Day 1

Odawara Nishi I.C

10:00 Lake Ashi

Hakone's premier scenic spot, filled with beautiful blue water

After heading southwest from the Odawara West Interchange and driving down the mountain road, you will arrive at Hakone's premier viewpoint, where the sparkling lake surface and mountain ranges are beautiful. Located within the caldera of the Hakone volcano, it is said to have been formed when sediment from an eruption near Owakudani about 3,100 years ago dammed the river. You can enjoy refreshing scenery from various angles by taking the "Hakone Komagatake Ropeway," which offers a panoramic view of the lake from the summit, or by boarding the "Hakone Sightseeing Cruise" for a one-hour tour of the lake. The lakeshore is a tourist destination dotted with attractions such as "Hakone Shrine" and the "Hakone Checkpoint," as well as rows of restaurants and souvenir shops.

11:00 Hakone Shrine

An ancient shrine located on the shores of Lake Ashi on Mount Hakone, a sacred site of ancient mountain worship

This famous shrine was founded in 757 (the first year of the Tenpyo-Hoji era) during the Nara period by the priest Mangan, who received a divine oracle from the Hakone Okami. It flourished as a shrine that garnered the devotion of the samurai class, including Minamoto no Yoritomo during the Kamakura period, and later the Hojo regents and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Today, many people visit every year to pray to the deity of good fortune for luck, warding off evil, fulfillment of wishes, and traffic safety.
One of the most popular spots at Hakone Shrine is the "Peace Torii," located down the stone steps from the main hall, past the "Yatate Sugi" (one of Kanagawa Prefecture's 100 Notable Trees). It is a perfect photo spot where you can take pictures with the bright red torii gate floating on Lake Ashi.

12:00 Ashinoko Terrace

An Italian restaurant serving exquisite wood-fired pizzas made with carefully selected ingredients

A three-minute drive from Hakone Shrine along the "Shrine Street" by the lake brings you to an Italian restaurant on the shores of Lake Ashi with an outstanding view. 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. They are committed to authentic flavors, importing ingredients like tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese directly from Italy. In addition to classics like the "Margherita," pizzas featuring local ingredients such as cherry salmon are also popular. The menu also features a rich selection of appetizers and pastas using plenty of "Hakone Seiroku Mishima vegetables" and seafood delivered from nearby fishing ports, as well as a full dessert menu, allowing you to enjoy a wonderful, resort-like lunchtime.

13:00 Hakone Old Tokaido Road

A walking trail with cedar-lined paths and cobblestones that evoke a sense of travel, perfect even for hiking beginners

After leaving "La Terrazza Ashinoko" and parking your car near the Motohakone intersection, your stroll begins. Head east along the Tokaido road, and after reaching the top of the gentle slope, turn right at the T-junction to see a wooden pedestrian bridge. The mountain path beyond that bridge is the old highway that continues all the way to Yumoto. This historic road, which was originally a muddy path over the Hakone pass, became much easier to walk on after the shogunate paved it with stone in 1680 (the 8th year of the Enpo era), allowing many people to travel back and forth. Today, the original stone paving from the shores of Lake Ashi to Hatajuku has been preserved and maintained, creating a course where you can enjoy a stroll while taking in a forest bath.
It takes about 22 minutes one way from Motohakone to the "Kyukaido Ishidatami" bus stop, and about 30 minutes one way from there to the "Amazake Chaya" teahouse. Once you have enjoyed the ancient road to the extent of your physical ability, head back to Motohakone. The stone path has many mossy areas and includes ups and downs, so it is recommended to enjoy it wearing sturdy, comfortable walking shoes.

14:00 Amazake Chaya

A mountain pass teahouse dating back to the Edo period, welcoming travelers with amazake and sweets

As you enjoy a pleasant 5-6 minute drive from Motohakone toward Yumoto along the Tokaido road, bathed in dappled sunlight, you will see a teahouse that has warmly welcomed travelers since long ago. The single-story building with its cedar-bark roof has the quintessential atmosphere of a mountain pass rest stop. Inside, there are over a dozen tables made from cross-sections of large katsura tree roots, as well as an irori hearth and tatami seating where you can take off your shoes and relax, allowing you to unwind in your preferred spot.
The 13th-generation owner welcomes guests with the same selection of items as in the past. The menu features flavors that will become memories of your Hakone journey, such as "Amazake," made only with rice malt and salt for a natural taste; the limited-quantity "Kurogoma Kinako Mochi," rice cakes generously coated on both sides with sesame and green soybean flour; and in the summer, the special "Amazake Milk Ice Candy."

15:00 Kai Hakone

A hot spring inn with a Hakone feel, where you can immerse yourself in the history of the Tokaido

A hot spring inn standing along the old Hakone highway, facing the Sukumo River. Awaits you is hospitality filled with the history and sophistication typical of Hakone, including bathing in an open-air semi-outdoor bath, interacting with the traditional craft of "Hakone Yosegi-zaiku" (marquetry), and experiencing various aspects of local culture.

Recommended Guest Room Local-style room "Hakone-Gokochi Room: Japanese-Western Style Room with a Clear Stream Living Area"

A Japanese-Western style room on the top floor, offering views of Mt. Yusaka directly in front of the large window and the Sukumo River below. The table seating by the window is a prime spot to enjoy this view all to yourself. The room is lined with various "Hakone Yosegi-zaiku" (marquetry) items such as tableware, trays, and Othello sets, allowing you to see, use, and experience the charm of this traditional craft firsthand.

15:30 Sawa Chaya

Take a relaxing break at the teahouse that has opened in the courtyard

A space for relaxation inspired by the teahouses where travelers on the Hakone road once stopped to seek rest. You can spend a relaxing moment gazing at the seasonal scenery while enjoying tea and dumplings.

17:30 Local Experience Room

Experience a rare moment with our local specialty, the 'Yosegi-zaiku Zukuhiki' craft experience

In the renewed local experience, you can try part of the Hakone Yosegi-zaiku production process without leaving the hotel. You will actually perform "zuku-hiki," the process of shaving a "tane-gi" (a block made by combining various patterned parts) thinly with a plane, and witness the moment the wood is transformed into beautiful marquetry.

19:30 Dinner at the restaurant

Kai Hakone's signature dish, the 'Meiji Beef Hot Pot Kaiseki'

Hakone is a place where Western cuisine has long been popular and gourmet food for travelers has flourished. The main dish of our special kaiseki course, which expresses this excellence through luxurious delicacies from the mountains and sea, is the "Meiji Beef Hot Pot." Prepared with Kyoto cherry miso, you can enjoy an exquisite taste while reflecting on the food culture of yesteryear.

21:00 Public Bath

A semi-open-air bath that offers the perfect trio: views of clear streams and greenery, and high-quality hot spring water

The large public bath is a spacious semi-open-air type with one wall completely open, providing a sense of openness. Bathing while feeling the cool breeze from the mountains in the silence where only the murmuring of the stream can be heard is exceptional. The colorless, transparent, and soft-textured Hakone Yumoto hot spring water leaves your skin feeling smooth after a soak.

Day 2

08:00 Breakfast at the dining area

Local breakfast prepared with the wish to "energize your travels"

At Kai Hakone, we offer a Japanese-style breakfast centered around steamed dishes using local fish paste products.

11:00 Depart from KAI Hakone

11:30 Yosegi Gallery Tsuyuki

Incorporate artisan craftsmanship into your daily life with stylish "Hakone Yosegi-zaiku" (marquetry)

Located along the Hayakawa River, just before reaching Sagami Bay heading east from Hakone Yumoto, is this gallery shop. It is operated by the "Tsuyuki Woodworking Studio," which carries on the techniques of "Hakone Yosegi-zaiku." All the marquetry tableware, interior accessories, and room key holders you encounter at "Kai Hakone" are their creations. Based on the concept of "creating a lifestyle culture," they propose a rich life lived alongside artisan craftsmanship. The pieces are created by the third and fourth-generation father and son, and their style, which feels a modern breath within tradition, is truly captivating. It is a space where you can not only search for your favorite everyday items but also enjoy simply looking around at the objects displayed on the walls and the tables in the shop.

12:30 Kinjiro CAFE & GRILL

The Kinjiro Steak Bowl, loved by female guests as well

Located south of Odawara Castle, near the Tokaido "Hakone-guchi" intersection, is "Hakone-guchi Garage Hotoku Hiroba." At the entrance, there is an exhibit of a streetcar that once ran through the city and was beloved by locals, followed by a popular new spot featuring a cafe, patisserie, and flower studio.
The cafe, with its large, open windows, is a sister store to the cafe located within "Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine," which is dedicated to Ninomiya Sontoku. During lunchtime, you can enjoy dishes such as grilled or fried local fish, as well as steak, all characteristic of the fishing town of Odawara. The "Kinjiro Steak Bowl," featuring a thick steak and plenty of vegetables served over a mix of brown rice and pickles, comes with a special truffle-scented sauce. The "Gojiru" (miso soup with crushed soybeans), a modern take on a dish recorded as having been eaten by Sontoku himself, is also popular.

14:00 Odawara Castle

Odawara's premier cultural heritage site where you can "see and experience" the castle and history

Located within an approximately 110,000-square-meter castle park, it is famous as the residence of the Odawara Hojo clan, a daimyo family of the Sengoku period. Although it was once abandoned, the castle keep was reconstructed in 1960. The Tokiwagi Gate, Akagane Gate, and others have also been rebuilt one after another, making it a valuable castle site that conveys the atmosphere of the past to the present day. Inside the five-story castle keep, various materials such as armor, swords, ancient documents, and arts and crafts are on display. There are plenty of facilities where you can enjoy history from multiple perspectives, such as the "SAMURAI Hall" at the Tokiwagi Gate and the "Odawara Castle History Museum NINJA Hall" built on the site of the second bailey. The park is also known as a place for flowers, including cherry blossoms, wisteria, Japanese irises, and hydrangeas, and the elegant scenery of the castle and flowers charms tourists throughout the seasons.

15:30 Fishing Port Station TOTOCO Odawara

Search for local souvenirs at Odawara Fishing Port, where the bounty of Sagami Bay gathers

Located on the west side of Odawara Fishing Port, this spot offers a sweeping view of the vast Sagami Bay. It is named "Totoko," a "treasure trove of fish," inspired by the rich fishing grounds. The local product sales corner on the first floor is perfect for souvenir hunting, featuring about 1,600 items including fresh and live fish delivered directly from Odawara Fishing Port, local agricultural products, and unique Odawara seafood delicacies and side dishes. In addition to standard souvenirs like dried fish and kamaboko (fish cake), there are also takeout options such as sushi topped with a wide variety of ingredients, making it convenient when you get a little hungry during your drive.
The second and third floors are packed with dining areas, ranging from seafood restaurants and curry shops to specialty stores for original seafood bowls. We also recommend stepping out onto the observation terrace between shopping and dining to enjoy the view of the open ocean and the lively fishing port.