Day trips from Tokyo: Hakone
3:00 PM
Hakone is a good destination for a day trip or an overnight visit. You have the option of taking a Shinkansen to Hakone. There’s quite a lot you can do here from relaxing in an onsen, visiting Odawara castle or taking one of the scenic ropeways or trains. Depending on the time of the year, you can see azaleas, hydrangeas, or cherry blossoms or take in the amazing autumn colors. You can also take a cruise on Lake Ashi and see the beauty of scenery like the Tori Gates by the water of the Hakone-Jinja Shrine. On a clear day, you can even see the majestic Mt. Fuji. In Autumn, you should stop by the “Sengoku-ko-gen” or Pampas Grass Fields. It’s a hillside that is one of the best scenic sights in the area.
There are a lot of things to see in Hakone. You can stay here and enjoy the sights and Onsen. From Odawara Station, you can take a bus or train depending on which sights you’d like to visit. The best places to visit would also depend on the season of your visit.
Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise
To get here, from the east exit of the Odawara Station at Bus Stop #3 take the Hakone Machi (H) or Hakone Kyukaido (K) Bus to Motohakone-ko (about 50 minutes). The ride is scenic but passes zigzag roads. The bus stops near the Ticket Office.
The sightseeing cruise is on a pirate ship that has a first class and second class compartments.
On a clear day, you are able to see a glimpse of Mt. Fuji. On my visit though, we weren’t able to see it from the ship. But the view of the autumn foliage was beautiful.
Pampas Grass Fields
Best during autumn is a hillside filled with silver grass that is glittering in gold. Considered one of “Kanagawa’s 100 Best Flower Vistas" and "50 Best Scenic spots". This is a definite must stop in the fall.
It’s just a bus ride to the "Sengoku Kogen" bus stop from Togendai Port of the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise on the Hakone Tozan Bus Togendai Line (Bus Line T). The Grass fields is a quick walk from the bus stop.
Train: Take Bullet Train to Odawara, then choose among the trains or buses to get around Hakone.
Ticket: Free if on Hakone Free Pass; Y1000 for adults for Moto-Hakone to Togendai. Y1000 for Togendai to Hakone-machi; Y360 from Hakone-machi to Moto Hakone.
Economical pass around Hakone: http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/freepass/
2 comments
Hi Crissy,
ReplyDeleteDo you know how to go to Hakone Yumoto station from the Sengoku Pampas Grass Field? I managed to get the info on how to get there but can't find on how to get back to Hakone Yumoto from there. Thanks!!!
Hi! You can take the Hakone Tozan Bus (Togendai Line) from Sengoku Pampas Grass Field (Sengoku-Kogen Stop) back to Hakone Yumoto Station. Here is the link of the bus route for your reference: http://www.hakone-tozanbus.co.jp/english/pdf/access.pdf. :)
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