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HAKONE
ATTRACTIONS
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Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than
100 kilometers from Tokyo. Famous for hot springs, outdoor
activities, natural beauty and the view of nearby Mt. Fuji,
Hakone is one of the most popular destinations among Japanese
and international tourists looking for a break from Tokyo. |
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Ashinoko Lake
Ashinoko or Lake Ashi was formed in the caldera of
Mt. Hakone after the volcano's last erruption 3000 years ago. Today,
the lake with
Mt.
Fuji in the background is the symbol of
Hakone.
Cruise boats, some of which look like pirate ships,
connect Motohakone at the one end of the long lake with hotels and
small towns located along the lake's shores and offer nice views of
the surrounding mountains |
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Owakudani
Owakudani is the area around a crater
created in the last eruption of Mt. Hakone 3000 years ago. Sulfurous
fumes, hot springs and hot rivers can be experienced on a walk in the
area. Eggs boiled in the hot springs are said to prolong one's life by
seven years and are readily available for sale. |
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Hakone Shrine
Hakone
Shrine stands at the foot of Mt. Komagatake along the shore of
Ashinoko. The shrine buildings are hidden in a dense forest, but are
well advertised by torii gates standing prominently in the lake and
the main street of Motohakone.
The Hakone Shrine Motomiya ("original Hakone Shrine") is located on
top of Mt. Komagatake which is accessible by ropeway, cablecar or on
foot. |
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Old Tokaido
Hakone used to be an important checkpoint
along the Tokaido, the highway which linked Edo (Tokyo) with Kyoto
during the Edo Period. A short, cedar lined passage of the old
Tokaido and a museum about the former checkpoint can be found in
Hakone Town at the shore of Ashinoko.
A longer passage of the old Tokaido with some original pavement can
be walked from Motohakone towards Hakone Yumoto. |
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Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji (Fuji-san) is with 3776 meters Japan's highest mountain. It
is not surprising that this almost perfectly shaped volcano has been
worshipped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among
poets,
painters and other
artists.
Mount Fuji is located in
Yamanashi and
Shizuoka
prefectures and can be seen from
Tokyo
and Yokohama on days with clear weather conditions (the air tends to
be clearest during the winter months). The
Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka closely passes by
Mount Fuji.
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Information Provided
by Japan National Tourism Office & Japan_Guide.com. |
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