Hakone, Mountain resort town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Hakone is a mountain resort town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, nestled within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park overlooking Lake Ashinoko. The town spreads across steep slopes covered with forests and includes several villages, museums, and thermal bath facilities.
A checkpoint was established here during the Tokugawa era to monitor travelers on the highway between Kyoto and Edo. Later, in the 19th century, the area attracted people seeking relaxation and healing in the hot springs.
The route through this town once connected Kyoto to the old capital, and today walkers follow its paved sections between cedar trees. Many visitors stay in ryokan, traditional inns with onsen baths fed by volcanic spring water.
Train connections bring visitors from Tokyo in roughly 90 minutes, and a special pass allows use of multiple transport options within the region. On clear days, views of Fuji are often best in early morning or late afternoon.
Owakudani, a valley with active sulfur fumaroles, sits above the town and turns eggs black when boiled in its hot water. Visitors often buy these eggs as a snack, as local beliefs link them to longevity.
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