Gora, Hakone
Gora is a quiet and elevated resort town sitting at an altitude of approximately 750 meters in the heart of the Hakone mountain region. It serves as one of the most popular bases for exploring the wider Hakone area, combining easy access to major attractions with a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere.
The town is the upper terminal of the Hakone Tozan Railway, Japan's oldest mountain railway, which winds its way up through steep forested slopes from Hakone-Yumoto via a series of dramatic switchbacks. The train journey itself is considered one of the most scenic short rail rides in the country.
From Gora, the Hakone Tozan Cable Car continues the ascent up to Sounzan, where passengers transfer to the Hakone Ropeway for aerial views over the volcanic landscape of Owakudani and beyond toward Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji. Gora effectively sits at the center of this sightseeing chain.
Gora Park is one of the town's most cherished attractions, a beautifully maintained French-style garden established in 1914. The park features rose gardens, seasonal flower displays, and a traditional tea house offering matcha with views over the landscaped grounds. It is particularly stunning during spring and autumn.
Within Gora Park sits the Hakone Craft House, where visitors can try hands-on workshops in traditional crafts, including glassblowing, pottery, and silverwork. It is one of the few places in Hakone where visitors can create their own souvenir to take home.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is located a short walk or one train stop below Gora at Chokoku-no-Mori Station. It is Japan's first open-air art museum, established in 1969, and displays an extraordinary collection of sculptures by artists including Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, and Auguste Rodin set across beautifully landscaped outdoor grounds.
The museum also houses an entire pavilion dedicated to Picasso, containing over 300 of his works. The combination of world-class art and mountain scenery makes it one of the most unique museum experiences in Japan.
Gora is one of Hakone's prime areas for traditional ryokan and onsen (hot spring) experiences. The town and its immediate surroundings contain numerous ryokan ranging from mid-range to ultra-luxury, many featuring private open-air rotemburo (outdoor baths) with forest or mountain views.
The hot spring waters in Gora are classified as sodium chloride springs, known for their skin-softening properties and their effectiveness in relieving fatigue and muscle pain. Several public sento (bathhouses) are also available for visitors not staying in a ryokan.
The town has a small but pleasant collection of cafes, bakeries, and local restaurants along its main street, offering a quiet alternative to the busier resort areas lower in the valley. The pace of life in Gora is noticeably slower and more restorative than in the areas closer to Odawara.
Gora is reached via the Hakone Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto Station, with the scenic mountain journey taking approximately 40 minutes. From Tokyo, the most convenient access is via the Romancecar limited express train from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto, followed by the mountain railway connection.
