The Queen Ashinoko Pirate Ship on Lake Ashi with Mount Fuji in the background.

Hakone: Day Trip or Overnight Stay. Which is Best?

We all know that feeling: You're planning a trip to a new country, you've got 50 browser tabs open, you're refining your itinerary, and then you realise there's no way you can do everything in the time you've booked off work. For visitors to Japan, that game of calendar Tetris...
Snow-capped Mount Fuji under clear blue sky, on a one day in Hakone trip

One Day in Hakone: How to Master the Circuit of Transport

On my first trip to Japan, I spent two nights in a ryokan in Hakone, and it's still one of my Japan highlights. Whether you're getting the full ryokan experience or just doing a day trip from Tokyo to Hakone, spending one day in Hakone is a wonderful part of...
Motoyu Kansuiro Hakone - Vegan Friendly Ryokan, seen from the outside

Motoyu Kansuiro Review: Vegan Friendly Ryokan in 2026

At a Glance: Motoyu Kansuiro Location: Tonosawa, Hakone (14 mins walk from Hakone-Yumoto station). Vibe: 400 years of history, registered cultural property, river views. Vegan Friendly? Yes, but requires advance notice. Booking Link here When I was planning our honeymoon to Japan, I found myself knees deep in blog posts,...