Hakone

Where to shoot

• Lake Ashi — a caldera lake whose floating Hakone Shrine torii gate stands before Mount Fuji on clear days, finest at dawn.
• Owakudani — a sulfurous volcanic valley of steaming vents crossed by the Hakone Ropeway, with Fuji visible beyond.
• Hakone Open-Air Museum — an outdoor sculpture park set against forested hills, including a hall of Picasso works.
• Hakone Shrine — a lakeside Shinto shrine with a bold red torii standing in the water at the forest's edge.
• A ryokan evening and hot-spring bath
• Lake Ashi when visibility is clear
• The Hakone Open-Air Museum
• Mountain railways, cableways, and buses as part of the experience

When to go

Autumn (October–November) for fiery hillsides and clear Mount Fuji views, or summer for hydrangeas, though July weekends and holidays get crowded at the onsen.

What to eat

Black eggs (kuro-tamago) boiled in Owakudani's hot springs, and multi-course kaiseki meals served at ryokan inns.

Where to stay

Stay in a traditional ryokan around Gora or Hakone-Yumoto to access onsen baths and the sightseeing loop.