Hakone

Hakone’s architecture is a dialogue between past and present. Traditional ryokans, with their slatted wooden facades and understated interiors, invite visitors to slow down and embrace simplicity. Meanwhile, the town’s museums, including the renowned Hakone Open-Air Museum, create a striking contrast. Here, modern art installations find harmony amidst the rolling hills, their bold forms softened by the surrounding greenery.

Culturally, Hakone is a tapestry woven from Japan’s artistic and spiritual traditions. At Lake Ashi, the vermillion torii gate of Hakone Shrine stands sentinel, its reflection shimmering in the water as a testament to centuries of worship. Festivals, such as the Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu, revive the grandeur of feudal processions, bringing history to life in vivid color and sound.

Hakone is a place where each element—whether crafted by human hands or shaped by the earth itself—feels intentional. It is a space to pause, to reflect, and to connect with the rhythms of nature and culture. In Hakone, the boundaries between the ancient and the modern blur, leaving only the enduring impression of beauty and balance.