Hakone & Mount Fuji

Hakone is where Tokyo goes to slow down: hot spring inns in the hills, a lake with the mountain behind it and an open air sculpture museum that justifies the trip alone. The best ryokans have private outdoor baths on the balcony, kaiseki dinner in the room and a view of Fuji when the weather allows, which is more often in winter. Two nights is right. We arrange the ryokan, the Romancecar train from Shinjuku, and a driver for the Fuji Five Lakes for those who want to see the mountain from the other side.