Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Hakone, Ashigarashimo, Japan
Hakone is located in Ashigarashimo district in Kanagawa Prefecture covering a total area of 92.82 sq kms. Hakone is surrounded by mountains like Mount Fuji known for its volcanic activities. Hakone coordinates with 35.11’ degree North Latitude and 139.02’ degree East Longitude.
Hakone History:
Hakone was ruled by Hojo communities who belong to Sengoku Period followed by it became a part of Edo rule. Hakone became an independent city in the year 1889 after merging with five towns and villages.
Places to visit in Hakone:
Onsen Hot Springs:
This is one of the natural hot water springs located in Hakone that attracts both local as well as international tourists throughout the year.
Mount Fuji:
Mount Fuji is one of the most prolific mountains situated in Hakone which is known for its active volcanic activities and eruptions.
Hakone Botanical Gardens:
Hakone Botanical Gardens attracts large number of visitors as the garden has many medicinal plants, trees especially the Ikabena which is very famous in this part of the world.
Hakone Ekiden:
This is known for conducting long distance foot racing that is held at the time of New Year where many residents actively participate in such races which commence from Tokyo and ends at Hakone.
Other attractions in Hakone are:
- Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Hakone Ropeway Ride
- Pola Museum of Art
- Hakone Shrine
- Owaku-dani Valley
- Venetian Glass Museum
- Lake Ashi known for its tranquil and scenic beauty from where the tourists can have a good view of Mount Fuji.
- Hakone Museum of Art
- The Museum of the Little Prince
- Narukawa Art Museum
- Lalique Museum Hakone
- Hakone Komagatake Ropeway Ride
- Hakoneen Aquarium
- Chisuji Falls
- Kuzuryu Shrine
- Sounji Temple
- Mount Kamiyama
Hakone Cuisine and culture:
Hakone is very well known for its true culture and tradition as the people respect and show great degree of warmth towards outsiders. The visitors are treated with some true authentic Japanese delicacies and cuisines like rice noodles, chicken noodles and egg noodles. The tourists visiting the place can also try some of the exotic sea foods like sushi, tuna, crab, squid, prawns and lobsters.
Connectivity to Hakone in Japan:
Hakone is well connected by several national highways like Japan National Route 1 and Japan National Route 138 which passes through Hakone making it easily accessible by road. The capital city Tokyo is approx 70 kms from Hakone and there are plenty of fast train services available from Hakone to Tokyo very frequently. Tourists can also take the Ropeway or cablecar to travel from Hakone to nearby sight-seeing places. The nearest airport is the Tokyo International Airport located about 70 kms from Hakone which has direct flight connections to many countries in Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, Europe and the Middle East.
Hotels in Hakone:
Hakone has some of the best hotels in Japan catering to the accommodation requirements of the visitors coming to the place all round the year. The hotels offer some of the world class services like spa, sauna, hot water spring bath, steam bath, serve breakfast to hotelmates, serve exotic Japanese cuisines and dishes, 24 hours help desk, facilities for handicapped guests, welcome lobby and lounges, free internet with Wi-Fi connectivity etc. List of hotels located in Hakone are:
- Hotel Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa
- Hotel Hakone Highland
- Hotel Harvest Hakone Koshien
- Hotel Maille Coeur Shougetsu
- Odakyu Yamano Hotel
- Gora Asahi Hotel
- Fujiya Hotel
- Yumoto Fujiya Hotel
- Hotel Green Plaza Hakone
- Hotel The Prince
- Hotel Harvest
- Ryuguden Hotel