Stay at the renewed Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone and enjoy the inn town culture in 2 days and 1 night trip|Recommended Model Course
Hakone, once the most difficult place for travelers on the Tokaido Highway, flourished with its inn towns and teahouse culture that offered hospitality and comfort to people. Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone, built along the old highway in such a historic location, will reopen in August 2025. A teahouse serving tea and Japanese sweets will be created in the courtyard, and all Guest rooms will be "Hakone Signature Rooms". A new program that allows guests to experience a part of the production process of Hakone marquetry, a traditional handicraft, has also been added.
We propose a 2-day/1-night travel plan that includes a stay at the newly renovated Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone and a stopover at a spot where you can experience the charm of Hakone roads of the past and present while enjoying local culture to the fullest.
Points of the model course
- Travel back in time to the Edo period on the stone pavements of the old highway
- Take home a souvenir of Hakone's famous Hakone marquetry work!
- Visit Odawara Castle to see the castle keep and museum.
Day 1
Odawara Nishi I.C.
(Arriving at the Hakone Komagatake ropeway stop on the shore of Lake Ashi, about 28 minutes by car)
10:00 Lake Ashi
Hakone's most scenic spot, filled with beautiful blue water.
Located at an elevation of 724 meters above sea level, the caldera lake has a circumference of about 19 kilometers. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji in the distance.
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.
Approx. 6 min. by car
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.
The 90 stone steps of the main approach are flanked by 600 to 800 year old cedars, creating a solemn atmosphere.
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.
- Hakone Shrine
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80-1 Moto-Hakone, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
0460-83-7123
On the 13th day of every month, Hakone Ashinoko Sightseeing Boat operates the "Kutouryuu Shrine Worship Boat" to take you to the main shrine of Kutouryuu Shrine by boat from Moto Hakone Port.
Approx. 3 min. by car
12:00 La Terrazza Ashinoko
Excellent Italian cuisine with wood-fired pizza made with the finest ingredients
The authentic taste of the food can be enjoyed with a view of Lake Ashinoko and the mountains outside the large glass windows.
From Hakone Shrine, drive about 3 minutes along the lakeside "Shrine Street" to the Italian restaurant with a great view in the "Ashinoko Terrace. A must-try here is the wide variety of pizzas baked in an Italian wood-fired oven. The dough made from Neapolitan flour has a crispy surface and a rich interior. Tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese are also imported from Italy to ensure the authentic taste. In addition to the standard Margherita, pizzas that make use of local ingredients such as cherry salmon are also popular. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of appetizers, pastas, and desserts using Hakone's western foothill Mishima vegetables and seafood from nearby fishing ports, making it a great place to enjoy a resort-style lunch.
- La Terrazza Lake Ashinoko
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61 Moto Hakone, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture MAP
Please refer to the official HP for business days and hours.
0460-83-1074
Approx. 1 min. by car
13:00 Hakone Old Highway
Cedar trees and cobblestone pavement invite travelers to enjoy a walking trail that even beginner hikers can enjoy
The pass that was known as a difficult part of the Tokaido Highway
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.
- Hakone old highway, stone pavement
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Near Hatajuku, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture - Near Sasahara-shinden, Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
0460-85-5700(Hakone Town Tourist Information Center)
Approx. 6 min. by car
14:00 Amazake Tea House
A teahouse that has been serving amazake (sweet sake) and other sweets to travelers since the Edo period
Amazake" 400 yen, "Kurogoma Kinako Mochi" 500 yen
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.
- Amazake Tea House
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395-28 Futagoyama, Hatajuku, Hakone-cho, Kanagawa MAP
7:00-17:30
No holidays
0460-83-6418
Approx. 12 minutes by car
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
Each dish at KAI Local Flavors is original, full of surprise and freshness. The presentation of the dishes, which boldly incorporate Hakone marquetry, is also impressive.
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.
Enjoy the seasonal scenery of expressive greenery, maple leaves in autumn, and snow in winter.
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
The "local breakfast" of the world, which incorporates ingredients and cooking methods that reflect the regional flavor of the area.
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
Approx. 14 minutes by car
11:30 Marquetry Gallery Tsuyuki
Stylish "Hakone marquetry" brings master craftsmanship into your life
From right to left: "Yosegi smartphone speaker" (22,000 yen), which can also be used as a charging stand; "mouse pad" (1,430 yen each).
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.
- Yosegi Gallery Tsuyuki
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2-2-15 Hayakawa, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa MAP
9:00-17:00
Sunday, Holidays, 2nd Saturday
0465-22-5995
Approx. 3 min. by car
12:30 Kinro CAFE & GRILL
Hot grilled local fish lunch loved by local guests
Grilled Mackerel from Odawara Fishing Port" served on an iron plate, 1,595 yen. Includes salad, gojiru (soup stock), rice or bread
Hakone-guchi Garage Houtoku Plaza is located south of Odawara Castle, near the Hakone-guchi intersection on the Tokaido Highway. At the entrance is a display of streetcars that once ran through the city, and beyond that is a popular new spot with a café, patisserie, and flower studio.
The café, with its large windows, is a sister store of the café in Houtoku Ninomiya Shrine, which is dedicated to Prince Ninomiya. At lunchtime, you can enjoy grilled and fried local fish, steaks, and other dishes that are typical of Odawara, a fishing port town. The "Grilled Mackerel from Odawara Fishing Port," a portion of mackerel (subject to change according to size), is grilled with two special sauces: anchovy and shiso leaf. It also comes with "Kure-jiru", a modernized version of the soup based on a record of a meal eaten by O-Sonori himself.
- Kinjirou CAFE & GRILL
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2-1-60 Minami-cho, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa MAP
10:00-17:00 ([Lunch] 11:00-15:00 [Cafe] 14:00-17:00)
Closed on weekends and holidays
0465-23-2881
Check the website for hours of operation and other details.
Approx. 3 min. by car
14:00 Odawara Castle
Odawara's greatest cultural heritage, where you can "See and Experience" the castle and history.
From the observation deck on the top floor at an elevation of approximately 60 meters, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Odawara and Sagami Bay.
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.
- Odawara Castle
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6-1 Jonouchi, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa MAP
9:00-17:00 (Entrance and admission: ~16:30)
December 31 and January 1 (the castle keep is also closed on the second Wednesday of December)
(Keep) Adults 510 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students 200 yen, (Tokiwamokimon Samurai Pavilion) Adults 200 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students 60 yen, (NINJA Pavilion) Adults 310 yen, Children 100 yen (Tenshukaku and Tokiwamokimon Samurai Pavilion 2-person ticket) Adults 610 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students 220 yen
0465-22-3818(Odawara Castle Keep)
For details on fees, hours, closures, etc., check the website.
About 7 minutes by car
15:30 Fishing Port Station TOTOCO Odawara
Find local souvenirs at Odawara Fishing Port, where seafood from Sagami Bay is gathered.
In addition to fresh fish, the restaurant offers a wide variety of original products, such as "Untan Soy Sauce" with the rich flavor and aroma of sea urchin and "Umasaba Gyoza" (delicious mackerel dumplings).
This spot is located on the west side of Odawara Fishing Port, where the vast Sagami Bay spreads out before your eyes. The first floor's local products sales corner offers approximately 1,700 items, including freshly landed fish, local agricultural products, and Odawara's unique delicacies and side dishes, making it the perfect place to look for souvenirs. In addition to dried fish, fish cakes, and other processed products, the store also offers take-out sushi with fresh ingredients, making it a convenient place to go if you get hungry during a drive.
There are also seafood restaurants and Italian restaurants on the second and third floors. We recommend going out to the terrace to enjoy the view of the ocean and the lively fishing port between shopping and dining.
- Fishing Port Station TOTOCO Odawara
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1-28, Hayakawa, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa MAP
1st floor 9:00-17:00 (2nd floor 10:00-, 3rd floor 10:59- both L.O. 16:00)
*Subject to change depending on the season.
No holidays
0465-20-6336
MAP



