2-day trip to Hakone 箱根, Japan | Sep 11, 2023 | stay at Hakone Kamon ♨️, Kaiseki & onsen experience
7:05am at Keikyū Airport Line Tenkubash Station Tenkubash to JR Yokohama Station (9 stops, 28 mins) arrive at 7:30am, switch to Tōkaidō Main Line at JR Yokohama Station breakfast — noodle at the train station 8:02am: JR Yokohama Station to Odawara Station (11 stops, 53 mins)
8:56am: stop at JR Odawara Station to buy Hakone Freepass heading to Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center Odawara Hakone Freepass, enjoy limitless travel on 8 modes of transportation, including the Hakone Tozan Train, Hakone Ropeway, and Hakone Sightseeing Cruise photo spot : )
Bought 2 days Pass (5,000 Yen). see how many rides we’ll take… heading to Hakone Tozan Railway Station platform follow this sign to find the right place to board 9:24am: Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto Station (4 stops, 14 mins) 9:40am arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station 9:50am: switch to Hakone Tozan Train at Hakone-Yumoto Station
10:30am: the Hakone Open-Air Museum 彫刻の森美術館 opened in 1969 Floating Sculpture (by Marta Pan) Sphere within a Sphere (by Arnaldo Pomodoro) Woods of Net Picasso Pavilion video recording is prohibited inside The Hakone Open-Air Museum Café 32 degrees outside – time for ice cream Symphonic Sculpture (by Gabriel Loire)
Reclining Figure: Arch Leg (by Henry Moore) The Weeper (by François-Xavier & Claude Lalanne) Chokokunomori Station 彫刻の森駅 Ajisai bridge 3:00pm: the hotel offers a free shuttle service for pick-up at the train station just a quick 5-minute ride from Hakone Yumoto Station to the hotel
Let’s check out the location of Hotel Kamon on Google Earth getting close to Hakone Kamon hotel, she’s waiting for us here it is The lobby in this boutique hotel is filled with various items and decorations Ladies have the option to select from a range of vibrant yukatas
Enjoy our welcome drink and selected our drawstring purses For the convenience of guests, sunscreen and umbrellas are provided No one wears shoes or slippers inside the hotel tatami mats in the elevators – a unique touch! here is 3rd floor
The hotel floors have tatami mats, so it’s super comfy to walk on, even in bare feet only 16 guest rooms Room 306 花咲 means Flowers blooming. Japanese-style room, 10 tatami mats and a horigotatsu sunken kotatsu These wooden lattice shoji screens exude elegance Dressing table
They provide yukata and socks here as well A wooden phone! 😮 Let’s take a look at the bathroom vanity Ceramic Drain cover spotless clean. seem nobody use it. people prefer go for hot spring bath instead Separate lavatory Complimentary bar… local beers and drinks hotel has its exclusive hot springs
What’s in here? candied walnuts, not too sweet hotel facilities and layout dinner time Hassun (前八寸), “little bit of e verything” in traditional Japanese Kaiseki course (懐石料理) Nimono (煮物) Sashimi Grilled fish. interesting presentation Red beans rice with gold foil The cups they use is quite nice Wagyu seikou
Steamed abalone with sake salmon roe rice Ginger vinegar jelly and fish Hojicha mousse and fresh fruits Every dish was incredibly tasty. completely stuffed need a walk after dinner seldom bumped into other hotel guests Time for a bath Heading to onsen Folks just wear socks
Blue noren curtains for men. Pink for women. Unlike most onsen, Kamon doesn’t switch the gender sides daily There are ten different baths for women Relax in the rest area and savor complimentary beverages Ten varied baths are available for male guests
Kamon has “free-flowing” water from its own source of water natural hot spring water with a mineral composition of Sodium/Calcium – Chloride/Sulfate super relax after onsen bath They’ve even got the futon ready for us Time to sleep. Good night 🙂 Good morning, going to enjoy the Hanamon’s breakfast
Homemade tofu and soy milk hot pot, infused with a delightful soybean taste this dish (5 balls) was chosen as #1 out of 1,000 inns and hotels at the Breakfast Festival “cheerful flower pattern” 2 different types of grilled fish no wonder they won – it’s super fresh, incredibly tasty, and healthy too!
The breakfast was incredibly yummy! one more thing… every dining experience deserves the perfect ending with dessert & coffee Thank you Kamon! 10:00am: Bye Bye! We’ll be back! 10:10am: bus#4 at Hakone-Yumoto Station 10:38 arrive at Amasake Tea House (甘酒茶屋) founded 400 years ago
Amazake (sweet rice wine) is made with a recipe that has remained unchanged since opening power mochi & amazake are very delicious after a break at the 400-Years old Tea House, commence the hike along the Hakone Old Road from here, 40 mins more to Motohakone 元箱根 12:07pm at the gateway to Hakone Shrine 箱根神社
Tamamura Toyoo Life Art Museum 12:25pm pirate ship from MotoHakone-ko to Togendai-ko Lake Ashi Heiwa no Torii 平和の鳥居 1:53pm Hakone Ropeway Togendai station 桃源台駅 Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Station 大涌谷駅 Owakudani 大涌谷 Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Volcanic Steam Vent Area Hakone Tozan Train — Ohiradai Station 大平台駅 まんじゅう屋・菜の花 Frozen fruit bar 籠屋清次郎
Fish cake 城下町ぷりん 箱根湯本店 pudding
** Feel free to enable [cc] subtitles or automatic translation while viewing this video.
Let me take you back to our epic Hakone adventure. We kicked it off at The Hakone Open-Air Museum, where holds collections of artworks by Picasso, Henry Moore, Taro Okamoto, Yasuo Mizui, Churyo Sato, Susumu Shingū, and many others, featuring over a thousand sculptures and works of art. After soaking up all that creative goodness, we stayed at Hakone Kamon for the ultimate chill vibes. Hot springs? Check. Kaiseki dinner? Double check. And waking up to a killer breakfast? You bet!
Next on the agenda was the Amasake Tea House for classic sweet treats & warm beverages, plus outdoor seating. Strolled along the Hakone Old Road, is a part of the Old Tokaido (the original road connecting Kyoto and Edo).
Once we conquered the old road like champs, we made a pit stop at the Hakone Shrine for some spiritual vibes and jaw-dropping scenery. And just when you think it couldn’t get any better, we were off to Owakudani. That geothermal valley was a hot spot in every sense – with volcanic wonders and those famous black eggs and ice cream.
Our Hakone escapade was the perfect blend of art, relaxation, tradition, hiking, spirituality, and nature’s wonders. What a journey of a lifetime it was! 🚀
*Useful links*
The Hakone Open-Air Museum 彫刻の森美術館
https://www.hakone-oam.or.jp
Hakone Kamon 箱根湯本 花紋
https://www.hakone-kamon.jp
⌛️ Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:19 Train route overview
00:41 Day 1
00:54 Breakfast at いろり庵きらく 横浜駅
01:26 Odawara Station 小田原駅
02:09 Hakone-Yumoto Station 箱根湯本駅
02:32 The Hakone Open-Air Museum 彫刻の森美術館
04:58 The route on the map (shuttle bus)
05:11 Ryokan from aerial view
05:59 Hakone Kamon 箱根 花紋
07:06 Room tour
09:52 Dinner at 花音
12:35 Hakone Kamon external view
13:42 Laby open-air bath
14:20 Man open-air bath
15:14 Day 2
15:25 Breakfast at 花音
16:48 Bye-bye Hakone Kamon
17:22 Amasake Tea House 箱根 甘酒茶屋
18:33 Hakone old road 箱根旧街道
19:27 Hakone Shrine 箱根神社
20:00 Motohakone Port 箱根海賊船
20:16 Togendai station (Hakone Ropeway)
20:27 Owakudani 大涌谷
22:37 Hakone-Yumoto Shopping Street
23:08 Credits
23:36 Thank you for watching