Attractions: Hakone Checkpoint

You will start in Hakone Yumoto and follow the Hakone Hachiri, a Japan Heritage section of the old Tōkaidō highway. The route includes about 8 km of walking and some local-bus transfers between sites. As you move through the steep Hakone mountains like travellers of the Edo period, your guide will explain the historical background of this part of Japan. Along the way you’ll pass the Amasake Tea House and walk a cobbled path down to Lake Ashi, where you may see the lake, views of Mt Fuji from different angles (weather permitting), and the torii gate of Hakone Shrine. You will also visit the Yamanaka Castle Ruins and the Genbe River as part of the route. After lunch near the Hakone Checkpoint, the group will take a bus to bypass a temporarily closed section, then resume walking toward Mishima, finishing at Mishima Station. The experience combines historic roads, mountain scenery and riverside and lakeside views while tracing how people travelled in the 17th century.

Hakone is a well-known hot spring resort and a spot for Mount Fuji views near Tokyo. The experience includes visits to Lake Ashi and Owakudani Valley, where you’ll see varied scenery shaped by the area’s active volcano. Along the way, you’ll have chances to take in lakeside vistas and volcanic landscapes, with moments to pause and appreciate the natural contrasts that define Hakone. You may also choose to visit the Hakone Open Air Museum or to enjoy onsen hot spring bathing as part of your time there. Choosing the museum will give you an opportunity to spend time outdoors at a cultural site in Hakone. Opting for onsen bathing will allow you to experience the region’s hot spring tradition. Either choice will complement the views at Lake Ashi and Owakudani Valley, so you’ll leave with a clearer sense of why Hakone is both a volcanic landscape and a long‑standing hot spring destination.

You will hike along the old Tokaido highway from Hakone Yumoto towards Lake Ashi, walking on a mix of cobbled paths and forest trails. Part of the route runs off the beaten track, so you may find stretches of quiet woodland to yourself. This section of the Hachiri is noted for its well preserved cobbled path and more primitive forests. As you move through, you will pass the wood‑crafting village of Hatajuku. You will skip the steepest section of the trail by bus and arrive at a teahouse with a 400‑year history, where an energising serving of amasake will be offered. The walk continues to Lake Ashi, where, if you are lucky, you may be able to photograph Mt Fuji framed above the lake. The final stop is the Hakone checkpoint, where the significance of Hakone in Japan’s history will become clear. The tour ends there; from the checkpoint you can continue your journey by bus or by ferry (pirate ship) to your next destination.