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Hakone

Offering serene onsen, world-class art museums, traditional inns and spectacular mountain scenery crowned by Mt Fuji, Hakone (箱根) can make for a blissful escape from Tokyo. Ashino-ko (芦ノ湖) is the lake at the centre of it all, the setting for the iconic image of Mt Fuji with the torii of Hakone-jinja rising from the water.

Naturally, this is all quite attractive, so it can feel crammed, particularly at weekends and holidays. If you follow the herd, it can also feel highly packaged. To beat the crowds, plan your trip during the week, go hiking and sample some of Hakone's offbeat gems.

Explore Hakone

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Hakone.

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Hakone with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.