A little summer trip to Hakone & Kawaguchiko, Life in Japan VLOG| museums, bakeries and Mt fuji 🗻

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Join for a 3-day long weekend trip from Tokyo to Hakone and Kawaguchiko, exploring museums, shrines, parks, and enjoying stunning views of Mt. Fuji.

2 plans · 10 places · 4 experiences

Plan · 5 places · Hakone, Japan

Hakone Day 1: Museums & Shrine

“Our first day in Hakone involved a gyoza lunch, exploring the Hakone Open-Air Museum, visiting the iconic Hakone Shrine and Peace Torii, and checking into our hotel.”

1
Gyouza Center
Restaurant · Hakone
4.1 (1,636)Closed · opens tomorrow 11:30 AM
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A gyoza restaurant in Hakone, serving both fried and soup gyoza sets. It's a great spot for lunch after arriving in Hakone.
Gyoza Center, 1300-537 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan
- Fried Gyoza and Soup Gyoza Set — A satisfying set featuring crispy fried gyoza and a comforting soup gyoza, perfect for a rainy day lunch.
2
Hakone Open-Air Museum
Sculpture museum · Hakone
4.5 (1,285)Closed · opens Tuesday 9 AM
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An outdoor sculpture museum in Hakone, featuring a vast collection of modern and contemporary art set against the backdrop of lush mountains. It's a unique experience, especially on a foggy day. Entry is 1600 yen for adults.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum, 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0493, Japan
- Symphonic Sculpture — The most popular artwork at the museum, this tower is entirely fitted with vibrant stained glass. You can climb a spiral staircase inside for a stunning visual experience.
Experience · 1 place
Footbath at Hakone Open-Air Museum
After walking around the museum, a footbath is a great idea to relax. The museum has a natural hot spring footbath where you can soak your feet and enjoy the surrounding art and nature. It's a perfect way to unwind, especially on a rainy day.
2
Hakone Open-Air Museum
Sculpture museum · Hakone
4.5 (1,285)Closed · opens Tuesday 9 AM
Creator's voice
An outdoor sculpture museum in Hakone, featuring a vast collection of modern and contemporary art set against the backdrop of lush mountains. It's a unique experience, especially on a foggy day. Entry is 1600 yen for adults.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum, 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0493, Japan
Symphonic Sculpture — The most popular artwork at the museum, this tower is entirely fitted with vibrant stained glass. You can climb a spiral staircase inside for a stunning visual experience.
3
Hakone Shrine
Shinto shrine · Hakone
4.4 (19,913)Closed
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A historic Shinto shrine located on the shores of Lake Ashi, famous for its iconic red torii gate standing in the water. It's a popular photo spot and offers beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Hakone Shrine, 80-1 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan
4
Hakone Peace Torii
Shinto shrine · Hakone
4.3 (3,776)Closed
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The famous red torii gate of Hakone Shrine, dramatically located in Lake Ashi. It's a must-visit for photos, especially when the weather clears up.
Heiwa-no-Torii (Hakone Shrine), 80-1 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan
Experience · 2 places
Visiting the Hakone Peace Torii
Despite the rainy and humid weather, we decided to visit the Hakone Shrine and its famous Peace Torii. It's a bit of a walk up the stairs to the main shrine, but the iconic red gate standing in Lake Ashi is worth it. Be prepared to line up for photos at the water's edge.
3
Hakone Shrine
Shinto shrine · Hakone
4.4 (19,913)Closed
Creator's voice
A historic Shinto shrine located on the shores of Lake Ashi, famous for its iconic red torii gate standing in the water. It's a popular photo spot and offers beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Hakone Shrine, 80-1 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan
4
Hakone Peace Torii
Shinto shrine · Hakone
4.3 (3,776)Closed
Creator's voice
The famous red torii gate of Hakone Shrine, dramatically located in Lake Ashi. It's a must-visit for photos, especially when the weather clears up.
Heiwa-no-Torii (Hakone Shrine), 80-1 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan
5
Hotel Yutowa
Hotel · Hakone
4.4 (25)
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A hotel in Hakone that offers comfortable rooms and a unique outdoor footbath area with a fireplace. They also have a mini library and a breakfast buffet.
Hakone Yutowa, 1300-27 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan
- Upgraded Twin Room — Our room was upgraded to a spacious twin room, offering comfortable beds and a clean, modern bathroom.
- Outdoor Footbath & Fireplace — The hotel features a beautiful outdoor footbath area with a cozy fireplace. It was too rainy to enjoy it at night, but I tried it in the morning. It's a peaceful spot to relax and listen to the morning birds.
- Free Ice Cream — The hotel offered free ice cream, a nice treat after a day of exploring.
- Conbini Dinner (Karaage Stick & Yebisu Beer) · ¥200-500 (karaage) — We opted for a convenient conbini dinner in our room, featuring a delicious karaage stick that paired perfectly with Yebisu Premium beer.
- Mini Library — The hotel had a cute mini library area, perfect for relaxing with a book.
- Breakfast Buffet — The hotel offered a breakfast buffet with a wide variety of options, including curry, salmon, scrambled eggs, and more. I tried a bit of everything!
Experience here
Morning Footbath at Hotel Yutowa
I woke up early to enjoy the outdoor footbath at 7:00 AM. It was so peaceful, with the morning sun and the sound of birds. The water was warm and relaxing, a perfect start to the day.

Plan · 5 places · Kawaguchiko, Japan

Kawaguchiko Day 2: Little Prince & Mt. Fuji Views

“Day two took us from Hakone to Kawaguchiko, where we stumbled upon the charming Little Prince Museum, enjoyed stunning Mt. Fuji views at Yamanakako and Oishi Parks, had a delightful bakery lunch, and checked into our Kawaguchiko hotel.”

6
Little Prince Museum
Museum · Hakone
4.1
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A charming museum dedicated to 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, designed to resemble a small French town. It features beautiful gardens, detailed exhibits, and a big part of the museum is dedicated to the author. It's a delightful unexpected stop.
Little Prince Museum, 909 Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0631, Japan
- French Town Scenery — The entire museum is designed to look like a little French town, complete with charming buildings and gardens, making you feel like you've stepped out of Japan.
- The Rose — A beautiful red rose displayed in a glass case, symbolizing the iconic rose from 'The Little Prince' story.
- Author's Life Exhibit — A significant portion of the museum is dedicated to the life and works of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of 'The Little Prince', featuring detailed dioramas and displays.
7
Yamanakako Park
Park · Yamanakako
3.9Closed · opens tomorrow 8:30 AM
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A beautiful park near Lake Yamanaka, offering stunning views of Mt. Fuji and seasonal flower fields. It's a great spot for a pit stop and enjoying nature.
Yamanakako Hana no Miyako Park, 1650 Yamanaka, Yamanakako, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0501, Japan
- Mt. Fuji & Cosmos Flower Field — The park boasts seasonal flower fields, and we were lucky to visit during cosmos season, offering a picturesque view of Mt. Fuji framed by colorful cosmos flowers.
- Blueberry & Vanilla Soft Serve — A delicious blueberry and vanilla swirl soft-serve ice cream, perfect for a sunny afternoon break. It tasted so good!
8
Oishi Park
Playground · Fujikawaguchiko
4.5Closed
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A scenic park located on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchiko, renowned for its 'Flower Road' and panoramic views of Mt. Fuji. It's considered one of the best spots to view Mt. Fuji.
Japan, 〒401-0305 Yamanashi, Minamitsuru District, Fujikawaguchiko, Oishi, 2585-85 Oishi Park, ２５２５番地の１１先
- Mt. Fuji View — This park offers the best view of Mt. Fuji, especially on a clear day. The weather was perfect, providing an unobstructed panoramic view of the majestic mountain.
- Pink Cosmos Flowers — Beautiful pink cosmos flowers blooming in the park, adding a vibrant touch to the landscape with Mt. Fuji in the background.
- Orange Cosmos Flowers — Vibrant orange cosmos flowers also adorned the park, creating a colorful display.
9
Lake Bake
Bakery · Fujikawaguchiko
4.2Open · until 4 PM
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A cute bakery cafe with a stunning view of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko. It's a popular spot, so expect a line, but the view from the outdoor seating is absolutely worth it. They offer a variety of breads, jams, and drinks.
Lake Bake Cafe, 2585-85 Oishi, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0305, Japan
- Olive Bread & Pumpkin Scone — We enjoyed a delicious olive bread and a pumpkin scone, along with iced coffee, while sitting outside and enjoying the cool breeze and the incredible view of Mt. Fuji.
- Oyster Houtou Noodles — Kawaguchiko is famous for its houtou noodles, and I chose the oyster houtou. It's a hearty and flavorful dish, perfect for lunch.
10
Hotel Kawaguchiko
Hotel · Fujikawaguchiko
4.1
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A hotel in Kawaguchiko that offers traditional Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats and futons, and some rooms provide a beautiful river view. It also features an onsen with a view of Mt. Fuji.
Kawaguchiko Hotel, 200 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0301, Japan
- River View Room — Our room was upgraded to a river view, offering a beautiful vista, especially in the morning. The room was traditional Japanese style with tatami mats.
- Late Night Snacks & Drinks — We enjoyed some late-night snacks and drinks in our room, including milk chocolate-covered strawberries and Suntory Highball.
- Yogurt, Granola & Nuts Breakfast — For breakfast, I made a yogurt granola mix with nuts and enjoyed it with coffee, all while taking in the beautiful morning view from our room.
- Drip Coffee in Lobby — I discovered there was drip coffee available in the lobby, so I grabbed a second cup before 9 AM to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and view.
Experience here
Onsen with Mt. Fuji View
I woke up early at 6:30 AM to enjoy the onsen. It had an amazing view of Mt. Fuji, which was perfectly clear in the morning light. It was a truly relaxing and picturesque experience.