Monday, April 1, 2024

Climb aboard Hakones Pirate Ships a k.a the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise

hakone sightseeing cruise

You go on this “cruise” to get from one end of the lake to another, enjoying the unique views from the water. On clear days, you can see the snowy top of Mount Fuji from the boats. And if you find a good spot on the boat, you get to see the Hakone-jinja shrine’s floating torii together with the Queen Fuji.

Hot Springs (Onsen)

We also loved the walk on Japan’s longest suspension bridge with a spectacular view of Mt Fuji – Mishima Skywalk. The boats used are unique themselves and are part of the charm of the trip too. There are three boats in the fleet and they are all life-size replicas of old man-o-war ships. Named Victory, Royal and Vasa, these ships make regularly scheduled round trips of the lake departing approximately every minutes from one of three locations. The oldest, the Victory, went into service in 2007 and is modelled on the famed British Royal Navy vessel HMS Victory.

Attractions for the Whole Family

hakone sightseeing cruise

If you want to stay here too, you can check-in and leave your luggage at the hotel before proceeding with this itinerary. Many of the onsen/ hot springs in the Hakone area get their water from Owakudani. Along the way, the ropeway makes a stop at Owakudani, a steaming volcanic crater (see below). If the volcanic activity is too high, the ropeway will not operate for safety reasons, and you will have to take a bus instead.

Hakone Sightseeing Boats: Cruising Spectacular Lake Ashi in Style

It can be purchased at each sightseeing cruise/ropeway platform.・Please enquire for the final sale time of each sales office.・Depending on weather conditions, sale might be suspended. Hakone Freepass – for those visiting Hakone for the first time as well as frequent visitors. If you’re starting with crossing the lake from Motoohakone-ko first, then Togendai is where you will board the Hakone Ropeway, which will transport you to Owakudani. 🤩 Lake Ashi is a crater lake that was formed over 3,000 years ago when Mount Hakone erupted in the 12th century.

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The volcanic crater, also called “Great Boiling Valley,” was created 3000 years ago as the Kami-Yama Mountain erupted and collapsed. You will notice that the ground in the valley is yellow, this is crystallized sulfide, and the smoke is hydrogen sulfide. Six years later, in 1886, the Japanese Imperial family constructed their summer residence in Hakone – the Hakone Imperial Villa. Hakone was the official checkpoint along this main road, called Hakone Sekisho, as it was on the Kanto region border (greater Tokyo). All travelers on their way to the capital city Kyoto had to stop here and show their travel permit and have their luggage examined by officials of the Tokugawa shogunate.

If you’d like to use the “first-class” room, you need to purchase an upgrade – that’s whether you’re buying tickets for the cruise separately or using the Hakone Freepass. The Hakone Sightseeing Cruise boats run from Togendai Port to Hakone Machi Port to Moto-Hakone Port and back to Togendai Port. If you want to do a Hakone Loop like we did, you’d be taking the Pirate ship from the Togendai port to Moto-Hakone. Special events on the boat include musical performances and night cruises, and you can view fireworks from the boat during the five-day Hakone Ashinoko Summer Festival.

There are fireworks in the evenings of both the 2nd and 3rd of August (close to Komagatake Ropeway near the Prince Hotel). On the 1st of August, it is time for the Hakone Shrien Reidai Festival. Then ceremony is held at the Hakone Shrine by the Shinto Buddhist priests, praying for a long and healthy life for all its visitors. You can enjoy a kendo tournament (“way of the sword” – a modern Japanese martial art), poetry recitals, samurai sword exhibitions, etc. The lakeshore floating Torii gate is a mandatory photo spot in Hakone.

It is time to hit the sea and jump on the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise with its European-inspired pirate ships. The cruise boats depart from Togendai Port next to Togendai Ropeway Station. Lake Ashi was created in the same eruption that made Hell Valley when Kami-Yama Mountain erupted some 3000 years ago and made this crater that turned into a big lake. The lake is huge, covering 7 km² and with a depth of 43,5 m (143 ft). Several cruise boats make trips on, and many of them are designed as old European pirate ships.

hakone sightseeing cruise

They’re good luck and taste, not unsurprisingly, like a slightly smoky egg. You get to enjoy going on a pirate ship – it’s quite unique to ride a pirate ship on a crater lake in Japan. Three different Hakone Sightseeing boats look like the Pirate ships don’t just look like pirate ships.

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Look out for photogenic trick art, treasure chests and larger-than-life pirate sculptures on board. Feel free to eat, drink and stock up on souvenirs at any of the three ports, all of which have shops, restaurants and cafes. Fukuzumiro Ryokan A traditional and authentic ryokan/ traditional Japanese inn where you stay in Japanese-style rooms and sleep on futon beds. The property is beautifully located next to a river, and this place has been a ryokan for over 130 years. You can walk to the hotel in about 10 min from Hakone-Yumoto Station. Hakone Yuyado ZenIf seeing Mount Fuji from your hotel room is on your bucket list, then you should consider staying at this hotel.

There are also games and other activities to participate in—lots of fun for both grown-ups and kids. According to legends, a nine-headed dragon or sea monster lived in Lake Ashi. The wandering monk Mangan defeated the dragon and founded Hakone Shrine in 757, although the original shrine was located at the Komagatake peak of Mount Hakone.

Hakone is a beautiful area to visit all year round but is particularly lovely in autumn (October/ November) when autumn colors cover Mt Fuji’s landscape. Hakone is especially popular during weekends and holidays and can at times feel a bit touristy and busy. The trip from Motohakone port to Tōgendai takes around 25 minutes and Tōgendai port to Hakone-machi takes around 25 minutes, too. It’s quite a special experience, and both the boats and the views are magnificent. But on a Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, you get to cruise Lake Ashi on a pirate ship!

Both piers are located at the southern tip of the long, narrow Lake Ashi and the trip takes only 10 minutes. Half the fun of visiting Hakone is the chance to ride different modes of transport, like switchback train, cable car, ropeway/ gondola, and even a pirate ship! And along the way, you get to enjoy the scenic mountain and landscape views where Mt Fuji is the crown jewel. Hakone also has some of Japan’s best onsen/ hot spring baths so this is a great place to try out this unique Japanese tradition. Hakone Sightseeing Cruise is a sightseeing cruise across Lake Ashi in Hakone Japan.

The recommended starting port is Motohakone-ko, which is close to the stately Hakone Shrine. From there, the ships dock at Todengai-ko, which is close to the volcanic valley. Finally, the ships dock at Hakonemachi-ko, which is a less exciting, general access point close to Hakone City.

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