If you come to Hakone, you have to explore this atmospheric hot spring street! Stroll along the street and you'll find one hot spring inn, restaurant, and souvenir shop after another. You can eat, browse, and shop as you go, so there's never a dull moment. The hot springs are said to date back to the Nara period, and the area became even more prosperous during the Edo period thanks to the Tokaido Road. When I visited on a weekday, there were fewer tourists than I expected, which made it especially pleasant to explore. It's easy to get there by taking the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto Station. After exploring, soaking in a hot spring is such a treat!
Hakone-Yumoto Onsen Hot Spring Village | Review by wendy
Other Reviews by wendy
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Perry Road
Perry Road in Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a historic path with a stone-paved walkway running along the Hiraname River. Known as the route Commodore Perry marched along to reach Ryosenji Temple in 1854, it still preserves the atmosphere of the old port town, once said to welcome 3,000 ships, with buildings made of Izu stone, namako walls, and rows of willow trees.
When I visited Perry Road in Shimoda, Shizuoka, there were hardly any tourists on this weekday. The entire stone-paved path was so quiet that I couldn't help but slow down. This is the historic street where Commodore Perry once walked, lined with rustic Izu stone buildings and willow trees, and filled with a nostalgic Japanese atmosphere.
This is my favorite kind of travel—no rushing from place to place, no noisy crowds, just the breeze, flowing water, and old-town charm. As I walked along, I suddenly felt like I was filming a Japanese period drama. -
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Shimoda Park
With one sweep of the eye, take in the view of Shimoda’s streets and port from Shimoda Park. Tsutsuji azaleas bloom in the spring, hydrangeas blossom in early summer, and camellias reach full bloom in the winter.
When I came to Shimoda in Izu, I unexpectedly found a park where it’s easy to keep walking until you don’t want to leave.
Shimoda Park is a well-known spot for viewing hydrangeas. Unfortunately, I didn’t visit during hydrangea season, so I missed the colorful flowers covering the hillsides in June. But that was okay—the park was still very pleasant to stroll through!
As soon as you enter the park, towering trees create a canopy of greenery, and the air is fresh. As you slowly walk along the paths, you’ll come across art sculptures scattered here and there, like a treasure hunt in the forest.
After climbing a little to the observation deck, you’re greeted by a wide-open view of the Shimoda coastline. With the sea breeze blowing and the blue sky and ocean before me, I felt myself slow down completely.
This is one of my favorite parks. You don’t always have to rush around chasing popular attractions. Sometimes, quiet places like this where you can wander at your own pace are the most relaxing.
I recommend visiting in June and adding the Hydrangea Festival to your itinerary. Next time, I’m going to come back during hydrangea season too! -
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Kankakei (Ropeway)
Kankakei is a gorge in Kagawa Prefecture’s Shodo Island. It is located in the heart of Setonaikai National Park. The valley of Kankakei was formed over thousands of years as volcanic andesite and agglomerate were thrust upward via shifting of the earth’s mantle and eroded by rain and wind, creating a spectacular scene of sheer cliffs and rock formations.
If you come to Shodoshima, the Kankakei Ropeway is definitely worth riding! As the cable car slowly rises, the blue sky, sea, gorge, and forest gradually unfold before you. The view is incredibly expansive, so it’s no wonder this is considered one of Shodoshima’s most iconic sights.
The shop by the ropeway is also fun to browse, with all kinds of souvenirs and hot food. There are seats nearby where you can sit down and take your time eating. The most relaxing part was meeting an adorable cat leisurely sunbathing, like the little master of the mountain.
At the ticket counter, I also found a stamp booklet for the “Slowpoke’s Kagawa Journey.” I couldn’t resist picking one up and collecting the special stamps. It suddenly gave me a little mission during the trip, which was surprisingly fun.
But my favorite place was the Takanashi Observatory at the summit! Even during the changing of the seasons, the Seto Inland Sea was so vast that it instantly lifted my spirits. Feeling the mountain breeze while looking out at the ocean really made me think, “I’m so glad I came.” -
