Hakone National Park

Hakone National Park sits 90 minutes from Tokyo in an active volcanic valley. You can walk through steam vents at Owakudani, see Rodin sculptures at the Open-Air Museum, or soak in mineral-rich hot springs. On clear days, Mount Fuji reflects in Lake Ashinoko's waters, where sightseeing boats cruise past red lakeside torii gates.

Getting to Hakone

Take the Odakyu Railway "Romance Car" from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station in 80 minutes. Another option is the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus, which takes about 2 hours. Buy a Hakone Free Pass for round-trip transport from Tokyo and unlimited use of local transportation within Hakone.

Exploring Owakudani Valley

Steam rises from the ground at Owakudani, an active volcanic zone with walking paths that lead you past sulfur vents. Stop at the viewing platforms to watch the steam rise from the valley floor. Local food stalls sell black eggs cooked in the volcanic waters - a local tradition claims eating one adds seven years to your life.

Lake Ashinoko Activities

Take a boat ride across Lake Ashinoko in vessels designed to look like pirate ships. The boats run every 30 minutes between three ports. From the deck, you'll see the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine rising from the water's edge. Connect to the Hakone Ropeway from the northern shore for views of Mount Fuji above the lake.

Art and Museums

Walk among 120 sculptures at the Hakone Open-Air Museum's 70,000-square-meter gardens. The collection includes works by Henry Moore and Joan Miro. The museum's Picasso pavilion displays over 300 pieces. At the Pola Museum, follow glass corridors through the forest to see Japanese and European paintings in a building that integrates into the mountainside.

Hot Springs and Bathing

Natural hot springs bubble up throughout Hakone. Public bath houses and ryokan (traditional inns) channel these waters into indoor and outdoor pools. The mineral content varies by spring - some pools have white, cloudy water while others contain red-tinted water from iron deposits. Many ryokan sell day passes if you want to try their baths without staying overnight.

Transportation Within Hakone

The Hakone Tozan Railway zigzags up the mountains through three switchbacks and tunnels. Take the Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Togendai for aerial views over Owakudani Valley. Regular buses connect the major sights, and your Hakone Free Pass works on all these transport options.