"Visiting the town, which is southwest of central Tokyo and about a 90-minute railway ride away, turned out to be my favorite part of the trip. Hakone is full of onsens, or natural hot springs, heated by geothermal activity happening beneath Japan. During my visit, I got to experience several types of onsens - and I still dream of sitting in their soothing waters."
"First, I tried a bucolic onsen overlooking the mountains, which were lush and green when I visited during the summer. Lounging in a naturally fed hot spring from the top of a mountain allowed me to slow down, relax, and appreciate the beauty of Japan outside of its big cities."
"Although I didn't stay long, it was eye-opening to see how this tradition, so different than my own, quickly helped me feel more comfortable in my own skin. This is something I would not have experienced if I had not gone to Hakone."
A family trip to Japan included visits to Tokyo and Kyoto through an organized tour, but the standout destination was Hakone, a quaint mountain town located 90 minutes from central Tokyo. The town features numerous onsens, or natural hot springs heated by geothermal activity. Visitors can experience various types of onsens, including mountain-view hot springs surrounded by lush greenery and traditional gender-segregated bathing facilities. These experiences provided opportunities for relaxation and cultural immersion. The Hakone Open-Air Museum was also highlighted as an incredible attraction. The visit to Hakone demonstrated the value of exploring smaller Japanese towns beyond major tourist destinations.
Read at Business Insider
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]