Your Travel Story in Hakone!
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CONTENTS
One of the best and hottest travel spots near Tokyo - Hakone
Maybe you have already known that Hakone is one of the most popular hot spring (onsen) area in Japan, of course we will take you to our favorite hot spring, Kowakien YUNESSUN, where you can relax yourself and enjoy the special themed bath
Do you also know that it is a famous spot for other natural attractions too? Have you also heard about Lake Ashinoko where you can see the reflection of Mt. Fuji? How about the galleries and the curry dish in the famous hot spring area Yumoto?
Your travel story begins in Shinjuku, Tokyo
The easiest way to get to Hakone is taking the Odakyu's limited express train "Romancecar". In about 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will arrive in Hakone Yumoto station. In the picture above, you can see how amazing series VSE Type 50,000 is!
Inside the Odakyu Shinjuku station, you can find the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center where you can get the Romancecar tickets and the Haknoe Freepass!
For more information about the Romancecar, please go to
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/
More information about Hakone Freepass, please refer to:
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/
Hakone Yumoto Station
When you step out from the train, the sulfur smell from the hot spring welcomes you and tells you that you arrive in Hakone! If you visit Hakone in late June and July, you can get a chance to see the hydrangea flowers blossom in Hakone area too!
If you want to buy some local souvenirs for your friends and family, the shopping street in front of the station is a good place for you to go. You can find many shops selling local products here.
Check Point! First curry shop in Hakone – Hakone Curry Cocoro
It is said that you can add a few years to your life once you eat the curry at Cocoro! Probably the curry is made from the water in Hakone, so people believe that it is healthier and more special!
Cocoro Special Curry is highly recommended for you! You can find cauliflower, green pepper, potato, eggplant, pumpkin and other vegetables along with an half boiled egg and meat in this special curry.
Hakone Curry Cocoro
Homepage (Japanese): http://homepage3.nifty.com/hakonecurry/#_=_
At the Hakone Open-Air Museum, you can enjoy the nature and artwork at the same time! This is definitely a new experience for you! In the Sculpture Garden, outdoor artwork can be found.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum
Homepage: http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/
Check Point! Kuro Tamago (Black Eggs)
People believe that you can add seven years to your life span if you just eat one black egg!! Really? Be careful with the cholesterol though………
Due to the volcanic activity around Owakudani area, we highly suggest you to check out the homepage of the Hakone Ropeway before your travel.
How relaxing it is to walk in the woods! After getting through the woods, our next destination Onshi-Hakone-Koen Park is ahead!
Check Point! Onshi-Hakone-Koen Park and Hakone Shrine
In this famous park, you can see the Lake Ashinoko, Mt. Fuji, and the mountains that surround the park.
The Hakone Shrine is a Japanese shrine on the shores of Lake Ashinoko. You can find Torii (traditional Japanese gate) and some big cedar trees in Hakone Shrine too. Make your wish to them, maybe it will come true!!
Sengokuhara is selected as one of the best 50 beautiful spots in Kanagawa prefecture.
At the Sengokuhara Susuki Grassland, you can see different views here if you come in different seasons. Try to see the difference between spring and autumn!
Kowakien Miyamafurin was just opened on 19th March 2016. You can experience a fusion of the erotic Japanese style and the beauty of the modern architecture at the hotel. Different styles of hot springs can also be found in this new hotel. Simple breakfast with toast and drinks is included. A more decent breakfast can be provided with extra charges.
Kowakien Miyamafurin
Homepage: http://www.miyama-furin.com/en-gb/
Check Point! Japanese Style Tatami Room
Relax yourself after a long day in this simple Japanese style tatami room.
Check Point! Japanese Style Garden
Japanese style garden can be found inside the hotel. How about putting on the Yukata and enjoy the hot spring now!
Check Point! Luxurious Outdoor Hot Spring
With the warmness in the hot spring and the cool breeze from the woods, you will have a very special hot spring experience!
Hot spring operation time: 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 24:00
For those hot springs lovers, if you are looking for somewhere that you can try different types of hot springs at one stop, you cannot miss Kowakien YUNESSUN!
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
Address: 1297 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Kanagawa Prefecture
Tel: 0460-82-4126
Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 (Swimming Wear Area)
11:00 – 20:00 (Hot Springs in Forest Area)
Fares
YUNESSUN (Swimming Wear Area): Adults 2,900 yen, Children 1,600 yen
Hot Springs in Forest Area: Adults 1,900 yen, Children 1,200 yen
For both areas: Adults 4,100 yen, Children 2,100 yen
Homepage: http://www.yunessun.com/enjoy/list.html
Check Point! Start The Water Fun in YUNESSUN from RODEO MOUNTAIN!
Are you dare to get on this water slide? It looks so cool!
Check Point! Other Interesting Spots
Next to the water slide, you can find this mysterious cave. The Rosetta stone is actually from Iwata prefecture, and it is said that it has been sleeping in nature for approximately 200 millions years!! People say that you can get good luck if you touch the stone!
Special Event For The Celebration Of The 15-year Anniversary Of Yunessun
As a special event, honey themed hot spring is provided for a limited time only (30 June to 12 July 2016)! It is especially good for moisturizing your skin. What's next? It's the famous Japanese ice cream bar "Garigari Kun" theme!!
Homepage (Japanese): http://www.yunessun.com/event/honey2016/
GariGari Kun
In Japan, almost nobody doesn't know about GariGari Kun. This ice cream bar is loved by kids and adults for all time. This summer, a GariGari Kun themed hot spring is coming to YUNESSUN! The GariGari Kun themed hot spring will be provided for a limited time only. Don't miss the chance to get into this soda flavor themed hot spring this summer!
GariGari Kun Themed Hot Spring
Period: 16 July to 25 September 2016
Location: Green Terrace@YUNESSUN
Showtime: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00
Homepage: http://yunessun.com/event/garigari/
At "Mori No Yu", there is a special hot spring that the theme is changed every month. The theme was Japanese plum in June! How nice it is taking a bath in hot spring with the aroma of plum! In July, the theme is changed to Japanese Bamboo!! We suggest you to check with the staff first if you have allergies to specific things.
Check Point! Delicious Italian Cuisine
At Auntie Pasta, you can find delicious Italian food made with fresh vegetables. Also, they change the menu according to the special events they have at the hot spring!
Auntie Pasta
Location: 3F YUNESSUN <Opposite to Mio Mall>
Hours: 11:00 – 21:00 (L.O. 20:30)
Budget: 1,000 – 1,800 yen
Special Pizza for the Japanese Plum Themed Hot Spring Event
This special pizza is a fusion of Japanese style and Italian style, which is made with plum sauce, chicken, onion, and perilla.
Pizza: 1,540 yen + tax
They all look tasty and healthy, aren't they?
Left: Pizza with shrimp, salmon and avocado
Top right: Pasta with chicken and potato in garlic style
Bottom right: Risotto with scallops and asparagus
Your Travel Story In Japan
If you need to make a wonderful and memorable travel story in Japan. We highly recommend you to go to Hakone to make a special story about hot springs!
Wanna get more and share your Japanese stories with us? Please join us on Google+ !!
Details
NAME:Kowakien Miyamafurin
MAP
493-48 Kowakudani, Hakone, Kanagawa
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Hokkaido (北海道) is the northernmost of the four main islands that make up Japan. The area is famous for Sapporo Beer, plus brewing and distilling in general, along with fantastic snow festivals and breathtaking national parks. Foodies should look for Hokkaido's famous potatoes, cantaloupe, dairy products, soup curry, and miso ramen!
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Niki, in south-west Hokkaido, is about 30 minutes from Otaru. The small town is rich with natural resources, fresh water, and clean air, making it a thriving center for fruit farms. Cherries, tomatoes, and grapes are all cultivated in the area, and thanks to a growing local wine industry, it's quickly becoming a food and wine hotspot. Together with the neighboring town of Yoichi, it's a noted area for wine tourism.
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Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).
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Sapporo, in the south-western part of Hokkaido, is the prefecture's political and economic capital. The local New Chitose Airport see arrivals from major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, alongside international flights. Every February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is held in Odori Park―one of the biggest events in Hokkaido. It's also a hotspot for great food, known as a culinary treasure chest, and Sapporo is a destination for ramen, grilled mutton, soup curry, and of course Hokkaido's beloved seafood.
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Consisting of six prefectures, the Tohoku Region (東北地方) is up in the northeastern part of Japan's main island. It's the source of plenty of the nation's agriculture (which means great food), and packed with beautiful scenery. Explore the region's stunning mountains, lakes, and hot springs!
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Fukushima Prefecture sits at the southern tip of Japan's northern Tohoku region, and is divided into three parts with their own different charms: the Coastal Area (Hama-dori), the Central Area (Naka-dori), and the Aizu Area. There's Aizu-Wakamatsu with its Edo-era history and medieval castles, Oze National Park, Kitakata ramen, and Bandai Ski Resort (with its famous powder snow). Fukushima is a beautiful place to enjoy the vivid colors and sightseeing of Japan's beloved four seasons.
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Yamagata Prefecture is up against the Sea of Japan, in the southern part of the Tohoku region, and it's especially popular in winter, when travelers soak in the onsen (hot springs) and ski down snowy slopes. International skiiers are especially fond of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and Gassan Ski Resort, and in recent years visitors have been drawn to the area to see the mystical sight of local frost-covered trees. Some destinations are popular regardless of the season, like Risshakuji Temple, AKA Yamadera, Ginzan Onsen's nostalgic old-fashioned streets, and Zao's Okama Lake, all great for taking pictures. Yamagata is also the place to try Yonezawa beef, one of the top 3 varieties of wagyu beef.
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Gunma Prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, and in addition to the area's popular natural attractions like Oze Marshland and Fukiware Falls, Gunma also has a number of popular hot springs (Kusatsu, Ikaho, Minakami, Shima)―it's even called an Onsen Kingdom. The prefecture is popular with history buffs and train lovers, thanks to spots like world heritage site Tomioka Silk Mill, the historic Megane-bashi Bridge, and the Watarase Keikoku Sightseeing Railway.
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Tokyo (東京) is Japan's busy capital, and the most populous metropolitan area in the world. While the city as a whole is quite modern, crowded with skyscrapers and bustling crowds, Tokyo also holds onto its traditional side in places like the Imperial Palace and Asakusa neighborhood. It's one of the world's top cities when it comes to culture, the arts, fashion, games, high-tech industries, transportation, and more.
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The Chubu Region (中部地方) is located right in the center of Japan's main island, and consists of 9 prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. It's primarily famous for its mountains, as the region contains both Mt. Fuji and the Japanese Alps. The ski resorts in Niigata and Nagano also draw visitors from around the world, making it a popular winter destination.
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Nagano Prefecture's popularity starts with a wealth of historic treasures, like Matsumoto Castle, Zenkoji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine, but the highlight might just be the prefecture's natural vistas surrounded by the "Japanese Alps." Nagano's fruit is famous, and there are plenty of places to pick it fresh, and the area is full of hot springs, including Jigokudani Monkey Park―where monkeys take baths as well! Thanks to the construction of the Hokuriku shinkansen line, Nagano is easily reachable from the Tokyo area, adding it to plenty of travel itineraries. And after the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, ski resorts like Hakuba and Shiga Kogen are known around the world.
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Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.
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Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.
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Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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KYOTO
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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NARA
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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