Miyanoshita

Miyanoshita is a small hot spring village nestled in the Hakone region of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, situated at an elevation of approximately 396 metres in the Hayakawa River valley. Its history as a resort destination dates to the early Meiji era (1868–1912), when foreign diplomats and merchants from Yokohama and Tokyo began frequenting the area. The village gained international prominence with the opening of the Fujiya Hotel in 1878, Japan's first Western-style resort hotel, which hosted guests including Charlie Chaplin, John Lennon, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The area sits within Hakone National Park, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park system designated in 1936, and offers views of Mount Fuji on clear days. The surrounding landscape is defined by forested volcanic slopes, the Hayakawa gorge, and the hot spring waters that have flowed here for over 1,200 years. The springs belong to the broader Hakone Onsen network, one of Japan's most celebrated geothermal bathing destinations, fed by the volcanic activity of Mount Hakone.

Visitors come primarily to experience the onsen culture at the village's traditional bathhouses and ryokan inns. The Fujiya Hotel remains a centrepiece attraction, and its historic main building and gardens are open for exploration. The nearby Miyanoshita Station area features small craft shops selling Hakone-zaiku, a traditional marquetry woodwork recognised as a Japanese national craft. Day hikers use Miyanoshita as a base for trails through the Hakone hills, including paths toward Sounzan and the ropeway network leading to Owakudani, a volcanic valley with active sulphur vents located roughly 5 kilometres northeast.

Miyanoshita is accessible via the Hakone Tozan Railway, Japan's oldest mountain railway, from Hakone-Yumoto Station, which connects to Odawara on the JR Tokaido Line and the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku, Tokyo — a journey of approximately 90 minutes. The Hakone Free Pass, available from ¥6,000 (from Shinjuku), covers unlimited use of most transport in the area including the Tozan Railway, ropeway, and boats. Entry to public outdoor areas and walking paths is free, while ryokan onsen facilities typically charge between ¥1,500 and ¥3,500 for day-use bathing.