Highlights of Hakone

Arrive in Hakone, one of Japan’s most celebrated hot spring destinations, framed by forested mountains and quiet lake scenery. Check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure, easing into the region’s slower rhythm with time to unwind in the onsen.

Ride the Hakone Ropeway above the surrounding volcanic landscape, then descend into Owakudani Valley, where sulphurous steam still rises from active vents across a scarred, otherworldly terrain. Continue to Lake Ashi for a scenic cruise across its still waters, with Mt. Fuji revealing itself on the horizon on clear days. Visit Hakone Shrine, one of the region’s most iconic landmarks, its vermillion torii gate rising from the lakeshore, before closing the day at the Hakone Open Air Museum, where sculpture and nature share the same mountain setting.

Journey into the Mt. Fuji region, where volcanic history and spiritual heritage shape the landscape. Descend into the Ice Cave and Wind Cave, two of the area’s best-known lava tunnels, carved by ancient eruptions and offering a rare glimpse beneath the mountain’s surface. Continue to Subashiri Sengen-jinja Shrine, closely tied to Mt. Fuji’s spiritual history, before arriving at Oshino Hakkai, a village of eight crystal-clear, spring-fed ponds set among traditional thatched-roof houses, with the mountain rising just beyond.

Spend the day exploring the culture and craftsmanship of the Mt. Fuji region. Begin at the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum, a striking showcase of textile artistry set within tranquil gardens, before continuing to Arakurayama Sengen Park’s observation deck, famed for its postcard view of a five-storey pagoda, the town below, and Mt. Fuji rising behind it. Later, visit Ide Sake Brewery to discover the region’s centuries-old sake-making tradition, closing a day that blends refined culture with some of the journey’s most memorable scenery.

After breakfast, enjoy some final moments at leisure before departing Hakone and continuing your onward journey.