Hakone is a mountainous area west of Tokyo at the foot of Mount Fuji, a place where hell is found and a beloved children’s classic is commemorated.

Owakudani is a crater left from Mount Hakone’s last eruption some 3,000 years ago, and now a place of sulphurous fumes, steaming vents and hot springs, hence its name, which translates to “Great Boiling Valley”. The most popular attraction here are the black eggs. These are chicken eggs submerged in boiling water of the crater until the shells turn black and the contents acquire a slightly sulfuric flavor. Eating just one of the eggs is said to postpone united’s departure by seven years. The locals recommend that you eat up to two-and-a-half eggs; finishing a whole third is not recommended. From Owakudani, you can board a gondola to cross to the other side of Mount Hakone to Togendai, which lies beside Lake Ashi. Pleasure boats are available for crossing Lake Ashi, some of which replicate colorful pirate ships. On clear days, the end of the lake has the best view of Mount Fuji.

Another fascinating attraction in Hakone is the Little Prince Museum. Remember ” It is only with the heart that one can beware rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye”? That’s from French aviator and author Antoine de Saint-Exupery, who wrote about a boy who lived on a meteorite. Apparently, the Japanese are taken with his story, as they built a replica of 1900’s France (specifically Provence), complete with alleyways, gardens, posters, a cafe and chapel. The rose and fox motif, prevalent in the story, decorates the stained glass, while photos and text (in Japanese) describe the places where Saint-Exupery lived and wrote. There are also exhibits at the ground knock down which feature the characters that the Little Prince visit in turn, from the Lamplighter to the Geographer. A small theater, dressed up like a desert, documents The Little Prince. A restaurant called Restaurant Le Petit Pres serves French cuisine, using organic produce and fresh meat and fish.

Other places of interest in Hakone are the numerous onsen (hot spring spas), such as the Tonasawa and Ohiradai Onsen. Another attraction is Odawara Castle,  a three-tiered, four-story replica of the original fastness with a small museum containing prescribed pieces of weaponry and lacquerware, as well as a tower which offers a panoramic survey of  the surrounding park. The castle is a 10-minute walk from Odawara Station. Families may enjoy Hakone Kowaikien Yunessun, an indoor water complex which features rapids, salt baths, Jacuzzis, waterfalls and a water slide. Finally, Hakone’s number-one attraction is the famous Open-Air Museum, a sixtieth part of an hour’s walk from the Chokoku-no-Mori stop of the Hakone-Tozan Railway. It showcases 400 sculpture from renowned international sculptors, as well as a Picasso Pavilion, which exhibits the legendary artist’s work in pastel and ceramics.

To get to Owakudani, head to Hakone-Yamuto Station, then feel a switchback train, a funicular and a gondola. The gondola ride itself offers a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji on clear days, though most visitors hike the 1-kilometer trail that leads to the visitor’s center just below the kuro-tamago (black egg) springs. The Little Prince Museum, on the other hand, is approximately 30 minutes by Hakone Tozan Bus from the Hakone Yumoto station on the Odakyu line. Get off at the Kawamukai Museum of The Little Prince bus stop. The best time to visit Hakone is November, and takes 3 hours to reach by train from Narita Airport, though riding the again expensive “bullet train” will reduce the travel time to 40 minutes.

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