Lake Ashinoko is a long slender crater lake that rests serenely in a saddle between the mountains of the Hakone highlands. Surrounded by lush verdant forests with walking paths and lakeside temples and shrines, the lake offers some of the most picturesque views in Japan. On clear days, Mount Fuji is clearly visible over the northwest end of the lake, beautiful in any season but particularly in winter or spring with its pure white snowcap.

You will travel to Lake Ashinoko from Yugawara by private car after being picked up at the train station. Instead of taking the main routes up to the lake, the car will traverse one of the small back roads that wind their way up dramatically into the highlands of Hakone through the dense forests of the region. Ask your driver to stop en route if you’d like to enjoy expansive views across the village of Yugawara to the waves of Sagami Bay.

Visit the lakeside Hakone shrine with its iconic red torii gate or head out to stretch your legs on the walking trails that surround the lake’s perimeter. For culture, you can head to Narukawa Art Museum or the Hakone Detached Palace Garden, then stop for a snack at one of the small local cafes and restaurants surrounding the lake.

*By car, it takes about 25 minutes to get from Yugawara to the southeast end of Lake Ashinoko, with the return trip taking a similar amount of time.

After your tour of Lake Ashinoko and the Hakone highlands, return to Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari to check in. Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari is one of the most exclusive onsen resorts in the region, offering guests the opportunity to stay in beautifully crafted rooms with private outdoor onsen baths (rotemburo) that look out onto the hotel’s natural surroundings.

The rooms at Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari are individually designed with a clever blend of Japanese and Western amenities and aesthetics, featuring hardwood floors and comfortable seating. Some rooms include tatami mats and low Japanese-style tables, perfect for enjoying tea, drinks, and snacks together.

Dinner at Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari will be served within the privacy and comfort of your guest room, with hotel staff providing impeccable personal service as they deliver successive courses of a traditional kaiseki evening meal. As well as the delicious taste of the food, the service, visual appeal, and serene atmosphere are all memorable parts of experiencing a kaiseki dinner.

Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari adapts its kaiseki menu in accordance with Japan’s distinct four seasons. Local ingredients are plentiful, as well as the finest and freshest seasonal fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood sourced from all over Japan.

Each meal at Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari is designed with care to achieve the right balance of flavors and textures. The many different kaiseki dishes are accompanied by white rice, miso soup, and pickled vegetables. This variety is not only delicious and satisfying, but also balanced in terms of nutrition and the associated health benefits.

Open your eyes as the morning sunlight gently filters into your room to the sound of birds twittering outside in the trees. Wake yourself up with a bracing plunge into your private outdoor onsen or head to the large communal onsen bath with its combination of gorgeous forest views and classic Japanese design.

You can request that breakfast be served in your room to make the most of your experience, enjoying a leisurely morning meal with tea or coffee within your own relaxing personal space. Breakfasts at Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari come with rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables, Japanese-style omelet, and a variety of small dishes made from seasonal ingredients.

All guests at Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari will receive a gift of original locally-made Japanese sweets as well as special souvenirs to take home with them.

For the traveler, taking a step off the well-worn path often leads to wondrous discoveries, and so it is with this exclusive two-day Wabunka trip to the quiet onsen village of Yugawara in the hidden heart of Hakone. Relax in open-air onsen baths and savor kaiseki cuisine made using local seasonal ingredients during an overnight stay at Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari. Take a private tour around Lake Ashinoko to appreciate the area’s stunning natural beauty and fascinating cultural history, along with incredible views of Mount Fuji.

Kaiseki Ryoan Ashikari

location_on734 Miyakami Yugawara-machi Ashigarasimo-gun Kanagawa 259-0314

near_meApproximately a 6-minute taxi ride from Yugawara Station (JR Line)