Secrets of Japan, Hakone

Heading out west, from the neon jungle that is Tokyo, takes you to the forests and mountains of Hakone. A region famed for its lakes, pristine nature, and the grandeur presence of Mount Fuji close by.

Our tour took us of a quick one night stopover in this quaint prefecture, The first stop was Lake Ashi, one of the several lakes in the region, a part of the 5 lakes of Fuji. This picture perfect lake offers a stunning view of Fuji and the mountainous terrain that surrounds it, you’ll notice the iconic red Shinto shrine on banks as you enjoy a cruise on the ferry.

The Hakone Ropeway is a series of cable cars that cross the region, offering a great opportunity to travel swiftly, while offering stunning views. We took a journey on it, one stop up the nearby mountain side. The sight is truly breath-taking, with the lake shimmering in the sun. There’s a small shopping area around the base of the station, so a nice spot for lunch!

The next stop was the crown jewel, Mount Fuji itself. There are several stops, or stations, that ascend the mountain. The most popular, is Station 5, where we went. It is as high as you can go, before it’s all on foot for the hike above. We managed to go on a sunny clear day, which gave us a crystal clear view of the summit, amazing! It gets very chilly up here, so make sure to layer up!

Our overnight stay was away at another one of the lakes of Hakone, this time, Lake Kawaguchi. The hotel was in a very sleepy town, as to be expected out in the Japanese countryside. The hotel was very traditional, shoes off at reception, and with an onsen, if you’re feeling like you need a refresh. The view from the hotel room out to the lake outside was a great plus. After dinner, we headed out, to see what’s around. To be honest, not much! The town was pretty much silent, but at the same time, a nice calm after the hustle of Tokyo!

We were off the following morning, but the morning mist did provide some excellent visuals, the autumnal leaves just adding to the beauty of the area. Though we only had a day or two to enjoy it, it was a wonderful opportunity to see a part of Japan you would in other cases, skip, for the bigger cities.