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Owakudani

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Owakudani

Fumaroles of Mt. Hakone volcanic activity emitting white smoke.

3.45 13

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Supervised by :  Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

After changing from the cable car to the ropeway at Hayamiyama Station on the main route of the Hakone tour, While enjoying an aerial walk for a while the scenery suddenly changes. The lush greenery disappears, and white plumes of smoke billow out from the crumbling, bare rock. This is Owakudani, an explosive crater created by the most recent volcanic activity in Hakone. The white gas spewed from the fumaroles all year round contains sulfur and has a distinctive smell.

If you get off at Owakudani Station on the ropeway, you can observe the fumes up close. The yellowish color of the rock surface is due to the crystallization of sulfur. Where the hot spring water gushes out, the famous "black eggs" are made. When soaked in acidic water at high temperatures, it becomes a boiled egg with a black shell. It is said that if you eat one, your life will be extended by seven years. There are several stores in the valley where you can buy them.

In the southeastern part of the area, called Jigokusawa, there is a stone chamber piled up with sulfur pores, where water is poured into the chamber and the hot spring water is supplied to Sengokuhara and Gora.

Highlights

  • Feel the powerful activity of the living earth close at hand.
  • It used to be the Shinto shrine of Hakone Gongen, and is a power spot with a black egg that prolongs life.
  • When volcanic activity becomes active, entry restrictions are imposed. Please check the official website for the latest information.
  • The sulfuric air from the fumaroles is toxic, so people with respiratory or heart problems should not enter the area. Pregnant women, people with allergic diseases, and the elderly also need to be careful. Also, when the sulfur concentration rises, all visitors are restricted.

Photos

  • White smoke billows from the mountainside. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

    White smoke billows from the mountainside. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

  • Take the boardwalk to get close to the fumaroles. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

    Take the boardwalk to get close to the fumaroles. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

  • A hot spring is created and supplied in a stone chamber with sulfur pores. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

    A hot spring is created and supplied in a stone chamber with sulfur pores. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

  • The famous black eggs can be bought at several stores. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

    The famous black eggs can be bought at several stores. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

  • Steaming area for making black eggs. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

    Steaming area for making black eggs. Photo courtesy of Tourism Division, Planning and Tourism Department, Hakone Town

Reviews

13

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • 黃瓊儀
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    Our one-day Mt. Fuji tour brought us to Owakudani in Hakone.

    We took the ropeway to Owakudani, and as it climbed, lush greenery came into view. Unfortunately, it started drizzling, so after getting off, we could only walk around in the rain. The air was filled with the smell of sulfur, and we briefly enjoyed the natural geothermal scenery.

    Next, we went to the shop to buy the famous black eggs. They say eating one adds 7 years to your life😱, so of course we had to eat more🤣

    The souvenir shops were fun to browse and shop at, with lots of regional limited-edition items. I went overboard again😅

  • wendy
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    How could you visit Hakone and miss Owakudani, a place filled with the “power of the earth”!

    This is Hakone's most iconic volcanic landscape. Along the way, you can see wisps of white smoke rising from the valley, and there's a faint smell of sulfur in the air, as if the earth itself were breathing. Owakudani is also said to be one of Hakone's famous power spots. Standing before the spectacular volcanic terrain, you really can feel a mysterious and awe-inspiring force. When the weather is clear, you can also see Mount Fuji in the distance, and the view is truly spectacular. You have to see it for yourself when you visit Hakone!

  • Chen ca
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    The ride over by cable car was really impressive, and the overall experience felt very complete. The only downside was that the smell was a bit hard to appreciate.

  • 沈子邯
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    As soon as I got off, that sulfur smell hit me right in the face—super intense.

    White steam was billowing everywhere. It honestly looked like the gates of hell opening.

  • 張立溪
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    There's a visitor center where you can take a break, plus restrooms and a souvenir shop. Super convenient.

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Details

Name in Japanese
大涌谷
Postal Code
250-0631
Address
Sengokuhara, Hakonemachi, Ashigarashimogun, Kanagawa
Telephone
460-84-5201
Closed
Open every day
Hours
February - November: 9:00 am - 4:20 pm
December - January: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Admission
Free
Directions
A short walk from Owakudani Station on the Hakone Ropeway
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa