Hakone Karakuri Museum — Attraction in Hakone

Booked a box-making experience for our two lads for a stop off on the road trip. We had to change our booking time twice via email due to complications and they were very accommodating.When we arrived, the master box maker demonstrated the techniques of box making and showed us lots of one-off trick boxes he had made. He was funny and engaging and the kids loved this part! Then it was time to make our own, so we headed into a very hot, cramped room at the back of the shop with a girl who tried to charge myself and my husband 1000 yen, cash only, in total to watch them make it. We didn't have any cash but we had a card. The minimum was 1000 to pay on card and she still wouldn't allow it. We tried to buy something in the shop to make up the money but she still said no. It was only when a colleague stepped in and waved us through that we were able to be there at all! When we were ready to start, the same girl almost threw the box materials at us, said something in Japanese and walked away. There was no lesson and extremely minimal instruction; we had to work it out for ourselves. I would say this part of the experience was not worth it, though they came out with a cute little box in the end. Luckily we were clever enough to work it out ourselves. The boys were not particularly impressed. They could have done with a fan back there too! The museum was cool and they enjoyed the demo at...

I traveled for 2 hours based on the information that there was a museum of automata, but upon arrival, I found out it was under renovation with no prior notice. Additionally, although I heard about interactive experiences, they ended at 3:00 PM despite being told 2:50 PM. Already Frustrated at this point.. I was about buying a mechanical toy for my child, but a person who seemed like the owner saying that, its very expensive thing! please do not touch.. I reached my limit now and told him I won’t come again. I recommend avoiding this store. I'm concerned that foreign visitors may have a negative...

They have a 40 minute workshop on constructing secret boxes with Hakone yosegi zaiku (wooden mosaic work). While the mosaic and the box are prefabricated and you simply decorate the wooden box, you would get to understand how it all works. The museum is quite cool, with interesting furniture and containers with secret compartments that require unique methods in order to...