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Hello,
I was in Hakone as a child and have vague memories of: a steep railway? A very high cable car over smelly sulfur springs? a boat on a lake? Some nice hiking? Does anyone know what I am thinking of? I am travelling again to Japan now, years later, and I want to do those things again.
JTB gave me a list of some ryokans in Hakone. I want to choose the ryokan most convenient to all these activites, since our time in Hakone is limited. Does anyone have a specific location where I should be looking to stay, or any other advice? Much appreciated! Thank you, Robin
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Ryokans in Hakone
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Steep railway = Gora to So-Unzan
(You take cogwheel train Hakone-Yumoto to Gora)
Cable car = So-Unzan to Oowaku-dani (sulfur) to Togendai
Boat on a lake = Pirate ship on Lake Asino
Last time I was there, I stayed with my family at Hakone Hotel, not a ryokan, at Hakone-machi on the other side of the lake from Togendai. We loved it mainly because of a large wall to wall, ceiling to floor window with view over the lake and to Mt Fuji. Large western bathroom in the room but the public bath was rather small.
And kappa, correct me if I am wrong, but Hakone hotel is one of the few (maybe the only one) at the end of Lake Ashi where you can see Mt Fuji on a clear day, right? After your description of being able to see the fishing boats on the lake in the morning and those windows, I made reservations at Hakone Hotel, but ended up not going to Hakone this time. Also there is a very nice and very $$$ on the side of the lake (left side if you are standing on the pier at Hakone Hotel)that has some view of Fuji. I can dig that info out for you if you like. I have a some websites I've posted on here before that review several hotels and ryokans on and near Lake Ashi (where the boat and cable car are); I can get it to you later, give me a little time to dig it out.
Do a websearch for a map of Lake Ashi and the surrounding area of Hakone. I found several good ones that include the ropeway and boat ride routes and that would help you visualize it as you are looking at locations of hotel/ryokan accomodations.
that should be $$$ ryokan.
Hakone travel orientation:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/5206.html
Japan.com Hakone sention, which describes your stinky sulphur memory, open air museum, railway memory, boat on lake ashi, orientation map, etc.: http://www.japan.com/travl/cities/hakone.php
cablecar, boat, ropeway, etc.; http://www.frommers.com/destinations/hakone/2092010029.html
hakone's homepage: http://www.kankou.hakone.kanagawa.jp/home_e.html
JNTO's hakone page:
http://jnto.go.jp/eng/RTG/PTG/pdf/pg-307.pdf
hakone free pass described and link to offical site:
http://japan-guide.com/e/e2358_014.html
great pictures and trip story of many of your memories:
http://greggman.com/japan/hakone/hakone.htm
good maps- especially see the one on this page that says "time map" as it tells you how long it takes to tkae the ropeway, cable car, baot rides, etc, and is a good general orientation map. Go to "maps" on this page: http://www.hakone.palacehotel.co.jp/english/index.html
Once you've seen the maps and are oriented, here is info on ryokan/hotels around the lake area:
http://www.jtb.co.jp/japannow/PLANNING/planning16-2.html
The Ryugu Den ryokan is the nice one on shores of Lake Ashi w/great Fuji views that I was thinking of.
http://www.japanhotel.net/list_all.asp?area=hakone
other places w/good locations that I checked out:
http://www.odakyu-hotel.co.jp/yama-hotel/english/ (nice hotel, on the lake, w/public baths)
http://www.englishichinoyu.co.jp/index.html
I'll leave it to others to talk about other ryokan, as I was looking for western beds, although some of thos epages above have ryoakn's described too.
Now I really want to go back to hakone. The weather was not good the day we were supposed to go. Next time...
I think you'll want to purchase the Hakone Freepass which includes all these modes of transportation.