Culinary Adventures in Hakone : What to Eat
Hakone is known for its hot springs ( Onsen ) and stunning scenic beauty of the surrounding mountains. However Hakone can also offer a lot in terms of foods, drink, and local specialities known as ’Meibetsu’ in Japan. We have created this page for all the foodie fans out there to give you some top recommendations on what you should try during your trip to Hakone. On this page you will find the following information :
— How to Spend 48 Hours in Japan’s Mountainous Region
— 20 Best Things to Do Around Hakone
— Where to Stay When Visiting Hakone
— Book With Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator
WHERE IS HAKONE?
Hakone is a popular ‘onsen’ (hot spring) area lying around 90km to the south-west of Tokyo. Known for its wide range of accommodation options – including lots of traditional guesthouses with their own hot springs – along with plenty of great restaurants, museums, galleries and other attractions, Hakone attracts lots of visitors given its close proximity to the capital. Part of the larger area of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, visitors to the area can often enjoy some of the best views of Mount Fuji to the west with the months of October and November being a particularly popular time of year given Hakone’s beautiful autumn colours. For information on how to get there, see our ‘How To Get To Hakone’ page.
WHAT TO EAT IN HAKONE
Hakone is home to a number of great dishes and snacks that will appeal to any foodie lover! Here, we have compiled a list of our top recommendations to try out so that you can make the most of your time in Hakone and feeling a deeper connection to the local food scene and culture.
1 / Onsen Manju
These sweet treats are made from fluffy steamed buns that are usually filled with either red or white sweet bean paste. They get their name due to the fact they are cooked using the geothermal heat from the natural volcanic energy that makes Hakone so popular and famous. We highly recommend trying freshly baked Onsen Manju! The warmth and pillowy bun, make this a sweet and comforting treat to enjoy. They are a highly popular souvenir for Japanese when visiting the Hakone area, so why not also pick up a box to either enjoy back at your hotel or to take home with you! You will find them in all shops around the Hakone area.
2 / Kuro Tamago ( Black Eggs )
Now this recommendation may be geared for those who are feeling more adventurous! If you like eggs, specifically hard boiled eggs then this popular snack may be something you want to try. Hailed by many as being a tasty yet novelty snack, you can have a lot of fun trying Hakone’s famous Kuro Tamago! Much like the Onsen Manju, these eggs are cooked using the geothermal volcanic energy that naturally powers Hakone! Plucked fresh from the sulphuric hot springs, the egg shell turns black due to the minerals in the water. You can buy these in many shops in Hakone, but we highly recommend trying them direct from the source at Owakudani! The famous volcanic valley where the eggs are cooked fresh! It is said that eating just one of these eggs will add seven years to your life! If you’re feeling brave, how many are you willing to eat? If sulphuric boiled eggs are not for you, then worry not! You can still enjoy the black egg novelty, but in the form of the beloved Onsen Manju!
3 / Owakudani Curry and Curry Bread
Owakudani Curry is a unique dish which is inspired by the volcanic activity of the region and the valley. The dish typically features very dark and rich curry, with some even being black coloured to mimic the Kuro Tamago! The black hue comes from ingredients such as squid ink or bamboo charcoal. The curry is really delicious, with its rich flavour and traditional Japanese curry taste. You can choose from a variety of versions including beef, pork, chicken, vegetable, cheese and even Kuro Tamago where an onsen egg is also served on top! You can also buy Curry Breads which is a highly popular snack across all of Japan, but coupled with the Owakudani curry it makes for one of the best you will find! We highly recommend popping into the restaurant at the top of Owakudani for your lunch break to try these mouth watering dishes.
4 / Kaiseki Meals
If you’re staying in Hakone, chances are that you have booked a traditional Ryokan or luxury hotel which will have the option of being served Kaiseki meals. Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese meal found across Japan that showcases the freshest and best local ingredients from the region you are staying in. The reason Kaiseki is so popular in Hakone is due to its many traditional ryokan and luxury onsen resorts which traditionally serve its guests these spectacular meals. Kaiseki are beautifully presented, and offer a slice of elegance to the guest. It is a well balanced meal with each course designed to carefully provide a mixture of flavours and textures. Expect to find fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, and local dishes such as Yuba (tofu skin) and fresh Wasabi. Guests can expect to enjoy an appetiser, sashimi, simmered dishes, grilled dishes, fried dishes, rice and dessert.
5 / Houtou and Soba Noodles
Hakone is famous for both its high quality Soba and Houtou (Hōtō) noodles! Soba, a buckwheat noodle is a great dish especially for those with gluten intolerances. Hakone is well known for the high quality hand made soba it produces. It can be enjoyed cold with spring onion sprinkled on top, and by dipping it into the accompanying sauce. Soba is most popular during the warmer months! Houtou noodles originate from Yamanashi prefecture nearby Mount Fuji. However the dish has also become a staple in Hakone due to it also sharing the common feature of being a mountainous region. Houtou is a hearty comfort food containing thick, flat noodles which are made from wheat flour. The dish is served in a miso based broth with a variety of vegetables such as pumpkin, carrots, mushrooms and potatoes. It is highly popular during the colder months, and makes for the perfect meal after spending time outside in the crisp mountain air.
HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN JAPAN’S MOUNTAINOUS REGION
The mountainous landscape of Hakone is home to some amazing scenery and attractions. Most famous as being an Onsen (Hot Spring) resort area, for its nature, and an abundance of Museums, you can have a well balanced stay of relaxation, culture and being active. Two days is a perfect amount of time to spend in Hakone, do some exploring and see most of what Hakone can offer. To help you navigate the tricky question of how you should spend your short time wisely in Hakone, we have an itinerary suitable for a 48 hour stay. Check out our ’Two Days in Hakone’ page for more information. We hope this page will give you the inspiration you need! Many of the places we have included in this itinerary will offer great views of Mount Fuji on clear and fair weather days, but if you want more information on where to see Mount Fuji in Hakone then check out our ’Where to See Mount Fuji in Hakone’ page.
20 BEST THINGS TO DO AROUND HAKONE
Readily accessible from Tokyo using the trains, Hakone offers visitors lots of reasons to visit. Most famously, Hakone is known of its numerous guesthouses including many ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses), many of which have their own hot springs and offer international visitors the chance to enjoy the total comfort and relaxation of Japanese service. A popular getaway destination for Tokyoites, Hakone is home to many excellent galleries, museums, onsen, restaurants and of course, known for its outstanding views of Mount Fuji. Check out our ‘20 Best Things to do in and Around Hakone’ page for inspiration and information for planning your Hakone trip!
If after reading this page you want to discover Hakone for yourself, then join our ’1 Day Trip : Mount Fuji and Hakone’ tour! Click on the tour card below for more information.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour : Mount Fuji and Hakone | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Shinjuku Bus Terminal |
| Adult Rate | ¥28,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥24,000 |
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING HAKONE
When booking your accommodation in Hakone, it’s important to do your research and choose a hotel or guesthouse in an area that suits your needs. Most international visitors will travel to and from Hakone by train, making the area around Hakone-Yumoto Station a convenient and popular choice with a good range of accommodation options. Outside the central town, Gora is another popular accommodation area accessible by car or using the Hakone Tozan Railway. Nearby Sengokuhara has a good range of hotels and restaurants however is harder to reach using public transport while the hotels of Ashinoko are distant from the main accommodation and dining areas. Our ‘Best Places to Stay in Hakone’ page has lots of information to help you choose the right for you including accommodation listings.
HOW TO GET TO HAKONE
Hakone-Yumoto Station is the gateway to the Hakone area and readily accessible using trains services from Tokyo and beyond. For information on how to get there, see our ‘How to Get to Hakone’ page.
BOOK WITH US! NAGANO’S NO.1 TOUR & CHARTER OPERATOR
Japan offers many, many reasons to visit. Operating all year round, we are Nagano’s No.1-rated tour and charter operator, offering a range of services including group tours, private tours and charters. We can arrange transport including a private vehicle and driver, to transport you to, from and between any destination in our service areas in Japan. If you want to plan a trip to travel to Hakone from Tokyo or Nagano, simply contact us to enquire about our charter services.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Japan and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Nagano and Japan.
Got a question about visiting Japan? Contact us and let’s get planning together!
