Hakone's Hot Springs
Created by nearby Mount Fuji’s volcanic activity, Hakone National Park is characterised by lush forests, shimmering lakes and over a dozen natural hot springs. You can bathe in these fascinating feats of nature while sipping tea, surrounded by dazzling volcanic views. This naturally heated water also sources the baths in many traditional ryokans, offering a more private bathing choice.
Owakudani
The Hakone Ropeway offers an incredible cable car experience, soaring over the bubbling hot springs and sulphurous fumes of the Owakudani volcanic valley. After a scenic ride – on which you may even catch glimpses of Mount Fuji - a short stroll from the station takes you past the fascinating heated pools and steam vents. The area is renowned for its unique black eggs, boiled in the sulphurous waters and said by locals to add seven years to your life span if eaten!
Japanese Culture
As well as staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan, your escape to Hakone guarantees an immersive and fascinating cultural experience. Located at the foot of Mount Hakone, Hakone Shrine is first recognised from its striking torii gates overlooking beautiful Lake Ashi, that lead through the thick forest to the main building. For a taste of traditional Japanese living, visit Amazake-chaya, a historic thatched teahouse that has been serving authentic amazake and mochi for over 360 years.
An Art Lover's Paradise
Hakone Open Air Museum is an incredible collection of 19th and 20th-century sculptures and art installations by renowned artists from Japan and beyond. The Picasso Pavilion features more than 300 of the famed painter’s masterpieces, while a number of Henry Moore’s abstract sculptures are also yours to peruse. Completed in 2017, the Enoura Observatory is just a short drive from Hakone in the coastal district of Odawara, affording panoramic views over the Bay of Sagami. A project from renowned photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto, the stunning venue is simultaneously a performance space, gallery, art installation and tea house.
London Heathrow to Tokyo Haneda International Airport and Narita International Airport with British Airways and Japan Air. 11 hours 40 minutes from London Heathrow to Tokyo.
Hakone can be accessed from by bullet train in around 30 minutes or by road in around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance.
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations ie, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.