Japanese, as there are more options).  There are some other food-related places at the village, like a soba restaurant and a craft beer brewery.

Also in Odawara is Odawara Castle, where you can try on some armor!

[thejapanhaul]

This is a very cute magnet I got in a 7-11 in Hakone, next to Motohakone Port. It's Rei and Asuka in kimono!

[hardsadness]

Lake Ashi, Motohakone, Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan Photo by Ice Tea