When you visit Hakone you can experience the power of nature and the wonders of Earth. Japan is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Japan lies on the “Pacific Rim of Fire” that encircles the Pacific Ocean. Hakone lies at a special intersection of three tectonic plates and is the reason for the hot springs and volcano. Hakone is composed of two overlapping calderas measuring about 11km. They were formed in two major eruptions dated 200,000 and 80,000-60,000 years ago. When exploring the Hakone area you are actually traveling within the weathered walls of a dormant volcano.

The original volcano is estimated to have been over 2700 meters in height. Volcanic activity started again in 130,000 years ago and filled the first eroded caldera. Many people are familiar with Mt. Fuji and should know that it is a dormant volcano that is right next to Hakone.

Hakone is one of the few places in the world where you can experience and feel the geological movements of the earth. In the Owakudani area of Hakone you can see the steaming vents and smell the sulfur coming from the lower level of the earth. The area is closely monitored for visitor safety and is sometimes closed due to earthquakes or high levels of gas release. The three tectonic plates that come together here are the Philippine Sea Plate, Eurasian Plate, and the North American Plate.