10 Best Places in Hakone for Family Trips

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is a hot spring theme park of sorts. You can choose to either enjoy the hot spring baths as a day-trip or stay overnight at the Hakone Hotel Kowakien.

Whether you come as a family, as a couple, or as a group of friends, you’ll definitely have fun here. In addition to towels, bathing suits can be rented, so you can turn up empty-handed and it’s no problem. The outdoor area has a large slide and climbing frame as well as unique baths including a wine bath and a coffee bath! There’s also a dining area outside that can be used while wearing a swimsuit.

The best way to view Mount Hakone from the sky is to take the Hakone Ropeway, which is approximately 4 km long, from Togendai Station on the shore of Lake Ashi to Sounzan Station at the summit of the mountain, with Ubako and Owakudani Stations in-between.

Try the famous black eggs boiled in hot spring water at Owakudani while watching the active Hakone volcano emitting volcanic fumes. The shells of these eggs are completely black, reacting to the hot spring elements. Above Owakudani, you’ll see a dynamic valley in light yellow coloured by the elements contained in the volcanic fumes, and from Sounzan, Sagami Bay will be revealed on a clear day. Then, as you descend toward Togendai, you’ll catch sight of the shimmering and beautiful surface of Lake Ashi.

The Hakone Open-Air Museum, taking advantages of Hakone's rich natural environment, was opened in 1969. It was the first open-air museum of sculpture in Japan.

The vast 70,000-square-metre garden overlooks the Hakone peaks. About 120 sculptures from leading modern and contemporary sculptors are on permanent display here, surrounded by lush gardens. The sheer size and weight of these outdoor sculptures will knock you over. Let yourself be immersed in the fresh air as you take a stroll through the garden and face the art. Hakone is the only place you’ll find the Picasso Pavilion, which boasts one of the world's largest collections, alongside indoor exhibition halls as well as footbaths with natural hot spring water to soothe your tired feet. This is a one-of-a-kind experience.

The Hakone Tozan Railway connects the foothills and mountain side of Mt. Hakone, from Odawara to Gora Station, a distance of about 15 km. This climbing train runs up the steepest gradient in Japan for a railroad that uses only wheels and rails.

As it climbs steep hillsides, the train makes switchbacks at 3 points, changing its direction of travel, as it zigzags its way up the mountain. Along the line are renowned hot springs of Hakone, such as Yumoto and Tonosawa. Another name for this train is the Ajisai Densha (Hydrangea Train), because of the magnificent hydrangeas that bloom along the tracks from mid-June to July. The tracks are also lit up at night, with Yoru-no-Ajisai go (Night Hydrangea Train) operating a special train with all seats reserved for passengers.

Hakone Glass no Mori Venetian Glass Museum is found in Sengokuhara. Visitors can discover the beauty of Venetian glass in a garden and 2 galleries.

The most striking feature of the garden is its 9-metre-high bridged corridor of lights. The crystal glass sparkles like a rainbow as the light reflects off it. The Venetian Glass Museum displays masterpieces dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries, while the Museum of Contemporary Glass displays works created by contemporary glass artists. You can listen to live authentic canzone music in a restaurant that overlooks the garden and try your hand at glassworking in the workshop.

The Little Prince Museum was founded in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the author of The Little Prince, Saint-Exupéry. It is the only museum in the world devoted to this long-time bestselling novel.

With the exhibition hall and video hall that follow the life of Saint-Exupéry at its centre, the entrance and garden reproduce the streets and landscapes of France in the early 20th century, the period in which Saint-Exupéry lived. The garden is filled with seasonal flowers, and the restaurant serves a menu inspired by the world of The Little Prince. The museum shop is a must-visit for all Little Prince fans.

Forest Adventure Hakone, located close to Hakone-Yumoto Station, is an outdoor park in harmony with nature.

The adventure course is designed to minimise the burden on the environment, taking advantage of the natural forest terrain and trees as they are. There are two courses, the Canopy Course for beginners and the slightly more difficult Adventure Course. Choose the one that best suits your child's height and age. The 120-metre zip-line allows children to glide through the forest while feeling the sunlight filtering through the trees. Adults can also have a great time here.

Hakone Shrine has a vermilion torii gate that is beautifully reflected onto Lake Ashi. The history of this shrine goes back more than 1,250 years.

As the Kanto region's central deity, the shrine has long been revered by many Samurai warriors, including Minamoto no Yoritomo and Tokugawa Ieyasu, as the deity of victory and the fulfilment of wishes. Since the shrine is located on the Tokaido Highway, a major east-west transport hub, many people today visit the shrine to pray for safety on the road. The precincts have a solemn atmosphere and are covered with deep forest. You'll also find a branch shrine of the Kuzuryu Shrine, which is connected to Hakone Shrine, and visitors can even take home a bottle of sacred water that’s said to cleanse all impurities and improve one's luck.

NINJABUS WATER SPIDER is an amphibious coach vehicle with a black body.

Departing from Hakone-en, located on the shore of Lake Ashi, the bus tours around the town of Hakone before heading out onto Lake Ashi itself. After a round-the-lake cruise, the bus heads back to Hakone-en. Among the instruments used by ninjas, the mizugumo (water spider) is said to be used to walk over the surface of the water, and this NINJABUS is inspired by the image of a ninja standing on Lake Ashi wearing the mizugumo. Enjoy a unique experience with Kunoichi, a female ninja in a red ninja costume, as your guide!

The pirate ships on Lake Ashi are pleasure ships used for the Hakone Sight Seeing Cruise, shuttling between the ports of Togendai, Motohakone, and Hakonemachi.

Currently, 3 pirate ships are in operation: the Royale II, Victory, and Queen Ashinoko. Each vessel has its own unique style, and luxurious cabins are available for an additional fee. The trip between the ports of Togendai on the northern end of Lake Ashi and Motohakone and Hakonemachi on the southeastern side takes about 25 to 35 minutes. The view of Hakone and Mt. Fuji over the lake is exceptionally beautiful, and at dusk, the setting sun turns the surrounding area a brilliant orange.