Gongen-zaka Slopeway — Attraction in Hakone

PROS ➕ Moderate hiking trail ➕ Quiet

CONS ➖ No amenities

Date visited: 05/06/2024

I only traversed half of this trail, starting midway from a certain tea house. The Old Tokaido Road is a fun alternative route to Hakone Shrine, provided one can handle the hike.

The trail was moderate in length and rich with history—wooden boards and signs, stone structures, and other remnants of the past. Most of the path was stone-paved or gravel; some sections were so old that only jagged rocks remained, making it easy to trip.

The scenery was nothing short of majestic, with the ancient trail winding through an equally ancient forest. The closer I got to the end, the clearer the lake became; the grand view gradually unfolded before my eyes.

Although the trail was a bit rough, I didn’t feel much fatigue. The same couldn’t be said for my companion, whose breathing was so loud it could wake a bear. I crossed paths with a couple of backpackers who were well-equipped with hiking gear. It seemed their journey had just begun from the opposite end.

One thing I would like to point out is the lack of amenities—likely for the sake of preservation. Even though the trail isn’t long and there are rest stops halfway, I still recommend bringing all necessary supplies when traversing this...

Beautiful and quiet cobbledstone walk with fresh and crisp autumn air. Some wet and slippery areas though, perhaps due to melted snow. A little obscure to find the trailhead. Look out for a petrol kiosk along road, cross a wooden bridge near kiosk and the trailhead is seen. A comfortable 45minutes trek that led us to our end point, Amazake Chaya Teahouse, where we had some simple but nice Japanese confectionaries, before boarding a bus to Tenzan Onsen along...

Felt like walking back in time.

This trailhead is marked by an “Old Tokaido Road” sign and accessible by the Hakone Tozen Bus H - get off at 大芝（バス). It is a 1-hour downhill hike from this point to the Amazake-chaya Tea House. The stones are slippery but manageable with a preschool child. It’s a good short hike if you want to experience a bit of history. Good snacks await at the 400-year-old Tea House. Take Bus K to get to...