These are our picks for the absolute best places to visit in Japan, perfect for your first or second trip to the country (plus suggestions for the repeat visits that are likely to happen!). As of June 2012, the town had an estimated population of 13,492, and a population density of 145 persons per km. Hakone Free Pass can be bought at Shinjuku Station, Odawara Station, any other chief station along Odaky Odawara Line, Hakone-Yumoto Station, Gra Station, any other chief station along Hakone Tozan Line, Sunzan Station, Tgendai Station, Sengoku-Annaijo Bus Stop, Moto-Hakone Port, Hakone-Machi Port, and JR Gotemba Station Bus Information. We love the neon craziness of Dotonburi, the amazing food (for vegetarians too), friendly people, affordable prices, and the scary rides and brilliant Harry Potter World at Universal Studios Japan. How Long to Spend: 1-2 nights. As long as you have one way trip from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka, JR pass is way more Gion is the place to spot geisha, Higashiyama has many beautiful temples to explore, and Arashiyama, up in the western hills, is one of the most traditional neighbourhoods and home to bamboo groves, quirky temples, and monkeys. Hakone (, Hakone-machi) is a town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.As of June 2012, the town had an estimated population of 13,492, and a population density of 145 persons per km. Torii of the shrine in Hakone, at Lake Ashi, The summer festival in Hakone includes a bonfire in the shape of the kanji (dai) and fireworks, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Kanrei Shirayuri Gakuen Junior/Senior High School, "Orientation - Hakone Travel Guide | Planetyze", "Hear the Evangelion theme song as you drive over Hakone's Ashinoko Skyline "musical road, "List of 2018 Japan Anime Tourism 88-Stop Pilgrimage Locations Jotaku Network", "Evangelion x Hakone 2020: Stations, Spas and More "Evangelion-ized" as Resort Town Becomes "Tokyo-3, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hakone&oldid=1002402204, Articles needing additional references from March 2011, All articles needing additional references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles with Japanese-language sources (ja), Wikipedia articles with CINII identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 256 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa-ken 250-0398, This page was last edited on 24 January 2021, at 07:24. Its one of the top Japan attractions and makes a rewarding day trip from Kyoto to visit the temples and wild deer in Nara Park. Among them are the monumental, like Kinkaku-ji (an exquisite pavilion sheathed entirely in gold leaf), and the meditative, like Ryan-ji, with its stark Zen rock garden. Japan travel guide to Tokyo, Hakone, Mt. Hakone Open-Air Museum Chkoku-no-Mori & Gra Kyoto. How Long to Spend: 3 nights minimum but 5 nights would be better. The area is famous for its vibrant autumn colours. Tokyo - Hakone - Kyoto - Nara - Hiroshima - Tokyo On this tour we will be going to the most essential sites to experience the culture and history of Japan. The tour will begin in Tokyo, the capital and most populated metropolis in the world. The modern and traditional juxtaposed at Sensoji temple in Tokyo. Hakone has a number of art museums, including the Hakone Open-Air Museum and Pola Museum of Art. The main temple grounds are located at the base of the mountain and are connected via a hiking trail to several more temple buildings around the summit. Come to pay your respects to the victims of the atomic bombing at Hiroshimas moving Peace Memorial Museum and Park and stay to explore the modern city that was almost entirely rebuilt after World War II. Day1 : DEPART FROM THE USDepart from the US. Its also way more spacious than anywhere weve stayed in Tokyo. Ive included our favourite things to do in each place, how long to spend there, and where we stayed. By clicking the link in the confirmation email, you consent to being sent newsletters and special offers. Thx! The price of 7-day JR pass is 29100 yen. This page contains affiliate links. If you can arrive early enough on the first day to hike the Nakasendo Way in the afternoon, then 1 night is enough as its a tiny village. Our post on the best things to do in Okayama has all our tips. Hiroshima is usually combined with a visit to the famous floating torii gate at Itsukushima shrine on nearby Miyajima Island (as of June 2019 the gate is under renovation for at least a year). We visited on a day trip from Okayama and had a wonderful day cycling around and combining art with beautiful sea views and tiny fishing villages. Hakone has been designated as a Japanese National Geopark by the Japanese Geoparks Network. Trains from Hakone to Kyoto. Hakone (, Hakone-machi) is a town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. In April the cherry blossoms (sakura) and in autumn the Miscanthus sinensis (susuki) are noted sights. I hope this post has given you some ideas of where to go in Japan. Tokyo is also home to some of the weirdest activities weve ever done. Relax in a hot spring spa. Kyoto Tourism Kyoto Hotels Kyoto Bed and Breakfast Kyoto Vacation Rentals Kyoto Vacation Packages Flights to Kyoto Kyoto Restaurants Things to Do in Kyoto Kyoto Shopping Kyoto Travel Forum On our first Japan trip we were terrified of getting naked in onsens, but on our latest visit we were brave enough to spend a few nights in an onsen town. Japan. Check out other stops like Nagoya, Takayama, Nagiso, Shizuoka, Hikone, Kiso, Fuji, Mino, Tokai, or Kyoto, the traditional heart of Japan, has a staggering 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hakone is the location of a noted Shinto shrine, the Hakone Gongen, which is mentioned in Heian period literature. There are a number of places you can see the mountain from (Kawaguchiko is another great optionsee below), but Hakone is easy to reach from Tokyo and there are lots of other things to do in the area in case you are out of luck with a sighting. You can enjoy the views by walking or cycling around the lake or taking a trip on a cable car or boat (we hired a panda pedal boat!). Youll also want to try the delicious local speciality okonomiyaki, a thick pancake of batter, vegetables and noodles. We had one night and wished wed had two so that we could have visited Toshogu Shrine early on the second day. Feel yourself at home during the trip from Hakone to Kyoto. It was wonderfully relaxing. If time is limited, I would allocate more time to Kyoto than Tokyo. Immersing yourself in the colourful digital art museum, Wandering the old town in the early morning before the crowds arrive, Buying delicious fruit from the morning markets, Snacking on mitarashi-dango (rice balls grilled in soy) from a street stall, Seeing the extravagant floats at the Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, Visiting the Hida Folk Village to see traditional thatched houses, Seeing Mount Fuji from the lake or cable car, Eating a black egg cooked in the hot sulphur springs at volcanic Owakudani (not really, these look gross, but the Japanese go crazy for them), Staying in a tatami room in a ryokan (traditional inn) and enjoying an elaborate dinner, Wandering the outdoor sculpture gallery at, Exploring the wooden teahouses of the geisha districts Higashi Chaya and the quieter Kazuemachi and Nishi Chaya, Experiencing a traditional tea ceremony at the exquisite Gyokusen-en Gardens, Visiting Toshogu Shrine early to avoid the crowds, Playing games at atmospheric Futarasan-jinja, Hiking up the mountain to the peaceful Takino shrine, Photographing the bright red Shinkyo bridge, Munching on dango (grilled rice balls on a stick) from a street stall. At the end of the post youll find a map of all these Japan destinations to start planning your route. Enter your email to sign up for our monthly newsletter with exclusive travel tips and updates. At least we'd go to Goin district in the evening and I'm hoping to see a geisha and have dinner there. After the start of the Edo period, Hakone-juku was a post station on the Tkaid highway connecting Edo with Kyoto. Kyoto Tourism Kyoto Hotels Kyoto Bed and Breakfast Kyoto Vacation Rentals Kyoto Packages Flights to Kyoto Kyoto Restaurants Kyoto Attractions Kyoto Shopping Kyoto Travel Forum Kyoto Photos Hakone is also fun to visit because you can do a loop of the sights on different modes of transporttrain, bus, pirate boat (yes, really! While it was just enough for the main sights, we wished wed had longer to enjoy our ryokan. By clicking the Submit button, you give consent for us to store your information for the purposes of displaying your comment and you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy. The location is idealquiet but close to lots of cool shops and restaurants and within walking distance of Dotonburi. Explore alternate routes from Hakone to Kyoto, or you can get reverse directions from Kyoto to Hakone. A popular "Hakone Free Pass", allowing unlimited use of most forms of transport for several days, is available. Answer 1 of 4: Hi may I know how to get from Hakone Yumoto station to Kyoto. From Gra, the terminus of Hakone Tozan Line, the Hakone Tozan Cable Car funicular goes to Sunzan. Don't worry about the weather when traveling by train it will keep you comfortable no matter what the forecast says. On repeat visits Ive grown to love the city (the food certainly helped) and while it isnt as attractive as Kyoto, there is so much to do that you wont want to skip it. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We had 2 nights and wished wed had longer because theres lots to do in the surrounding countryside. I recommend mixing a few of the popular cities (most people wont want to miss Tokyo and Kyoto) with some quieter, more rural places in Japan to see a different side of the country and take a break from the crowds. For the best views of Mount Fuji, head to Lake Kawaguchiko. This modern city is home to one of the best gardens in the country and is especially beautiful in sakura season when you can enjoy the cherry blossoms without the crowds of Kyoto or Tokyo. If you are flying into or out of Kansai airport then it makes sense to spend a night or two in Osaka. Major events include the annual JLPGA CAT Ladies Golf tournament and the Hakone Ekiden, a long distance collegiate foot race, held at the New Year, which runs from Tokyo to Hakone and back over two days, partly in commemoration of the couriers who ran the Tkaid road. From Odawara, the Hakone Tozan Line continues into various resort towns in Hakone. Answer 1 of 4: Hi may I know how to get from Hakone Yumoto station to Kyoto. Simon clip-clopping by the canal in Kinosaki Onsen at night. Travel by high-speed bullet train. Learn how your comment data is processed. wakudani can be reached by Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan and the lake, while the lake is crisscrossed by cartoonishly decorated "pirate" ships for tourists. Its only a few hours from Kyoto or Osaka and the canal-side town is very pretty, especially in cherry blossom season. Kyoto. Weve spent over a month here on various trips and still find new things to do. Weve spent two months in Kyoto and still havent done everything! We also did a fantastic bike trip on the Kibiji Bike Trail through rice fields to untouristy temples. Nowadays, more than a dozen springs provide hot spring water to the many bath houses and ryokan in the Hakone region.. Yumoto, at the entrance to the Hakone area near Odawara, is Hakone's most famous hot spring with a particularly long history, high quality water and numerous baths and inns. Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital for a thousand years, is home to more than a thousand temples. ), and cable car. From themed cafes (cats, owls, maids, robots, goatsyou name it, Tokyo has it) to sensory-overload shows and arcades to cos-play go-karting. Kyoto is one of the top Japan tourist spots, so try to visit the popular temples early in the morning as they do get crowded. This is traditional Japan as you imagined itgeisha in brightly coloured kimonos emerging from wooden teahouses, forests of bamboo, temples and shrines in gold and silver and scarlet, raked gravel Zen gardens, intricate feasts served on lacquered plates, graceful tea ceremonies, and markets full of intriguing but unidentifiable ingredients. Don't forget to factor in the weather. In Hakone, we wheeled our luggage into Yoshiike Ryokan, dropped off the luggage, then did the Hakone loop.We had bought our Hakone 'free' passes in Tokyo. Explore Kyoto's geisha district with a top guide. These Japan tourist attractions and off-the-beaten-path gems are on our list for our next trip: Read our detailed Japan guides for everything you need to know to plan a brilliant trip. Hakone attained town status in 1889. I don't know how long it's going to take us to get there. We had one night and did part of the loop in the afternoon we arrived and the rest in the morning. One famous hotel in Hakone is the historic Fujiya Hotel in Miyanoshita, which was patronized by noted literary figures, politicians and foreign dignitaries in the Meiji and Taish and early Shwa periods. You could also visit as a day trip from Kyoto. If you take a two-week vacation, you will have around 12 days to explore Japan. Odakyu also runs the Romancecar limited express between Shinjuku and Hakone-Yumoto. If any of these appeal to you more than the ones above (or fit into your itinerary better), then they will be just as enjoyable. Therefore, we won't be doing much when we arrive Kyoto. Kyoto. Required fields are marked *. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (, Fuji-Hakone-Izu Kokuritsu Ken) is a national park in Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and Kanagawa Prefectures, and western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan.It consists of Mount Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula, and the Izu Islands.Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park covers 1,227 square kilometres (474 sq mi). Thx! The total area is 92.82km2 (35.84sqmi). Its ideal for first-timers as they speak English and are very friendly, walking you through everything you need to know. But, if you have limited time on your first trip to Japan, I would probably say choose Osaka or Tokyo as they are both sprawling modern cities. View this tour; Tsumago is a picture-perfect traditional mountain village in the Kiso Valley. IntroductionSimple Japan Package ***Tokyo&Hakone&Kyoto***Starting at $2626 for 9 days includingFLIGHT+HOTEL+BULLET TRAIN+TOKYO & MT.FUJI TOUR! Hakone is located in the mountains in the far west of the prefecture, on the eastern side of Hakone Pass. It could be late afternoon. Where to stay in Hakone: Hotel Musashiya was the best place we stayed in Japan. A line-up of 44 hotels in Japan, and 32 overseas, attentive to guests every need. Nikko is a temple town and UNESCO world heritage site in the mountains a few hours north of Tokyo and makes a cool retreat from the city. With a longer stay you could take day trips to the traditional thatched roof houses of Shirakawa-go and go hiking in Kamikochi in the Japan Alps. How Long to Spend: 2-3 nights. Today you will leave Tokyo behind and travel to nearby Hakone National Park. [4][5] In 2020, new decorations have been introduced to the city in the anticipation of the release of the final film of the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy.[6]. In addition to hot springs, museums and other recreation activities, Hakone is known for its scenery during all four seasons.[1]. There is also Hakone Komagatake Ropeway, which goes to the top of Mount Komagatake. As its on a bullet train line, its a convenient and affordable base for exploring the area including the historic Kurashiki, Naoshima Island, Himeji Castle, and Hiroshima. Day2 : ARRIVE AT JAPANArrive at Narita Airport.Transfer from Narita Airport to Hotel in Tokyo by Airport Limousine Bus.Hotel at Shinagawa Prince Hotel or similar Day3 : This is a great itinerary. Kyoto Tourism Kyoto Hotels Kyoto Guest House Kyoto Holiday Homes Kyoto Holiday Packages Kyoto Flights Kyoto Restaurants Kyoto Attractions Kyoto Shopping Kyoto Travel Forum Kyoto Photos Kyoto The main attraction is Toshogu Shrine, a stunning complex with more than a dozen lavishly decorated red and gold buildings amongst huge, ancient cedar trees. Hakone is to a great degree regarded as a traveler destination; Mount Fuji can be seen when taking a day trip from Tokyo. Read our Kinosaki Onsen guide for all the details including onsen etiquette and how to get over your fears. One way base fare from Tokyo to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka plus Shinkansen surcharge is around 14000 yen. This page contains affiliate links. Takayama is an utterly gorgeous small town on the edge of the Japan Alps and one of the best less-visited places to go in Japan. Osaka is a Japan must-see for many visitors. We took a bullet train from Tokyo to Odawara, then switched to a smaller train that rolled gently into Hakone..