The Hakone experience: What’s there to see and do in this Japanese town

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Filipinos may be familiar with Hakone as a sardines brand, but this town in Japan is a lesser-known tourist destination close to Tokyo that offers unique travel experiences

HAKONE, Japan – Hakone was one of the places in Japan visited by the late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hu, according to Taiwanese media reports. What’s there to see and do in this picturesque town in the Kanagawa Prefecture?

Although not as well-known as Osaka and Kyoto, Hakone is a recommended sightseeing area since it’s just an hour by shinkansen or bullet train from Tokyo.

It’s popular as a hot spring town with many ryokans or traditional Japanese inn. But ryokans are comparatively more expensive than regular hotels, and since Hakone doesn’t have many low-cost accommodations, budget travelers are advised to just stay in Tokyo and travel to Hakone via train.

After getting off at Hakone-Yumoto Station, look for the Hakone Tourist Information Center, where there’s a next-door outlet for the Hakone Free Pass. A ticket for two days costs 5,000 yen (if purchased from Odawara) for adults; 5,400 yen for three days. The Hakone Free Pass is also available online and at the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center in Shinjuki.

The ticket is a big money-saver since it allows the traveler unlimited access to most of the major attractions in Hakone via buses, ships, cable car, local train, and even a ropeway.

Here are some of the Instagrammable places to visit and experience in Hakone.

Lake Ashi

Lake Ashinoko or Lake Ashi is a crater lake that has Mount Fuji at the background, weather permitting. It was formed in the caldera of the Hakone volcano around 3,000 years ago. It is at the center of the Hakone sightseeing area and is where the town’s main transport hub is located.

From Motohakone bus station, tourists can go on large “pirate ships” for a 20-minute (one way) Hakone Sightseeing Cruise that stops at Togendai Port. A ten-minute walk from the port leads to the Hakone Ropeway, the recommended mode to get to Owakudani Park.

Lake Ashi also has a picturesque torii gate that appears to float, making it unique. However, during a visit last January, authorities did not allow visitors who walked to the park from the bus station to have photos taken with the lakefront torii gate as background to prevent accidents. The path to the torii gate is short and narrow and cannot accommodate large crowds.

But visitors can still take photos of the torii gate by going on a lake cruise via a for-hire swan pedal boat (1,000 yen per adult not included in free pass). You’ll just have to be creative on how to get your photo with the Hakone Shrine lakefront torii gate as background.

Hakone Shrine lakefront torii gate, Japan

Owukadani Park

The Hakone Ropeway transports tourists to Owukadani Park (elevation at 1,040 meters), an active volcanic zone where they can see up close volcanic gases being emitted by Owukadani or the “Great Boiling Valley.” The park is beside a crater caused by the last phreatic eruption of the Hakone Volcano.

Tourists can have their photos taken with volcanic smoke emissions in the background. Park authorities however warn that the gases — hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide — have a strong smell of rotten eggs and may cause eye irritation. Those with asthma, respiratory issues, and bronchial disorders are advised not to go near the emissions.

The park monitors the volcanic gas emissions and closes the park when gas concentration levels exceed danger levels.

Owukadani produces “black eggs” or kuro tamago boiled and cooked in the volcano’s hot springs. Visitors can taste these black eggs and buy black egg souvenirs at the “volcanic department store” at the park. There’s also the Hakone Geomuseum at the park, which explains the volcanic zone’s history as well as volcanic threats and hazards.

Mishima Skywalk

Although it’s not in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Mishima Skywalk is a short bus ride (via Tokai Bus, included in the Hakone Free Pass) from the Motohakone-ko transport hub at the center of the town.

It’s not yet a well-known tourist attraction, but it’s a unique experience as visitors walk along the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan.

Weather permitting, it’s a great place to see Mt. Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain, from the 400-meter-long suspension bridge.

At the end of the bridge, there’s a park that offers a long zip slide (there’s also a kids’ course), Segway tour, buggy tour, e-bike trail, an adventure course, and the Skywalk Museum. There are also cafés and foot outlets on both sides of the suspension bridge.

Adventure course, Mishima Skywal, Mishima City, Japan

Hakone Open-Air Museum

Hakone has a number of beautiful parks and museums, but this one stands out for being the first open-air art museum in Japan.

This 70,000-square-meter park in Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, houses the Picasso Collection, an art pavilion focusing on the diverse output of the Spanish painter and sculptor, Pablo Picasso. No pictures or videos are allowed in the pavilion, however, which displays more than 300 pieces.

It has over 100 outdoor sculptures created by Japanese and foreign artists.

art installation, Hakone Open-Air Museum, Japan

It also has a large hammock in the Woods of Net art installation, where kids can play.

hammock in Hakone Open-Air Museum, Japan

The Symphonic Sculpture, a stained-glass work of art in the Hakone Open-Air Museum, was unfortunately being renovated and not open to the public in January.

There’s also a forest foot bath and hand bath beside the Symphonic Sculpture.

Entrance fee to the whole park is 2,000 yen per adult.

Other parks and museums in Hakone are: Hakone Gora Park, Pola Museum of Art, Hakone Museum of Art, Lalique Museum, and Hakone Venetian Glass Museum. – Rappler.com