Hakone (箱根町) is a town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, approximately 92 km (57 mi) south west of Tokyo. It has been designated as a Geopark by UNESCO. The town is a popular destination for hot springs, hiking, relaxation, and it offers an amazing view of Mt. Fuji in all four seasons.
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Founded in 1976, the Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is a botanical garden located within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It now contains some 1700 plant varieties, including about 200 types of woody and herbaceous wetland plants from Japan. From Hakone-Yumoto Station, visitors can take a Hakone Tozan bus and get off at the Sengoku Annaijo-mae stop.
The Hakone Venetian Glass Museum houses over 100 pieces of Venetian glassware in Italian-styled buildings. The collection features both modern and classical works of vases, goblets, lamps and sculptures. There is also a garden with glass sculptures and a pond outside.
Opened in 2002, Pola Museum of Art houses the collection of over 9,500 works acquired by the former head of the Pola cosmetics group, including many works of French Impressionism and of the École de Paris (a group of French and émigré artists who worked in Paris between the first years of the 20th century and the 1950s).
Ōwakudani (Great Boiling Valley) is a volcanic valley with active sulphur vents and hot springs. It is a popular tourist site for its scenic views, volcanic activity, and especially, Kuro-tamago (black egg) — a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs. The boiled eggs turn black and smell slightly sulphuric; consuming the eggs is said to increase longevity. Eating one is said to add seven years to your life. There is also a hiking trail from the Ropeway station to the peak of Mt. Kamiyama.
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Hakone Open-Air Museum is Japan's first open-air museum, opened in 1969. Its collection includes artworks by Picasso, Henry Moore, Taro Okamoto, Yasuo Mizui and many others, featuring over a thousand sculptures and works of art. The museum is served by the Hakone Tozan Railway at Chokoku-no-Mori Station.
Lake Ashi, also referred to as Hakone Lake or Ashinoko Lake, is a crater lake that lies along the southwest wall of the caldera of Mount Hakone, a complex volcano that last erupted in 1170 CE at Owakudani. The lake is known for its views of Mt. Fuji, its numerous hot springs, historical sites, and ryokan (traditional Japanese inns). A number of pleasure boats and ferries traverse the lake, providing scenic views.
The Hakone Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the shores of Lake Ashi. It was founded in 757 during the reign of Emperor Kōshō. The original shrine was at the summit of Mt. Komagatake, and later relocated to the shores of the lake. Its current structure dates to 1667. In the Kamakura period, the shrine was popular with samurai, and this support continued through the Sengoku period. Hakone Shrine has a small museum, which displays a number of the shrine’s treasures. These include five items which are ranked as national Important Cultural Property.
Onshi Hakone Park and Hakone Detached Palace in it were once the summer retreat for the Imperial Family. Now it is open to public. There are hiking trails that offer scenic views of Lake Ashinoko and Mount Fuji.
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The Sengokuhara Pampas Grass (susuki) Field (sogen) is a large field of pampas grass covering a portion of Mount Hakone on a slope in the Sengokuhara area. The field is known for its changing colour with the season, from lush green, to a mix of green and light yellow, to deep golden yellow. It especially attracts visitors during fall when the grasses turn a shimmering, silvery gold colour. From Hakone-Yumoto Station, visitors can take a Hakone Tozan bus and get off at the Sengoku Kogen stop.
Opened in 2013, The privately-owned Okada Museum of Art has an extensive collection on Japanese, Chinese and Korean art dating from ancient times to the modern era. Its collection features ceramics, sculptures and paintings. The surrounding woodland area offers streams, undulating paths and hot springs in a serene setting.