The Kanagawa Region is a very popular tourist spot for both Japanese and international visitors and is was well worth the visit. The town around Lake Ashinoko is called Hakone and is popular for its hot spring resorts. It also offers great views to Mt Fuji if the weather permits, so the photo opportunities are endless.

On our way to Lake Ashi we had booked a day tour to Mt Fuji with a visit to the 5th station, but unfortunately the fog was too thick on the day so it was closed. Disappointing for us, but nevertheless that is how it goes sometimes.

One of the experiences we wanted was to stay in a traditional Japanese hotel, so we chose the Hakone Yunohana Prince Hotel. What a beautiful place. Located on a golf course each room had a beautiful view across the greens. We chose a traditional Japanese room with Tatami area, but western style rooms are also available.

It was an all inclusive stay and the eating was traditional Japanese food. We can’t say we enjoyed every item on our plate, but we certainly gave everything a try.

There are a few things to do around Lake Ashi.

  1. Hakone Sightseeing Cruise – these pirate ships were loads of fun and well worth the trip around the lake. You can get some spectacular views of Mt Fuji if the weather is fine. You can hop on/hop off at each stop and wander around the small towns that dot the lake. The ships are well maintained, clean and offer snacks. Do yourself a favour though – for a small additional cost buy a first class ticket. There is almost no-one in this section and you get the front of the boat for all the best photos, and a lovely lounge area to relax in as you watch the activity on the lake.
  2. Komagatake Ropeway – taking you from the shores of Lake Ashi to the main central peak in Hakone you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Mt Fuji. The ride is located near the Prince Hotel and takes about 7 minutes to travel the 1783 metres. We had a very cold and misty day, but we still managed a few shots of Mt Fuji.
  3. Hakone Shrine – one of the stops around the lake will take you to the Hakone Shrine. It is about a 10 minute walk from the wharf. You will see a Torii gate from the lake, and the shrine is located above the gate. Set into the hillside this is a beautiful shrine and is worth hopping off the boat to visit.

Travel Tips

  • A lot of the hotels in this area offer the hot spring pools, but the hotel we stayed in separated men from women. We are not sure if this is the case for all hotels.

Travel Alerts

  • If you are going to take the Komagatake Ropeway to the top, the weather can be very cold. Best to ensure you have some warm clothing.

Travel Adventures

  • Walking tracks – trekkers are spoilt for choice around this area, with plenty of walking tracks on offer. All we can say is – enjoy!
  • Have you ever heard of the Japanese Puzzle Boxes (or secret boxes). These are handcrafted wooden boxes which have no identifiable way of opening them, and are solved by sliding pieces of the surface of the box in the correct sequence. The workmanship is fabulous, and we bought several of these for gifts, and everyone loved them. Well worth looking at, but there are other beautiful items for sale also.