Day-trippers tend to pass through Gora, using it as little more than a transfer point between the Hakone Tozan Railway and Hakone Tozan Cable Car, but this little mountain town is a wonderful place to stay. As well as offering excellent access to local sights such as Owakudani, Lake Ashinoko, and Dogashima Gorge, Gora is blessed with laidback small town charm, beautiful natural scenery, and top-class accommodation. 

Because Gora is located in a particularly geothermically active area of Hakone, the town has long been renowned for the quality of its hot springs, with generations of visitors choosing to relax and bathe in its outdoor onsen (rotemburo) after a day in the mountains. Small roads meander off into the forest where hidden sanctuaries like MONS GORA offer luxurious private accommodation in natural surroundings

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.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), Hakone was known as a major mountain pass on the old Tokaido Road between Tokyo and Kyoto. A checkpoint was located at the south end of Lake Ashinoko, marking the frontier of Kanto to travelers heading east or west. Learning of the extraordinary beauty of the region, artists and poets soon began to travel to the region, with ukiyo-e woodblock artist Katsushika Hokusai producing some of the most memorable images of Mount Fuji and the lake.

With Gora just 20 minutes away, a guided tour by private car is the ideal way to explore Lake Ashinoko. Start with lakeside Hakone Shrine with its striking red torii gate or stretch your legs on the lakeside walking trails. Head to the Hakone Detached Palace Garden at the southern edge of the lake for the truly iconic view back across Lake Ashinoko’s azure waters towards Hakone Shrine with Mount Fuji rising in the distance.

On the hills above the lake, the pampas grass of the Sengokuhara fields sways in the wind like ripples on a pond. Pleasant green in summer, the grass fields transform to brilliant gold in autumn. For a break from the weather on rainy days, take some time to explore the arts at Narukawa Art Museum, the Pola Museum of Art, or the Venetian Glass Museum. For a snack, ask your driver to recommend one of the small local cafes and restaurants surrounding the lake.

A stay at MONS GORA in Hakone is an event to remember in and of itself, with two stylish modern villas amidst the forested slopes of Gora. The upper floor is ready-made for fun and relaxation, with a wood stove for staying cozy inside and a balcony for cooling off in the fresh air. The bar is stocked with local wine and sake, along with a state-of-the-art sound system to make best use of the villa’s excellent acoustics. Through a door behind the bar, you will find a private onsen gazing out onto expansive views of MONS GORA’s mountainous surroundings. 

The ground floor of MONS GORA looks out onto a large wooden terrace, perfect for enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. While the views are breathtaking throughout the year, autumn is particularly stunning as the trees blaze into a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and yellow. 

The villa SOLIS has a sauna on its ground floor, while the other LUNA has a footbath—both of which have windows facing out towards the trees. With a large 280-cm bed upstairs and a double bed downstairs, as well as a tatami room that can accommodate four futons, each villa can accommodate up to eight people, making MONS GORA a great fit for groups of friends, small business retreats, or family gatherings.

Hakone has long been known as an escape from the rigors of city life, offering travelers the right combination of wild natural beauty and luxurious comforts. Taking a tour around Lake Ashinoko and the surrounding Hakone Highlands is a comfortable and relaxing way to make the most of your journey, experiencing the region’s natural beauty while learning about its history and culture.

Located in the small town of Gora, the twin mountain villas of MONS GORA provide convenient access to Lake Ashinoko and all other major Hakone sights, as well as spacious designer accommodation with onsen baths, outdoor terraces, and interior spaces perfect for relaxing and enjoying your time in Hakone with friends and family.