Hakone 箱根

Must-see museums in Hakone

It may seem contradictory to flee the city to get back to nature (and what a nature) and to go "lock yourself up" in a museum, but if you spend several days in Hakone and if you are an art lover, don't miss the following museums: our selection amongst the 24 museums located clandestinely in the serene mountain town.

On the "classic" route, the one presented above and which can be done with the Hakone Free Pass:

Away from the area, but accessible by bus:

• The Pola Art Museum for its impressionist and contemporary pieces and the futuristic building are accessible by bus from Gora station.
• The Okada Art Museum, which includes a large collection of Japanese, Chinese and Korean art dating from the 8th century BC to the present day. In addition to the masterpieces on display, the museum has a garden of more than 15,000 square meters, including a traditional house that has been converted into a tea house. Take the Izu Hakone or Hakone Tozan bus to the Kowakien stop, a 2-minute walk from the museum.

Nestled in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Hakone is built around its transport network, an attraction in itself. Circular Hakone mountains run counter-clockwise, against the current, headed north. 

• Read also: Views of Mount Fuji: 5 places to see it better

A scenic train in the mountains

From the Hakone-Yumoto station, you board the Hakone Tôzan Densha, Japan's first mountain railway and one of the steepest in the world. In June, the track is lined with beautiful hydrangea flowers, and in autumn, maples and other flamboyant trees draw cries of admiration from travellers. Lovers of modern art and nature will get off at the second to the last station on the line, Chokoku no Mori, for a wonderful walk through the open-air museum (see above) where they will come across works by Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Nikki de Saint-Phalle and many other renowned artists, both Japanese and foreign.

Once at Gôra station, the final stop, you can choose to visit the Gôra-kôen garden or to continue the visit by taking the funicular-railway climbs to Mount Sôunzan. From there, it's off to the cable car.

• Read also: Hakone's ropeway

Visit Hakone freely with the Hakone Free Pass

Walks and hikes in the forest

As the ship disembarks on the south shore, on the side of Hakone-machi or Moto-Hakone, the two towns bordering the lake. Between the two, you can cross the famous "cedar alley", a path lined with cedars that were planted during the Edo period (1603-1868) when Hakone was a rest-stop along the Tôkaidô route. 

Across the road, you can visit the reconstructed Sekisho Shiryôkan checkpoint. For several centuries, entry to the capital was strictly controlled and the last and most stringent checkpoint was located in Hakone.

• Read also: Hiking on the historic Tokaido trail: Hakone Kyu Kaido

From Moto-Hakone you can walk along the lake to the torii of the Hakone-jinja Shinto shrine. With its feet in the water, this portico is one of the city's emblems and one of the most popular sites for Instagrammers around the world! You will then have to climb the series of steps that lead to the thousand-year-old shrine.

After this visit, it may be a good time to return to your ryokan or take the bus from Moto-Hakone back to Hakone-Yumoto station.