Hike Hakone Hachiri
Description
Hike a section of the ancient forest-clad Tokaido Highway that links Tokyo with former capitals Kyoto and Osaka. Experience Amazake Chaya, one of the few remaining of hundreds of teahouses that lined the old Tokaido, Cedar Avenue with towering 400 year-old Japanese cedar patrolling both sides of the trail, and stunning views of Mt Fuji (weather permitting) from Yamanaka Castle Ruins, and more. Hakone Hachiri has been declared a Japan Heritage Area. Allow our guide to immerse you in the history, culture, and natural heritage of this ancient route.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Mr Yamamoto is the thirteenth generation manager of Amasake Chaya Teahouse. Together with his family, including potential 14th generation managers son and daughter, their quaint little establishment serves thirsty Tokaido travellers with the sweet, warm, amasake their family has been serving for four centuries. Due to the lightweight construction of the teahouse, there have been many versions of the building over the centuries, on both sides of the road. The current structure was refurbished to traditional style in 2009 – the thatched roof doesn’t use a single nail. Be sure also to check out their small museum with original feudal period Tokaido artifacts.
Lunch by Lake Ashi, a 700m deep crater lake with red tori gates in the water
Cedar Avenue Hakone. Four centuries ago exactly, the second Edo Period Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, ordered the planting of sugi (Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) along both sides of Tokaido to shade travellers as they made their way around the shoreline of Lake Ashinoko towards Hakone Checkpoint. 420 of these magnificant specimens remain, towering straight, fat, and proud into the Hakone sky along Cedar Avenue.
Tokaido had checkpoints at various intervals to ensure that travellers were bonefide and to protect the Shogun in the capital, Edo. Hakone was the closest checkpoint to Edo, so was one of the most severely policed. Perched between the waters of Lake Ashinoko and the steep mountainous terrain of Hakone, Tokaido travellers had no alternative but to submit to inspection.
Back to 1590. Hojo’s western boundary is protected by Yamanaka Castle, literally meaning “castle in the mddle of the mountain”. The site is true to its name, but despite impressive earthworks to create defences accentuating the site’s naturally steep terrain, Yamanaka Castle is quick to fall to the might of the force from the west on its way along Tokaido eastwards to surround Odawara. A visit to the castle ruins today is rewarded with spectacular views from its highest point of Mt Fuji, weather permitting.
Hike a 12km stretch of the Old Tokaido Foot Highway between Odawara and Mishima now preserved as a Japan Heritage Area
Walk along Genbegawa World Water Heritage Area
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(52)
This hike was amazing and Tony was an incredible guide. Tony is knowledgeable, energetic and enthusiastic in the most friendly way (my daughters described him as “good vibes”). Tony taught us the cultural and ecological history of our hike and the shinto shrines, along with fun things such as how to read Japanese directional signs. We picked him solely based on over 500, 5 star reviews, and the reviews were right! The hike itself is beginner level, but bring good shoes (gym shoes work unless it is raining). My daughter didn’t bring good shoes, and Tony showed her how to place her foot to turn the stones into support instead of hazards, saving our hike. Highly recommended as a day trip from Tokyo. After five days of eating, shopping and site seeing in Tokyo, my 21-27 year old children said this was the best thing they did so far.
We had an amazing time, day trip from Tokyo, highlighted by Mount Fuji view and learning so much about the history of Japan
Tony was an awesome guide and we highly recommend this excursion in Hakone. He was very knowledgeable and we learned so much. The tour was the perfect amount of time and interesting to four teenage boys as well. It was a very authentic Japanese experience, especially visiting the tea house and Tony was very personable.
Awesome hike with Tony as our guide. Very challenging but experience was unforgettable. Tony was such fun to be with to talk the history and culture of the trail from Tokyo to Kyoto and our 15km section out from Hakone was breathtaking. So if you like a challenge, this is the tour for you , though i am told there were easier options with Tony also. 💗🩷🌸cheers, Liz
We had a great day exploring the historic path from Hakone. Tony was an excellent guide. He told so many interesting stories about the history of the road. We are now all inspired and plan to rewatch shogun to relive the history. Thanks Tony!
An amazing hike and beautiful part of Japan! Tony’s personalised and local experience (a fluent Japanese translation) made the experience with 13th generation tea house owner Yamamoto felt very special. Tony was very considerate of the whole family’s capabilities and the 12km hike went very smoothly even in cold, wintry, windy but dry conditions. The trees and bamboo along the old Tokaido certainly lived up to its reputation of providing shelter to travelers. A wonderful experience to end our trip to Japan and would highly recommend Tony and his small group tour to anyone who wants to get out in the open and away from the crowds! 5⭐️++!! Thanks again for sharing this small part of Japan with us!
An amazing hike and beautiful part of Japan! Tony’s personalised and local experience (a fluent Japanese translation) made the experience with 13th generation tea house owner Yamamoto felt very special. Tony was very considerate of the whole family’s capabilities and the 12km hike went very smoothly even in cold, wintry, windy but dry conditions. The trees and bamboo along the old Tokaido certainly lived up to its reputation of providing shelter to travelers. A wonderful experience to end our trip to Japan and would highly recommend Tony and his small group tour to anyone who wants to get out in the open and away from the crowds! 5⭐️++!! Thanks again for sharing this small part of Japan with us!
Going in this hike with Tony was one of the best experiences I had in Japan ! We walked through part of the ancient road between Tokyo and Kyoto ! Having Tony to explain the history around the area was very interesting and helped me understand many things about the culture of Japan ! I would suggest for one to contact Tony for similar experiences ! It’s an area worth discovering ! Going to the tea house as well and meeting Mr Yamamoto made be respect this country even more. Thank you
Absolutely wonderful experience. Amazing combo of history, Fuji views, and forested hikes. I’m so impressed by how knowledgeable Tony was and how seamless the pick up was!
We had a wonderful hike with Tony today. He thoughtfully planned the route based on our hotel’s location and our schedule. We began along the historic Old Tokaido foot highway, visiting several local scenic hotspots. One highlight was when we stopped at a 500-year-old teahouse that has been run by the same family for 13 generations. The walk offered beautiful scenery and a deeper connection to the natural landscape. Tony’s deep knowledge of Japanese history and culture made the experience especially engaging and memorable. This hike is highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy something beyond the usual onsen or sushi experiences in Hakone, while gaining a richer appreciation of the area’s culture, history, and natural beauty.
