Hakone Gora Park – A Floral Paradise in Hakone!

“Hakone Gora Park” was established as a place of relaxation and recreation during the development of villa areas, which accompanied the construction of the Hakone Tozan Railway. With a history dating back over a century, this celebrated garden was designed by a Japanese landscape architect. This popular tourist park features a Japanese garden, a Western-style garden, and a greenhouse, offering changing seasonal highlights throughout the year. In addition to a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops, visitors can also enjoy hands-on craft experiences, making it a well-loved leisure destination.

A Tranquil Garden Framed by Hakone’s Mountains, Awash with Blossoms Beneath Clear Blue Skies

Opened in 1914, Hakone Gora Park has been welcoming visitors for over a century. The garden was designed and supervised by Mr. Shichigorō Isshiki, who had previously created a Japanese garden for the Japan-Britain Exhibition held in London in 1910. There are both Western-style and Japanese-style gardens, and the use of numerous giant rocks to blend in with the landscape, taking advantage of the geological features, provides a glimpse of the advanced landscaping techniques of the time.

Hakone Gora Park covers an area of 26,500 square meters and can be leisurely explored in about 30 to 40 minutes on foot. The park is currently divided into several main zones: the Rose Garden, the Fountain Area, the Craft House (hands-on experience facility), the Greenhouse, and Tea Room.

At the center of the park lies a fountain plaza, offering a particularly stunning view of the surrounding Hakone mountains. Be sure to stop by.The flower beds in this view spot consist mainly of annual plants and are replanted four times a year. In spring, they are unified in refreshing white tones; in summer, blue and yellow flowers create a vivid contrast; in autumn, the beds take on a festive Halloween theme; while winter features  colorful ornamental cabbages.

Hakone Gora Park is located at an elevation of around 600 meters (nearly 2,000 feet), so the difference in temperature between day and night makes the colors of the flowers vivid and striking.

Another highlight is the park’s three greenhouses, which can be enjoyed also in winter. These include the Tropical Plant Pavilion (approximately 211 species and 3,000 plants), the Bougainvillea Pavilion (48 species of bougainvillea), the Tropical Herb Pavilion (approximately 70 species and 125 plants), and the Event Pavilion, which can be visited in about 30 minutes for a thorough viewing of the plants.

The Tropical Plant Pavilion is designed to evoke a jungle atmosphere. Visitors can see a variety of tropical fruits such as bananas, papayas, and pineapples, as well as more unusual plants like rose apples and the sausage tree.

The Bougainvillea Pavilion in the photo above allows visitors to enjoy the spectacular blooms throughout the year. Bougainvillea is often thought of as a summer bloomer, but it is actually a short-day plant native to Colombia, with its peak blooming season from autumn through early spring (November to March). Because it blooms less during the long days of summer, other plants such as hibiscus (a long-day plant) are cultivated to bloom during that time, ensuring the pavilion is filled with vibrant flowers all year round.

On the other hand, the Tropical Herb Pavilion displays plants that are the source of spices. To make it easier to compare temperate and tropical herbs, a temperate herb garden has been created near the Tropical Herb Pavilion, so it’s a great idea to compare their fragrances as well.

Hakone Gora Park is a scenic garden that is adorned with a rich variety of flowers throughout the year, and still retains the nickname “Garden of Dreams”, which it has been affectionately called since the park’s opening.

In addition, there are plenty of attractions such as cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and craft experiences, making it a wonderful leisure spot. Why not take a day to relax and spend some time there?

Vibrant Flowers in Every Season, Glowing at 2,000 feet Above Sea Level

Azaleas reach their peak from mid to late May, with about 1,000 plants bursting into bloom in shades of red, purple, white, and more around the fountain pond. In the park, you can also see the Akayashio (late March), Shiroyashio (late March), and Amagi azaleas (early April), which are only found at highlands. During their full bloom, when the branches and leaves are covered in blossoms, creating a mass of color, the sight is extremely vibrant and spectacular.

The best time to see the roses is from late May to late June. Approximately 1,000 roses of 200 varieties will be in full bloom. There are also themed displays, including a section featuring fragrant roses, a section dedicated to old roses, and a section with roses named after the imperial family, which are also highlights of the exhibition.To make the most of the roses’ beauty, the rose garden features a tunnel of roses supported by wooden arches and dynamic flowerbeds combined with perennials, making it a delightful place to explore as you walk along.

The best time to see hydrangeas is from mid-June to early July. The many mountain hydrangeas and western hydrangeas blooming throughout the garden greet visitors with their elegant and serene beauty.

Especially eye-catching are the clusters of ‘Annabelle’, which are popular for their elegant white flowers, and large specimens of ‘Iwagarami’. During the “Hydrangea Exhibition,” approximately 80 varieties of hydrangeas will be on display, and seedlings of mountain hydrangea and western hydrangea will be on sale.

In the fall, when the leaves begin to change color, offers the most breathtaking scenery of the year. The best time to view the foliage is from early to late November, when the garden is filled with large Iroha momiji and Yama momiji maple trees, turning the entire park a vivid shade of crimson.

In October, visitors can also enjoy autumn roses, which bloom in deeper, richer colors compared to spring. Their stunning combination with the feathery plumes of pampas grass creates a truly beautiful scene.

From December through March, around 100 Christmas rose plants throughout the garden come into full bloom. The blooming season begins in late December with the Helleborus niger species, followed by H. niger hybrids from late December to late January, the upright-stemmed varieties in mid-February, the narrow-leaved varieties in late February, and finally, the Lenten roses from mid-February to mid-March, blooming one after another in succession.

Two Stylish Eateries! Featuring Menus Made with Handpicked Ingredients

There are two stylish eateries in the garden. Pictured above is a sandwich shop called“Isshikido Tea House”, specializing in gourmet sandwiches made with finest ingredients. Popular menu items are the “Japanese rolled omelete sandwich made from naturally fertilized eggs” (1,320 yen, tax included) and the “Roast Japanese beef sandwich” (1,980 yen, tax included), which is generously filled with roast beef and lettuce.Open from 10:00 to 16:00 (last order 15:30), and takeout is also available.

The French toast shown in the above photo (990 yen, tax included) is a popular item at Isshikido Tea House.Made by soaking bread in a mixture of milk, fresh cream, and naturally fertilized eggs, then letting it rest overnight before carefully baking, it has a moist and tender texture. It is served with seasonal fruits and fresh cream.

At the other eatery, Café PIC, the limited daily specials“Gora Park Curry (40 servings per day) and Poached Egg Curry (20 servings per day)are also popular choices. Herbal Tea (630yen, tax included), with five varieties to choose from: Lavender Mix, Hibiscus Lemon, Rose Blend, Lemony Mint, and Chamomile Blend is highly recommended as well. Open from 10:00 to 16:00 (last call is at 15:30).

Don’t Miss boutiques Filled with Local Handicrafts!
Enjoy Seven types of Craft Experiences

The park has a Souvenir Shop that offers a wide variety of Hakone souvenirs, including miscellaneous goods and sweets.

One highlight is Komamonoya Hakone, a boutiques that opened in the summer of 2019. Under the theme of “Arts & Crafts,” the shop features traditional Hakone handicrafts and works by renowned Japanese craft artists. Be sure to stop by and enjoy some memorable shopping to mark your visit.

Within the park, you’ll find the Hakone Crafthouse, where visitors can enjoy seven different hands-on craft experiences. 

Prices and estimated time required are as follows.

■Glass Blowing (from 4,400 yen, approx.15 minutes)
■Ceramics (from 4,290 yen, approx. 40 minutes)
■Sandblasting (from 3,520 yen, approx. 60 minutes)
■Tombo-dama – Lampwork Bead (from 2,750 yen, approx. 15 minutes)
■Pottery Painting (3,850 yen, approx. 60 minutes)
■Kiriko Glass (3,850 yen, approx. 60 minutes)
■Laser Engraving (2,420 yen, approx. 30 minutes)

Each session is held one-on-one, with patient and thorough guidance from skilled instructors.

Information

Hakone Gora Park

Official Site: https://www.hakonenavi.jp/gorapark/en/

Address:1300Gora,Hakone-machi,Ashigarashimo-gun,Kanagawa/Japan

Call: 0460-82-2825

Access: 5-minute walk from Gora Station of Hakone Tozan Railway.

Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Open daily except otherwise noticed)
※Last admission at 16:30

Admission: Adults: 560 yen
　Free for under 12 years old
　Free admission with Hakone Freepass, Hakone TozanTrain 1-Day Pass,Owakudani 2-Day Pass, Hakone Public Transports Single-Way Pass

Parking Fees: Cars (up to 43 vehicles) (¥300/hr)