１．Hakone Tourist Information Center

First thing first! Rest assured that if you ever need someone to talk to about your trip no matter how clueless or well-planned you are, here’s help! The Hakone Tourist Information Center at Hakone Yumoto has English (and other languages) speaking staff so this is your best place to be for travel information.

３． Lalique Museum Hakone

For those who are into more serious art, here’s a classic one for you – Lalique Museum, featuring over 1500 masterpieces of French artist, René Lalique.

A mat of lush green greets you upon entering the museum, leading you up to the entrance of the main museum.

No photography is allowed inside the museum, but do expect beautifully designed perfume bottles, jewelries, interior decors and more. I found Lalique’s peculiar fascination with incorporating insects into his design rather refreshing. Definitely for those of who has an eye for fine art.

Here’s the most special exhibition of the museum – “Le Train”.

It’s a real express train filled with Lalique’s design where you can enjoy a luxurious afternoon having tea and cakes in this gorgeous wagon. It’s extremely popular so reservation is recommended!

5. Cruise Lake Ashi

You simply cannot leave Hakone without cruising the iconic lake at least once.
There are a few types of water vehicles you can choose from including from the magnificent pirate ships which accommodate hundreds, the thrilling Ninja bus to little paddling swan boats for two.

Today, I went on a pirate ship adventure and there are even a few types of pirate ship. The one I was on was “Queen Ashinoko”, a classic deluxe ship with wood decor from floor to ceiling adorned in vivid colors.

The one next to us was “Victory”.

It will take around 25 min cruise (one way) around Lake Ashinoko from Motohakone-Ko to Togendai-Ko. On the way you will pass by the iconic Hakone Shrine and Kuzuryu Shrine, and on a fair day you may even catch Mt Fuji in the background!

You may also take both ways so you will return to where you were when you started.

Sunset on a cruise is absolutely a beautiful experience too.

7. Gora Park

The thing I love about Hakone is that other than its very traditional hot spring old town charm, sometimes you actually feel like you are somewhere in Europe. Case in point, Hakone Glass Museum which I introduced earlier where you immerse in western fairy tale wonderland and here at Gora Park, you are transported to France.

At this oldest French-style landscape park opened in 1914 (I can’t believe it’s that old!), where you will find yourself lost in a maze of rose garden.

Stop and smell the roses.

There’s also a beauuuuutiful huge fountain which azure hues rival the bright blue sky.

I love big trees. And this one makes me feel like I’m in a French story book.

9. Owakudani

Owakudani is one of the most iconic attractions in Hakone, and those who have been to Hakone before probably have been impressed by the magnificent sight of this surreal crater puffing out sulphuric fumes all over, which could be observed from the ropeway itself.

Access– to get to Owakudani, first you will start at Gora station and take the cable car (a cable car in Japan means a tram-like car going uphill, not the cable car we are familiar with in Singapore and Malaysia, so don’t get confused) up to Sounzan station（早雲山駅), and then transfer to the Hakone Ropeway (the real daggling cable car in the sky!) and get off at Owakudani.

Sometimes the ropeway’s operation do get interrupted when there’s strong wind. So do check the weather before you decide to head up.

I love it. The bird’s eye view over the colored mountain in autumn is so worth the ride.

I’m sure you already know about the famous black sulphur eggs, which is said to add 7 years to your life if you eat one of these. I think by the rate I’m globbling one after another I should live to 300 years old by now.

Don’t forget to check those black egg stools out, and perhaps enjoy your tasty treat there too overlooking the fuming crater.

11. Tea break at Cha No Chimoto

Chimoto is a traditional wagashi (Japanese sweet) store in Yumoto with over 60 years of history. You can find lots of adorable Japanese-style sweet treat here.

Their signature sweet is “Yumochi”, a soft mochi with yokan (sweet bean jelly) wrapped in the middle.

There’s a little cafe next to the store so you can have a little outdoor tea break for just one coin (JPY500).

A really delicate Japanese dessert that makes a perfect snack break before you go on with more walking around Yumoto area.

13. Calligraphy lesson at Fukuju-In (Hakone Kannon)

Honestly, this temple is soooo off the beaten path and hidden, even on the internet!! I couldn’t find any information about it and it’s a miracle it even gets any tourists, but guess what? Somehow people just find their way there!

It says “forever friends”. Awww.

See what I mean? It’s located in… literally like nowhere, haha. Follow the sign (two photos above) go down a flight of stairs and you will see this little building hanging over a concrete cliff. A very friendly monk will be there to greet you.

You can pick from these very authentic traditional cultural experience, and I’m so impressed that they try to make it so foreign-friendly, with English menu and even instruction!

I picked calligraphy which cost JPY2000 and the lesson is about 1 hour. Whether you have experience in calligraphy or not, your teacher will be passionately guiding you step by step, and practice until you are confident enough to go.

Even if you don’t read Chinese or Japanese, your teacher will have a mini counselling session with you to find just the perfect word that resonates with your heart. For me it is “sakura”.

You can then bring your stamped and framed masterpiece back home to hang it at the hall of fame. ^^　I thoroughly enjoyed the session!

15. Souvenir shopping around Hakone Yumoto Station

One of the most iconic spot at Hakone Yumoto, you will see lots of tourist taking photos at this bridge!

Lastly, before you head back to Tokyo, do spare some time for shopping at the shopping street just across the station!

Enjoy a freshly made Japanese pastry while you shop.

And watch the shokunin demonstrate konbu-shaving fresh on the spot and even get to taste the dashi it makes. Absolutely flavorful. Love it.

Murakami Umeboshi store is one of the most popular and long-standing stop selling sour plum and I loooove sour plum so it was heaven for me.

There are soooo many kinds of sour plums to choose from omg just looking at this I’m salivating from imaginary sourness lol. There are also different salt content percentage you can choose from. The higher, the more sour/saltier.

My favorite was the 7% umeboshi. Mild and juicy, super yummy.

When in Hakone, remember to check out Hakone Yosegi-zaiku craft (寄木細工), a traditional craft where different pieces of wood of different colors are assembled to create a variety of accessories and decors. Check out these miniature tea sets omg!

My favorite is the “Himitsu Bako” – Secret Box, it’s actually a puzzle box where you will have to follow certain steps to slide open the box. There are different levels of difficulty, ranging from 5 steps to over 20 steps! Makes a great souvenir or brain yoga time. Haha.

Stay: Hakone Yutowa

Newly opened in August this year, Hakone Yutowa is your traditional meets stylish modern hot spring hotel in Gora area, just 5-min on foot from Gora Station.

I mean, how about a decor wall full of cute books and the cutest couch?? The library is your perfect place to have some precious me time indulging in small reads based on the theme of four seasons.

On the second floor, a spa lounge called “Nakaniwa” greets you where you can slide open the door and find an outdoor garden with swings too!

And and and… a huge foot bath pool! At night, there’s even an outdoor bonfire furnace to warm you up. It almost feels like a resort, I love it.

The hotel room is very minimalistic and comfy. I mean, with all these amazing facilities, you probably want to just spend most of the time chilling at the spa lounge, garden, library, hot spring…

In pretty yukata too!

The dinner provided by Yutowa is something new to me. Traditional ryokan I have been to offers an extensive kaiseki-style course meal that usually ends up way too much for a small stomach.

And here at Yutowa, you are served a luxurious selection of starters and main dish (wagyu beef!!), and then you have a large table of buffet to select from. So half course, half buffet.

Buffet spread.

There’s also free flow alcoholic drinks including umeshu…

And Japanese sake, my favorite.

Of course, your journey to Hakone will not be complete without a nice soak in the bath. There are two public hot spring bath you can choose from.

The clear spring above, or this milky bubble bath.

For those who are not comfortable with public bath, there are also FREE private onsen bath, with reservation.

Area: Gora (5-min walk from Gora Station)

Website: https://www.hakoneyutowa-hotel.jp/en/