Hakone, majestic moment waiting!

O-waku dani is an active volcanic zone. So, even now, on the mountain top sulfuric gas and steam are seen every here and there. Expecially, the sight from a ropeway pod is owesome! You can understand why this used to be called 'Hell Valley' about 100 years ago. Black egg, which is a boiled and steamed egg in hotspring water of this valley is a specialty of Hakone. You need to buy mountain train and ropeway tickets before you ride.

From the place where you get off from a ropeway pod, you can ride a cruise ship travelling around the Lake Ashi. The route connects three major sightseeing spots of Hakone area, so it is very useful for foreign travellers. You need to buy tickets for cruise.

This place was used as a police station in EDO period (from 1603 to 1868). The buildings were restored in 2007 as it was in the old days. Hakone is a steep mountain and the checkpoint was also known as one of the toughest places to pass through. The feudal government watched out for every important checkpoint in order to prevent serious crimes or rebellions by powerful local feudal governers. You can observe how this checkpoint functioned and know structures of the buildings.

The Shinto shrine was and is now worshipped by local people. On the New Year's Day, thousands of visitors staying in Hakone visit this shrine as their first visit to shrine. On the way to the shrine, you can drop at the old path of HAKONE, which reminds you of how hard the trail was for travellers in those days.