Hakone is a historic resort area which has mountains, lake, volcano, museums and hot spring hotels.
It is very popular sightseeing spot not only for Japanese people but also for visitors from abroad because they can experience various charms of Japanese things there.
Hakone-Yumoto hot spring town
There are 17 hot spring at Hakone area.
Each hot springs have different ingredients and characters.
Hakone-Yumoto is oldest, biggest and most popular among them.
There are a lot of shops and restaurants at the both side of the street, so you don't have difficulty to eat lunch or buy souvenir.
Hakone hot spring town is good place to walk around.
You can find a lot of interesting Japanese-style shops, buildings and restaurants.
Hakone historic Checkpoint
Hakone checkpoint was made by Edo Shogunate 400 years ago.
It was the most important checkpoint for the Shogunate to prevent enemy and dissidents from entering Edo(old Tokyo).
Original building was torn down when the Shogunate was overthrew, but it was faithfully rebuilt in 2004, for the first time in 150 years.
Once entering the checkpoint, you feel as if you travel into Edo era.Samurai checks travelers and keeps watch for who break through the checkpoint, those scenes are reenacted with mannequins.
Hakone turnpike
Hakone turnpike is one of the most famous driving road in Japan. Everyone longs for riding at this road if he likes car or motorcycle.
The length is only 15km, but it is steep mountain road because its difference of elevation reaches 1000m.
When you go up to the Sky Lounge, majestic view of Mt. Fuji lays out before your eyes.
The surface of the road is well maintained and curves are not tight so you can enjoy exhilating winding as you watch marvelous view of Mt. Fuji and beautiful natures.
Sky Lounge
Sky Lounge is an observatory which is located at the highest point in Hakone turnpike. There are food plaza and shops at 1st floor and coffee lounge at 2nd floor.
It is a moment of bliss to eat delicious dishes or coffee while watching marvelous view of Mt Fuji, Lake Ashino, Izu peninsula and inlands at Sagami bay.
It is a mecca for enthusiast of car or motorcycle in Japan and its parking is filled up with a lot of their favorite machines at weekends.
Lake Ashino
3000 years ago, Mt. Kami-yama(The highest mountain at Hakone) erupted and caused massive landslide.
A lot of mud from the mountain damed up Hayakawa river and lake Ashino was born.
Hayakawa river flows through Hakone hot spring town.
Now trouts, pond smelts and black basses lives and some poeple enjoys fishing at the sore and on the boat.
They are served at some restaurants at Hakone.
Sightseeing cruise
Sightseeing cruise is also a major activity at Hakone.
Why don't you get out your motorcycle once in a while and ride a ferry?
Watching mountains full with lush greenery, Mt. Fuji and the gate of Hakone shrine from the ship is good in different way from motorcycle .
Some ferries look Pirate ships and they go around ports.
Ashino Sky Line, Hakone Sky Line
They are another winding roads you must run at Hakone as well as Hakone turnpike.
After leaning your motorcycle and taking a curve, you will be blown away by huge Mt. Fuji which appears in front of you.
When you watch the opposit side, sightseeing ferries cruise on Lake Ashino peacefully.
The view changes by the minutes and nobody cannot stop having a smile in the helmet !
Owakudani volcano
Owakudani volcano is a symbol of Hakone and you can feel the dynamics of the earth.
Mountains at Hakone are covered with green trees, but there are no trees and hot steam comes out from the ground around Owakudani volcano.
When you visit there, you must eat "Kurotamago"(Black Egg), a boiled egg with hot spring pond.
They are ordinary white eggs before boiling but they react with volcanic gas of the spring and become black.
It is called that once you eat a black egg, you get the power of volcano and your life is extended 7 years.
Is it delicious? Yes off couse! It tastes minerals and gift of the earth.