Hike Hakone Hachiri - Japan Heritage Area & Historic Highway

Hike 6 miles (10km) of the stunning Hakone Hachiri, a Japan Heritage Area and part of the historic Tokaido highway, a centuries-old route that links Tokyo with Kyoto. On route, drink amazake (sweet non-alcoholic sake) at one of the few remaining teahouses on the highway and take in beautiful views of ancient castle ruins, towering cedar trees, and (weather permitting) the formidable Mount Fuji.

If you would prefer less walking please check out our 2.5 mile (4km) tour here.

HIGHLIGHT

◆ Walk one of the most important sections of the Tokaido highway, an ancient route between Tokyo and Kyoto depicted in hundreds of pieces of art and literature.
◆ Drink amazake (sweet non-alcoholic sake) at a 400-year-old teahouse.
◆ Follow the stone-paved paths of old Tokaido to the shore of Lake Ashinoko.
◆ Eat lunch by the lake and take in (weather permitting) views of Mount Fuji.
◆ Stroll along Cedar Avenue with its towering 400-year-old cedar trees
◆ Explore castle ruins and meander along the Genbe River World Heritage area.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

First, you will meet your guide at Odawara Station, Kanagawa Prefecture. From there, you will take the local train to Hakone Yumoto and bus to Amazake Chaya teahouse. The teahouse is one of the few remaining out of hundreds that once adorned the old Tokaido highway, the ancient route from Kyoto to Tokyo. While there, you can try a delicious cup of amazake, a sweet non-alcoholic sake that has been drunk in Japan for thousands of years.

From the teahouse, you will venture down the stone-paved Tokaido through the forest to the shore of Lake Ashinoko in Moto-Hakone. Lake Ashinoko is well-known for its stunning views of Mount Fuji (weather permitting), and while there you will enjoy a flavorful lunch looking over the famous lake.

After lunch, you will take a mile-long stroll along the Cedar Avenue, a peaceful path lined both sides with giant centuries-old cedar trees. At the end of the avenue you will reach, Hakone Checkpoint. This was an important location in Edo period Japan, used to control traffic along the highway, and a faithful recreation stands in its place today, so you can experience the original passage as it was originally intended.

A short bus ride will then take you to another part of the Tokaido for a 5km hike through the forest to the ruins of Yamanaka Castle. From here, weather permitting, you can take excellent photos of Mount Fuji, and explore the old castle foundations.

On the final leg of our tour we will bus to Mishima, a setting in James Clavell's epic novel Shogun. In Mishima, we will meander along the Genbegawa World Heritage Water Area, a beautiful stream originally fed from the springwater of Mount Fuji. A walk down this river, will take you to Mishima Station, the end point of your tour.

More Info: Travel
You can travel to Odawara, the starting point of this tour, from a number of locations including Tokyo, Shizuoka, Kyoto and Hakone.

For customers starting from Tokyo we recommend taking the following routes:
• To Destination: 07:56 Tokaido Shinkansen #637 from Tokyo Station (sit on right-hand side for views of Mount Fuji)
• From Destination: 17:21 Tokaido Shinkasen #664 from Mishima Station (sit on left-hand side for views of Mount Fuji)

On request, we can also start/finish tours in Hakone or Atami.

What to bring
For the walking tour please bring:
• All seasons: sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots with good grip and a water bottle
• Winter: Warm clothing (jacket, woolen hat, gloves, etc.) *You may encounter snow!*
• Summer: Sun hat, sun glasses, sun block, and parker jacket.
• Spring & Autumn: Either winter or summer gear as above depending on the weather on the day.

*Note: please do not bring your big luggage on this tour. If you intend to travel to another location, you can send any large luggage items via courier service from your hotel.

About the guide
Our guide, local forester and historian Tony Everitt has years of experience in Japan and the travel industry, including:
• Executive roles at Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Australia
• Former Chief Executive of South Pacific Tourism Organisation (Fiji) and Destination Queenstown (New Zealand).
• More than 12 years experience living in Japan, as well as fluency in Japanese
• Local resident of Atami (within 20km of Hakone Hachiri)

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you cancel your reservation, the following cancellation rates and remittance charges will be charged.
(1) 3-14 days prior to the program date: 20 % of the program fee
(2) 2 days before the program date: 50 % of the program fee
(3) 1 day before the program date: 100 % of the program fee