Eating, Drinking, and Enjoying Hot Springs & Saunas in Hakone at the Start of the Year – Hanawori, January 2025 【119】
January in Hakone
I spent the New Year holidays in Hakone, taking advantage of a 10-day vacation by combining it with paid leave.
I took a train from Shinjuku to Odawara and then a bus from Odawara Station to the hotel.
The hotel I stayed at was Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori.
Upon arrival at the hotel, I made a dinner reservation and immediately headed to the hot spring.
After the bath, I went to the dining area, where a luxurious buffet awaited.
The buffet had a wide variety of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, along with an extensive selection of drinks.
On the first night, I went to bed early to prepare for the next day.
Day 2
First thing in the morning, I headed to the ferry terminal.
Special early morning ferries operate for tourists who want to watch the Hakone Ekiden race from the opposite side of Lake Ashi.
After about 30 minutes, I arrived and headed to the starting point.
The area was already crowded with spectators.
After watching the start of the race up close, I quickly returned to the hotel for breakfast.
A dining area with a great view.
After breakfast, I first went to the driving range.
It operates unmanned in a scenic location.
It was a bit chilly with the wind that day.
After enjoying golf, I took a bus directly to the ropeway.
Owakudani
After returning to Togendai from Owakudani, I went straight back to the hotel.
After another hot spring bath, it was time for dinner.
I tried various dishes at every meal, but the pudding was the best.
Day 3
I took a morning bath, checked out, and took a bus to Gotemba.
I went shopping at the Premium Outlet before taking a bus back to Tokyo.
