Hakone Checkpoint
Hakone Checkpoint things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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【Personal Experience Itinerary Guide】One-Day Trip Around Hakone
tech_savvy_soultech_savvy_soul
6750
Hakone checkpoint museum is one of the best ways to experience the history of this section of Japan. Located close to other tourist attractions, this mostly outdoor museum sits along the eastern shore of Lake Ashi. At 500 JPY or $6.00 CDN, the admission fee is well worth the cost. Within the outdoor section of the museum, you’ll visit the reconstructed buildings that made up the checkpoint - a border control stop between the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. Here you will learn about the importance of this checkpoint, and why this location was chosen to become the most strict and regulated border crossing within the country. Be sure to climb up the hill at the back (there are stairs) to get to the watch towers. Here you have a view of the museum, the lake, and on a nice day, Mount Fuji in the distance. As you continue along the path, you’ll come to an indoor section of the museum where you can see models of the long processions of people marched from cities such of Kyoto to Tokyo as a display of power and wealth, and why Tokyo loved this so-called “display of power” as a defense tactic. I would give yourself 1-2 hours to visit this location. We paired this with the boat tour of lake ashi and still had a lot of time remaining in our day. The museum has information in Japanese and is self-guided. I recommend picking up an English pamphlet as it contains information about each station as well as a map. It’s a fantastic stop to learn about some history and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys knowing the background of the area they are visiting.
Jim ReaughJim Reaugh
00
Hakone used to be an important checkpoint to control traffic along the Tokaido, the highway which linked Tokyo with Kyoto during the feudal Edo Period. It's clear that the greatest care was taken to restore the checkpoint to be as original as possible, using tools and techniques that would have been used in the era. Mannequins of people and animals are displayed in a flat grey colour as the colour of their clothing and fur is still uncertain. I personally greatly appreciate this small detail. The ticket includes passing into the checkpoint and the nearby museum. The museum lacks translations to all objects in the exhibition which is a shame. Yet is does not detract the overall experience. I highly recommend making the effort to go up to the observation tower, on days with good weather your can shoot some great photographs here that are of postcard quality if Fuji show's it's snowy peak. A bit further up the road, away from the town center, is a cedar road that used to connect to the checkpoint, this is a must-see if you've been at the checkpoint.
Diederick MartensDiederick Martens
10
Hakone checkpoint museum is one of the best ways to experience the history of this section of Japan. Located close to other tourist attractions, this mostly outdoor museum sits along the eastern shore of Lake Ashi. At 500 JPY or $6.00 CDN, the admission fee is well worth the cost. Within the outdoor section of the museum, you’ll visit the reconstructed buildings that made up the checkpoint - a border control stop between the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. Here you will learn about the importance of this checkpoint, and why this location was chosen to become the most strict and regulated border crossing within the country. Be sure to climb up the hill at the back (there are stairs) to get to the watch towers. Here you have a view of the museum, the lake, and on a nice day, Mount Fuji in the distance. As you continue along the path, you’ll come to an indoor section of the museum where you can see models of the long processions of people marched from cities such of Kyoto to Tokyo as a display of power and wealth, and why Tokyo loved this so-called “display of power” as a defence tactic. I would give yourself 1-2 hours to visit this location. We paired this with the boat tour of lake ashi and still had a lot of time remaining in our day. The museum has information in Japanese and is self-guided. I recommend picking up an English pamphlet as it contains information about each station as well as a map. It’s a fantastic stop to learn about some history and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys knowing the background of the area they are visiting.
Josh BaltzerJosh Baltzer
00
A beautiful recreation of a historical Japanese checkpoint, in which travelers between territories in Edo-era Japan have to pass through. The village has mannequins of officials (and a horse) reenacting what happens in a checkpoint. Most descriptions are in Japanese, but there's a leaflet in English available on request at the ticket counter. A flight of stairs away, on a hill, there's a recreation of a lookout post. The climb up is a bit steep, but the view from the hill of Lake Ashi and (if you're very lucky) Mt. Fuji is great. There's also a museum next to the village with more historical details. They translated a bit of the descriptions to English, but most of them are in Japanese. The entrance fee for the whole site is 500 yen, with a 100 discount for Hakone Freepass holders. If you have the time, you should check out this place.
Felix LimantaFelix Limanta
00
Southern gate (Kyoto side) to the historical Hakone Checkpoint on the shores of Lake Ashino in the Hakone mountain range located halfway between Tokyo and Mt. Fuji. The checkpoint was used by the Edo Shogunate from 1619 until 1868 to inspect travelers, and feudal lords with their entourage of family, samurai, and staff. Feudal lords were required to leave their wives and children in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and return to their castles every other year. The shogun basically held the families as hostages to ensure there were no rebellions. The checkpoint includes historically accurate reconstructions of gates, fences, officer housing, prison, and lookout tower, using the same tools and techniques from over 400 years ago. Even the dark blue paint is made of the original mixture of persimmon juice and charcoal.
Daisei Iketani (Pix4Japan)Daisei Iketani (Pix4Japan)
00
Nearby Attractions Of Hakone Checkpoint
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
Hakone Checkpoint
Onshi-Hakone Park
Narukawa Art Museum
Hakone Ekiden Museum
Hakone Ekiden Museum
Takumino Yado Yoshimatsu
Hakone Karakuri Museum
Maruyama Bussan
Old Tōkaidō Road Ancient Cedar Avenue - East End
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
4.3
(2.5K)Click for details
Hakone Checkpoint
3.9
(2.7K)Click for details
Onshi-Hakone Park
4.3
(958)Click for details
Narukawa Art Museum
4.3
(632)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Hakone Checkpoint
Daimasa Honten
Restaurant Bright
Tatsumi-en
Denbei Soba
cafe KOMON 湖紋
Il Miraggio
The Bistro
Toriten Ichiya
トラウトラボ
Obanshojaya
Daimasa Honten
4.3
(238)Click for details
Restaurant Bright
4.2
(229)Click for details
Tatsumi-en
4.7
(109)Click for details
Denbei Soba
3.9
(105)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
1番地 Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0521, Japan
Map
Phone
+81 460-83-6635
Call
Website
hakonesekisyo.jp
Visit
Reviews
Overview
3.9
(2.9K reviews)
Ratings & Description
attractions: Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, Hakone Checkpoint, Onshi-Hakone Park, Narukawa Art Museum, Hakone Ekiden Museum, Hakone Ekiden Museum, Takumino Yado Yoshimatsu, Hakone Karakuri Museum, Maruyama Bussan, Old Tōkaidō Road Ancient Cedar Avenue - East End, restaurants: Daimasa Honten, Restaurant Bright, Tatsumi-en, Denbei Soba, cafe KOMON 湖紋, Il Miraggio, The Bistro, Toriten Ichiya, トラウトラボ, Obanshojaya
