Hakone Onsen

Hakone Onsen

Hakone, a rustic but beautiful area in southeastern Japan, is a quaint onsen (hot spring) town and gateway to Mt. Fuji.  Fall colors (koyo) are very beautiful with brilliant red and yellow leaves you can see if you travel Japan in November.  On clear days, areas such as Mt. Komagatake and the Komagatake Ropeway, the Hakone Ropeway, and Lake Ashinoko are ideal spots for excellent views of Mt. Fuji.

Arriving by Shinkansen bullet train at Odawara station, proceed to the Hakone Tourist Information office in the station and get free maps and brochures on the Hakone area.  The nice lady in the office even called our hotel to send a shuttle bus to pick us up.

If you decide to use the Odakyu Hakone Free pass, proceed to the Odakyu office in the station and purchase the 2-day(3900 Yen) or the 3-day(4,400 Yen) pass-good for unlimited travel on the Hakone Tozan railway, the Hakone Ropeway, the Hakone Tozan cable car, Hakone Tozan bus, and the Hakone sightseeing cruise, a great value for the money. 

A recommended sightseeing route from Odawara station might be:
1.  A train ride on the Hakone Tozan railway to Hakone Yumoto.
2. Then continue from Hakone Yumoto to Gora on the Hakone Tozan train.
3. Take the Hakone Tozan cable car from Gora to Sounzan for fall colors.
4. Take the Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Owakudani where you can see steam emitting from hellish fissures.
5. From Owakudani to Togendai on Hakone Ropeway where views of Mt. Fuji can be seen.
6. Ride aboard the Hakone Sightseeing cruise ship on Lake Ashinoko where more views of Mt. Fuji can be had until Moto Hakone.
7. From Moto Hakone, catch the Hakone Tozan bus to Hakone-en, where you can walk to the Komagatake station and ride the Komagatake Ropeway to Mt. Komagatake for more fabulous views of Mt. Fuji.
8. Upon returning to the Komagatake station and walking a short distance to Hakone-en, hop on the Hakone Tozan bus and either go to your hotel or back to Odawara station.

For more information please click on link to go to http://traveljapan-us.com/.