The Hakone Visitor Center is located at the northern end of Lake Ashi, in the Kojir Nature Reserve area. The Visitor Center serves as a guide to the national park and introduces the abundance of plants, birds, insects, mammals, and geological landscapes that grow and live in Hakone. Making good use of the information on the nature, geology, and geography of Hakone can enrich your visit. There are many short walking trails centered around the Hakone Visitor Center as well. From here you have access to the shores of Lake Ashi bird watching, seasonal flower blooms, and nature activities hosted by the visitor center staff.

The first thing you will notice when you enter the museum is the Information Desk corner.

It is full of information on how to get to the tourist facilities, seasonal flowers and birds, and other attractions. There are also introductions to major hiking trails and you can get free hiking course maps and more information. Next to the desk is the “Seasonal Daily Bulletin” section, where park volunteers post the latest nature information they collect on a daily basis. There are differences in the blooming time of flowers around Hakone due to the difference in elevation, so you can enjoy a more fulfilling hike by checking here before you head out to explore.

The “Topography and Volcanic History of Hakone” located in the center of the building, uses a large diorama to describe the 400,000 years of geological history of the Hakone area and mountains. There is also a guide to the surrounding scenic trails which can be used for exploring the area. The “Seasons” corner introduces the four vivid seasons of Hakone. There are interactive nature displays to learn more about the animal inhabitants of the park. You can use the interactive displays to hear the voices of wild birds that represent Hakone.

In the “Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park” section, you can learn about the highlights of the vast park, including Hakone, Mt.Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, and the Izu Islands.There is a small theater that plays a variety of films introducing different topics on Hakone’s natural landscape, history, and origins.

Nature in Hakone (Four Seasons of Living Things) 19 min.

Hakone Now and Then (History of Hakone Visitors) 9min.

Into Nature (Walking and Hiking in Hakone) 6min.

A variety of special exhibitions, events, and other activities are held throughout the year. Basically, there is no charge for these events, and visitors can participate by gathering at the Visitor Center on the day of the events.

Every year during Golden Week and summer vacation, park volunteers lead “early morning exploration sessions,” “Owakudani nature sessions,” and “craft classes”.

During the summer vacation, an insect-watching event is held, where you can see the popular stag beetle and the large Japanese beetle, as well as many other colorful insects. This is a great event for free research.

In addition, special nature-related exhibitions are held five to six times a year in the multipurpose hall. The exhibition contents include handmade exhibits and photo exhibitions of landscapes and wildlife. Every time you visit, you can learn something new about Hakone. In addition, there is always a staff member at the information counter on the right side of the museum. Please feel free to ask for help.