Day 1

Odawara Nishi I.C.

10:00 Lake Ashi

Hakone's most scenic spot, filled with beautiful blue water.

After driving southwest from the Odawara Nishi Interchange down a mountain road, you will arrive at Hakone's most beautiful view spot with the sparkling lake surface and mountain range. Located in the caldera of Hakone volcano, the lake is said to have been formed when earth and sand from an eruption near Owakudani about 3,100 years ago stopped a river from flowing into the lake. Visitors can enjoy refreshing views from various angles by taking the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway, which offers a panoramic view of the lake from the top of the mountain, or the Hakone Pirate Boat, which cruises along the lake for about an hour. The Hakone Shrine, Hakone Sekisho (gateway to Hakone), and other tourist attractions are scattered along the lakeside, and restaurants and souvenir stores line the shores.

11:00 Hakone Shrine

An ancient shrine on the shore of Lake Ashi on Mt. Hakone, a sacred place of mountain worship in ancient times.

This famous shrine was founded in 757 (the first year of Tempyo-Hoji) during the Nara period (710-794) by priest Manmaki Shonin, who received an oracle from the Great God of Hakone. In the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Minamoto no Yoritomo, and later the regent Hojo, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and other warriors worshipped at the shrine, and it flourished. Today, the shrine is visited by many people every year as a god of luck, good fortune, and traffic safety.
One of the most popular shrines in Hakone is the "Heiwa no Torii" (Gate of Peace), which is located down a stone staircase from the main shrine and past the "Yatate-cedar" (one of the 100 most famous trees in Kanagawa Prefecture). It is a great photo spot where you can take pictures with the bright red torii gate floating on Lake Ashi.

12:00 Lake Ashi Terrace

Excellent Italian cuisine with wood-fired pizza made with the finest ingredients

About a 3-minute drive from Hakone Shrine along “Shrine Street” by the lake, this Italian restaurant on the shores of Lake Ashi offers spectacular views. A must-try here is the wide variety of pizzas baked in an Italian wood-fired oven. The dough, made with flour from Naples, is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.Ingredients such as tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese are imported directly from Italy, ensuring an authentic taste. In addition to classics like the “Margherita,” pizzas featuring local ingredients—such as cherry salmon—are also popular.The menu also features an extensive selection of appetizers and pasta dishes packed with “Mishima Vegetables from the Western Foothills of Hakone” and seafood delivered from nearby fishing ports, along with a wide variety of desserts, allowing you to enjoy a delightful, resort-style lunch.

13:00 Hakone Old Highway

Cedar trees and cobblestone pavement invite travelers to enjoy a walking trail that even beginner hikers can enjoy

After leaving La Terrazza Ashinoko, park your car in the parking lot near the Moto Hakone intersection and start exploring. Heading east on Tokaido Highway, turn right at the T-junction after climbing a gentle slope, and you will see a wooden pedestrian bridge. The mountain road beyond the bridge is the old highway leading to Yumoto. The road was originally a muddy pass in Hakone, but in 1680 (Empo 8), the shogunate laid cobblestone pavement on the pass, making it easier to walk and allowing more people to come and go. Today, the stone pavement of the past has been preserved and maintained from the shore of Lake Ashinoko to Hatajuku, and it is a course where visitors can stroll while taking a walk in the forest.
It takes about 22 minutes one way from Moto Hakone to the "Old Highway Stone Paving Bus Stop," and about 30 minutes to the "Amazake Tea House" beyond that. When you have enjoyed the old road according to your fitness level, turn back to Moto Hakone. The cobblestone pavement has many mossy areas and ups and downs, so it is recommended that you wear shoes that are well suited for walking.

14:00 Amazake Tea House

A teahouse that has been serving amazake (sweet sake) and other sweets to travelers since the Edo period

From Moto Hakone, take the Tokaido Highway toward Yumoto, and after 5-6 minutes of driving in the pleasant sunlight through the trees, you will see a teahouse that has warmly welcomed travelers since ancient times. The one-story building, roofed with cedar bark, has the appearance of a resting place on a mountain pass. Inside, there are more than a dozen tables made of sliced roots of a large Japanese Judas tree, as well as a sunken hearth and tatami rooms where visitors can take off their shoes and relax in their own way.
The owner, now in his thirteenth generation, entertains customers with an assortment of items that has not changed since the old days. The shop offers a wide variety of tastes that will make your Hakone trip memorable, including "amazake," a naturally flavored drink made with only rice malt and salt, "kurogoma kinako mochi," a mochi with a limited amount of sesame and green soybean kinako sprinkled generously on the front and back of the rice cake, and in summer, a special "amazake miruku aisu candy.

15:00 KAI Hakone

A hot-spring inn of Hakone where you can immerse yourself in the history of the Tokaido Highway

Hot spring ryokan located along the old Hakone highway, facing the Sukumo River. The hospitality is filled with a sense of history and sophistication typical of Hakone, such as bathing in the open-air outdoor hot spring, experiencing the traditional Hakone marquetry work, and experiencing various local cultural experiences.

Recommended Guest room KAI Signature Rooms "Hakone Signature Rooms: Japanese/Western style rooms with a clear-flowing living room

The top-floor Japanese/Western-style room with a view of Mt. Yusaka in front of the large window and the Sukumo River below. A table by the window is a special seat that allows you to have this view all to yourself. In the room, you can see and use a variety of Hakone marquetry, such as tableware, trays, and othellos, and enjoy the charm of this traditional craft.

15:30 Sawa Teahouse

Take a break at the teahouse in the courtyard

Inspired by the teahouses where travelers used to stop for rest and relaxation along the Hakone Road, this is a place of healing and relaxation. Visitors can spend a relaxing time enjoying tea and dumplings while admiring the seasonal scenery.

17:30 KAI Cultural Discovery Room

KAI Cultural Discovery "Marquetry Zuku-iki Experience", where you can witness a rare moment.

At the newly renovated KAI Cultural Discovery, visitors can experience a part of the Hakone marquetry production process from the comfort of the museum. Visitors can witness the moment when wood is transformed into beautiful marquetry by actually pulling "zuku," a process in which "seed wood," a combination of parts with multiple patterns, is shaved into a thin layer using a canner.

19:30 Dining Area for Dinner

KAI Local Flavors "Meiji no Beef Hotpot Kaiseki", a specialty of Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone

Western cuisine has been popular in Hakone since early times, and the area has nurtured a gastronomic tradition of hospitality for travelers. The special Kaiseki course, which expresses the splendor of the area with sumptuous mountain and sea delicacies, is the "Meiji no Beef Hot Pot. The "Meiji no Beef Nabe" is a special dish that uses Kyoto's sakura miso (soybean paste) to create a miso-based dish, allowing guests to enjoy the finest flavors while reminiscing about the culinary culture of yesteryear.

21:00 Public hot spring

Outdoor hot spring with a view of clear stream and greenery, hot spring of high quality, and the three perfect features.

The Public hot spring is a spacious, half-open-air type with an open-air feeling thanks to its wall-to-wall openings. The baths are open to the public, and the cool mountain breezes make for an exceptional bathing experience. Hakone Yumoto hot spring is clear, colorless, and soft on the skin, making your skin smooth and smooth.

Day 2

08:00 Breakfast at Dining Area

Local breakfast with the wish of "Make your trip more energetic

At Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone, we offer a Japanese-style meal centering on seiro-mushi (steamed food cooked in a pot using fish paste), which is a local delicacy.

11:00 Depart from KAI Hakone

11:30 Marquetry Gallery Tsuyuki

Stylish "Hakone marquetry" brings master craftsmanship into your life

The gallery store is located along the Hayakawa River, just east of Hakone-Yumoto and just before Sagami Bay. The shop is run by "Roki Mokuzakusho," a company that has inherited the Hakone Yosegi-zaiku (marquetry) technique, and all of the marquetry tableware, interior accessories, and room key chains you will find at "Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone" are the work of this company. With the concept of "creating lifestyle culture," the company proposes an affluent lifestyle in which one can live with the skill of a master craftsman. The works are produced by the third and fourth generations of a father and son, and their style, which is traditional with a touch of modernity, is appealing. The shop is a place where you can enjoy looking around at the objets d'art on the walls and tables in the store, not to mention finding a favorite piece for daily use.

12:30 Kinro CAFE & GRILL

The Kinjiro Steak Bowl, a favorite among female customers

“Hakone-guchi Garage Hōtoku Hiroba” is located south of Odawara Castle, near the “Hakone-guchi” intersection on the Tōkaidō. At the entrance, you’ll find a display of a streetcar that once ran through the city and was beloved by locals; beyond that lies this popular new spot featuring a café, patisserie, and flower studio.
This airy café with large windows is a sister location to the café located within “Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine,” which enshrines Ninomiya Sontoku. At lunchtime, you can enjoy dishes such as grilled, fried, and steak preparations made with local fish—a true reflection of Odawara’s fishing port heritage.The “Kinjiro Donburi Steak,” featuring a thick-cut steak and plenty of vegetables atop a bed of brown rice mixed with pickles, is served with a special truffle-scented sauce. “Gojiru,” a modern take on a soup said to have been eaten by Sontoku himself, is also popular.

14:00 Odawara Castle

Odawara's greatest cultural heritage, where you can "See and Experience" the castle and history.

Located within the 110,000 m2 castle ruins park, the castle is famous as the residence of the Odawara Hojo clan, a feudal lord of the Warring States period. The castle was once abandoned, but the castle tower was reconstructed in 1960. Inside the five-story castle tower, a variety of materials are on display, including armor, swords, old documents, and arts and crafts. There are also a variety of Properties where visitors can enjoy history from various angles, such as the "Samurai Hall" at the Tokiwamokimon gate and the Odawara Castle History Observation Hall "NINJA Hall" built on the ruins of Ninomaru. The park is also known for its cherry blossoms, Fuji, irises, hydrangeas, and other flowers, and the elegant scenery of the castle and flowers attracts tourists from season to season.

15:30 Fishing Port Station TOTOCO Odawara

Find local souvenirs at Odawara Fishing Port, where seafood from Sagami Bay is gathered.

Located on the west side of Odawara Fishing Port, this spot overlooks the vast Sagami Bay. It is named “Totoko,” meaning “treasure trove of fish,” to evoke the image of the area’s abundant fishing grounds.The local products section on the first floor features approximately 1,600 items, including fresh and live fish shipped directly from Odawara Fishing Port, local agricultural produce, and Odawara-exclusive seafood delicacies and prepared foods—making it the perfect place to shop for souvenirs.In addition to classic souvenirs like dried fish and kamaboko (fish cakes), the shop also offers takeout sushi made with a wide variety of fresh toppings—perfect for when you get a little hungry during your drive.
The second and third floors feature a well-stocked dining area with seafood restaurants, curry shops, and specialty stores offering original seafood rice bowls. We also recommend stepping out onto the observation terrace between shopping and meals to take in the view of the open ocean and the lively atmosphere of the fishing port.