Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

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Fuji-Hakone-Izu Travel Guide

Travel Author

Stig Albeck

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City Introduction

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is an area of ​​1,227 square kilometers, located between the big cities of Tokyo and Nagoya. There is great variety in the nature and attractions of the national park, which spans such diverse areas as Mount Fuji/Fujisan (富士山), Fuji’s Five Lakes/Fuji-goko (富士五湖), the city of Hakone/Hakone-machi (箱根町) , Izu Peninsula/Izu-hantō (伊豆半島) and Izu Islands/Izu-shotō (伊豆諸島).

The national park’s areas and different climate and growth zones mean that in the park you can hike in mountains, sail on lakes, visit hot springs, experience beautiful coastlines and much more. Fuji-Hakone-Izu was established as a national park in 1936, making it one of Japan’s first four national parks. The park got its current name in 1950 when the Izu Islands became part of the park area.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu is the most visited of Japan’s national parks, which is partly due to the location close to Tokyo, Yokohama and Nagoya and partly to the easy access to a large part of the park’s top attractions, with Fuji and Fuji’s Five Lakes as the most popular places. You can thus get a good impression of the national park on a one-day trip from, for example, Tokyo, from where you can also see Fuji’s iconic peak in clear weather.

Top Attractions

Fujisan, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Fuji
富士山

Fuji is Japan’s highest mountain, and its peak reaches a height of 3,776 meters. Fuji is a classic stratovolcano, as evident by its cone-shaped summit, which last erupted from 1707 to 1708. It is also one of Japan’s three sacred mountains, with Haku (白山) and Tate (立山) being the others. The mountains are believed to have special powers, which comes from the animistic structure of Shintoism, where the religion is represented through spirits, life and souls in many places in nature, such as in rivers, trees and mountains.

The entire religious worship of Mount Fuji is referred to as Fuji faith/Fuji shinekō (富士保业). According to legend, it started in the year 27 BC, when Emperor Suinin equated the mountain with a deity and worshiped it to pacify anger in the form of eruptions. In 806, Emperor Heizei ordered the Shinto shrine Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha (富士山本宮浅間大社) to be built at the foot of the mountain. The shrine today covers the entire mountain top from the 8th station upwards.

Fuji is also important in Japanese Buddhism, especially in its mountain cult form, Shugendō (修験道), which sees climbing the mountain as an expression of its faith. In the 12th century, the Buddhist priest Matsudai Shonin built a temple to Sengen Dainichi, the Buddhist deity of the mountain, on the crater rim. The mountain is also worshiped by a number of different sects, the most prominent being the Shugendō-influenced Fuji-kō (富士講), founded in the 16th century.

Fuji is located in the contact zone between the Eurasian Plate, the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Plate, and the mountain is one of the stratovolcanoes in the Pacific’s so-called Ring of Fire. The volcano is classified as active with a low risk of eruption. Scientists believe that Fuji was formed in four distinct periods of volcanic activity: the first phases created an andesite core and a basalt layer, while the upper layers above the earth’s surface formed for, respectively. 100,000 years and 10,000 years ago.

The most common way to visit Fuji is with one of the popular day trips from Tokyo. On the trip, you will most likely come to Fuji’s 5th station, where you can enjoy nature at an altitude of approximately 2,400 meters. In clear weather, you can see up the mountainside to the top of the mountain from here, and on such a trip you generally get close enough to the mountain and Fuji’s mountain lakes to get a good impression of the nature around Fuji and to see the iconic mountain peak. The tour may also include boat trips and a cable car ride to a fine vantage point with panoramic views of Fuji and the surrounding countryside.

 

Hakone Ropeway, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Hakone Ropeway
箱根ロープウェイ

Hakone Ropeway is a cable car that connects the cities of Sōunzan (早雲山) and Tōgendai (桃源台) over a distance of approximately four kilometers. On the way from Sōunzan at an altitude of 757 meters to Tōgendai at an altitude of 741 meters, you pass Ōwakudani (大涌谷), which is 1,044 meters above sea level. The Hakone Ropeway leads at Tōgendai to the famous Lake Ashi/Ashinoko (芦ノ湖).

On the trip, there is one breathtaking view after another, and this also applies from the Ōwakudani station, where you change from one cable car to another. It makes for a nice stay in the heights on the way to Tōgendai. In clear weather, the sacred Mount Fuji dominates the horizon and can be seen from large parts of the cable car ride.

You can advantageously stay in Ōwakudani, where there are several things to see. The name Ōwakudani means “the great boiling valley” and it is very apt as the area is geologically active with sulfur seething and rising from underground. This is due to a historic volcanic eruption, the results of which can still be clearly seen and smelled. One can visit a geological museum on site, known for the black eggs that are boiled in the geological activity.

Other Attractions

Arakurayama Sengen Park, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Arakurayama Sengen Park
新倉山浅間公園

Arakurayama Sengen Park is a park located on Mount Arakura (新倉山), which is a sacred place with the shrine Sangoku Daiichisan Arakura Fuji Sengen (三國第一山新倉富士浅間神社). The park covers an area of ​​4.3 hectares, and the shrine’s torii and buildings can be seen from the entrance up the hillside, accessed by a long staircase through the landscape. The most famous and photographed of the buildings is the Chūrei-tō (忠霊塔) pagoda.

The pagoda is located immediately in front of the park’s viewing platform, which is one of the most famous and popular places to view the 3,776 meter high volcano Fujisan. Fujisan stands majestically in front of the platform, and the picture includes the top of the pagoda and the vast landscape around the town of Fujiyoshida (富士吉田市) at the foot of Arakurayama Sengen Park.

Arakurayama Sengen Park is also famous for the many Japanese cherry trees that grow here. There are more than 600 cherry trees, and they can be seen around the Chūrei-tō Pagoda, among other places. In the park there are also a lot of irises and other beautiful nature, and of course you can also visit the place’s sanctuary, which is in the middle of the wooded area.

 

Lake Ashi, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Lake Ashi
芦ノ湖

Lake Ashi is a crater lake located along the southwestern part of the volcano Hakone’s caldera. The lake is particularly scenic, and it is known for the fine view to the top of the stratovolcano Fujisan, which is the highest mountain in Japan. Lake Ashi is a popular place for sailing, and around the lake there are also well-visited hot springs and historical sites.

The area around Lake Ashi is also historically important, as the Tōkaidō road passed here. In the Edo period, Tōkaidō was the most important travel route between the shogun’s government city of Edo and the emperor’s residence, Kyoto. One of the places visited by shōguns, samurai and travelers over the centuries is the Shinto shrine of Hakone Jinja (箱根神社), picturesquely situated on the shores of the lake’s southeastern part.

At the same part of the lake, you can see remnants of the old Tōkaidō main road, visit several museums, see a number of shrines and enjoy a stay in an onsen. Both from here and from the northern part of Lake Ashi you can take a sailing trip with, for example, the lake’s famous pirate ships. The ships sail the lake in the setting, which replicates historic ships that plied Japanese waters. From the sailing trips, in clear weather you can enjoy the view of Mount Fuji.

Komagatake Ropeway
駒ヶ岳索道線

Komagatake Ropeway is a cable car that connects the shores of Lake Ashi/Ashinoko (芦ノ湖) with one of the nearby mountain peaks called Komagatake (駒ヶ岳). The mountain is a 1,356 meter high volcanic peak, and with the 1,800 meter long cable car ride you get close to the top. Komagatake is one of the peaks of Mount Hakoneyama (箱根山).

On the trip and from the top, you can enjoy a fantastic view of Lake Ashi/Ashinoko (芦ノ湖), the landscape around Hakone and of course the iconic Fujisan, which at 3,776 meters is Japan’s highest mountain. People have prayed to the mountain since ancient times, and from the top station of the Komagatake Ropeway you can walk a short distance to a Shinto shrine whose prayer hall was established in 1964.

 

Hakone Tozan Railway, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Hakone Tozan Railway
箱根登山鉄道線

Hakone Tozan Railway is a railway that connects Hakone-Yumoto Station/Hakone-Yumoto-eki (箱根湯本駅) with the mountain station Gōra Station/Gōra-eki (強羅駅). The railway is a popular way to get to Hakone and Lake Ashi/Ashinoko (芦ノ湖), and from Tokyo and Yokohama, for example, you can take the train to Odawara Station/Odawara-eki (小田原駅) and take the train to Hakone-Yumoto Station from there.

The railway runs through beautiful nature, and it is an experience in itself. The trains can rise up to 1 meter for every 12.5 meters of rails, and thereby the highest rise is 8%. In order to overcome particularly steep sections, train three stops instead of driving in the opposite direction further up. One turn is at Ohiradai Station/Ohiradai-eki (大平台駅), while the other two are between stations.

When you get to Gōra Station, you can go for a walk around town or continue on the Hakone Tozan Cable Car/Hakone Tozan Kēburukā (箱根登山クレールカー), which is a funicular between Gōra Station and Sōunzan Station (早雲山). From here you can take the Hakone Ropeway/Hakone Rōpuwei (箱根ロームウェイ) further. The Hakone Ropeway is a cable car ride that takes visitors over the area’s mountains to the shores of Lake Ashi.

Geolocation

In short

Arakurayama Sengen Park, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Arakurayama Sengen Park, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Overview of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is an area of ​​1,227 square kilometers, located between the big cities of Tokyo and Nagoya. There is great variety in the nature and attractions of the national park, which spans such diverse areas as Mount Fuji/Fujisan (富士山), Fuji’s Five Lakes/Fuji-goko (富士五湖), the city of Hakone/Hakone-machi (箱根町) , Izu Peninsula/Izu-hantō (伊豆半島) and Izu Islands/Izu-shotō (伊豆諸島).

The national park’s areas and different climate and growth zones mean that in the park you can hike in mountains, sail on lakes, visit hot springs, experience beautiful coastlines and much more. Fuji-Hakone-Izu was established as a national park in 1936, making it one of Japan’s first four national parks. The park got its current name in 1950 when the Izu Islands became part of the park area.

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Other Attractions

Arakurayama Sengen Park, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Arakurayama Sengen Park
新倉山浅間公園

Arakurayama Sengen Park is a park located on Mount Arakura (新倉山), which is a sacred place with the shrine Sangoku Daiichisan Arakura Fuji Sengen (三國第一山新倉富士浅間神社). The park covers an area of ​​4.3 hectares, and the shrine’s torii and buildings can be seen from the entrance up the hillside, accessed by a long staircase through the landscape. The most famous and photographed of the buildings is the Chūrei-tō (忠霊塔) pagoda.

The pagoda is located immediately in front of the park’s viewing platform, which is one of the most famous and popular places to view the 3,776 meter high volcano Fujisan. Fujisan stands majestically in front of the platform, and the picture includes the top of the pagoda and the vast landscape around the town of Fujiyoshida (富士吉田市) at the foot of Arakurayama Sengen Park.

Arakurayama Sengen Park is also famous for the many Japanese cherry trees that grow here. There are more than 600 cherry trees, and they can be seen around the Chūrei-tō Pagoda, among other places. In the park there are also a lot of irises and other beautiful nature, and of course you can also visit the place’s sanctuary, which is in the middle of the wooded area.

 

Lake Ashi, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Lake Ashi
芦ノ湖

Lake Ashi is a crater lake located along the southwestern part of the volcano Hakone’s caldera. The lake is particularly scenic, and it is known for the fine view to the top of the stratovolcano Fujisan, which is the highest mountain in Japan. Lake Ashi is a popular place for sailing, and around the lake there are also well-visited hot springs and historical sites.

The area around Lake Ashi is also historically important, as the Tōkaidō road passed here. In the Edo period, Tōkaidō was the most important travel route between the shogun’s government city of Edo and the emperor’s residence, Kyoto. One of the places visited by shōguns, samurai and travelers over the centuries is the Shinto shrine of Hakone Jinja (箱根神社), picturesquely situated on the shores of the lake’s southeastern part.

At the same part of the lake, you can see remnants of the old Tōkaidō main road, visit several museums, see a number of shrines and enjoy a stay in an onsen. Both from here and from the northern part of Lake Ashi you can take a sailing trip with, for example, the lake’s famous pirate ships. The ships sail the lake in the setting, which replicates historic ships that plied Japanese waters. From the sailing trips, in clear weather you can enjoy the view of Mount Fuji.

Komagatake Ropeway
駒ヶ岳索道線

Komagatake Ropeway is a cable car that connects the shores of Lake Ashi/Ashinoko (芦ノ湖) with one of the nearby mountain peaks called Komagatake (駒ヶ岳). The mountain is a 1,356 meter high volcanic peak, and with the 1,800 meter long cable car ride you get close to the top. Komagatake is one of the peaks of Mount Hakoneyama (箱根山).

On the trip and from the top, you can enjoy a fantastic view of Lake Ashi/Ashinoko (芦ノ湖), the landscape around Hakone and of course the iconic Fujisan, which at 3,776 meters is Japan’s highest mountain. People have prayed to the mountain since ancient times, and from the top station of the Komagatake Ropeway you can walk a short distance to a Shinto shrine whose prayer hall was established in 1964.

 

Hakone Tozan Railway, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

Hakone Tozan Railway
箱根登山鉄道線

Hakone Tozan Railway is a railway that connects Hakone-Yumoto Station/Hakone-Yumoto-eki (箱根湯本駅) with the mountain station Gōra Station/Gōra-eki (強羅駅). The railway is a popular way to get to Hakone and Lake Ashi/Ashinoko (芦ノ湖), and from Tokyo and Yokohama, for example, you can take the train to Odawara Station/Odawara-eki (小田原駅) and take the train to Hakone-Yumoto Station from there.

The railway runs through beautiful nature, and it is an experience in itself. The trains can rise up to 1 meter for every 12.5 meters of rails, and thereby the highest rise is 8%. In order to overcome particularly steep sections, train three stops instead of driving in the opposite direction further up. One turn is at Ohiradai Station/Ohiradai-eki (大平台駅), while the other two are between stations.

When you get to Gōra Station, you can go for a walk around town or continue on the Hakone Tozan Cable Car/Hakone Tozan Kēburukā (箱根登山クレールカー), which is a funicular between Gōra Station and Sōunzan Station (早雲山). From here you can take the Hakone Ropeway/Hakone Rōpuwei (箱根ロームウェイ) further. The Hakone Ropeway is a cable car ride that takes visitors over the area’s mountains to the shores of Lake Ashi.

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