"The gateway to Hakone tourism"Hakone YumotoThe charming hot spring town is a treasure trove of street food, with famous shops and food stalls scattered along the river and in the arcades! This time, I visited some of Hakone Yumoto's popular street food spots with my dog, Chocolat, so I'll introduce you to plenty of must-try gourmet foods, Japanese confectionery shops, and souvenirs.
For parking, we recommend "AMS AtPark Hakone Yumoto"!
For those arriving by car, the convenient location near the station isAMANO Management Service At Park Hakone YumotoI recommend this. The walk along the river after crossing the Yumoto Bridge is full of charm, and it's more likely to have available parking than in front of the station. You can also park for a reasonable price of 600 yen for 60 minutes.
A short walk from the parking lot will bring you to the Yumoto Bridge over the Hayakawa River.
Hatsuhana Soba Main Store: A famous restaurant you'll want to stop by for lunch.
A long-established and popular soba restaurant stands at the foot of the Hayakawa Bridge.Hatsuhana Soba Main StoreEnjoying the flavorful, handmade soba noodles with grated yam while listening to the gentle murmur of the river is a truly special experience. With the natural aroma of the ingredients and a firm texture, this renowned restaurant has many repeat customers as well as tourists. Expect a queue at lunchtime, but it's a perfect spot for a lunch during your trip.
Hayakawa offers a tranquil, nature-rich landscape where you can feel the coolness of summer.
If you need a break, head to the long-established Japanese confectionery shop "Chimot".
When it comes to famous sweets from Hakone Yumoto, it has to be "Yumochi".ChimotoAt this location, next to the main store on Takidori Street, there is a covered "tea shop" where you can eat in and take a break from the strong summer sun.
The "Yumochi" (a type of mochi with a unique fluffy and chewy texture) and chilled sencha tea set, as well as matcha shaved ice, are extremely popular!
After placing your order and making the payment, you wait for it to be ready.
Tea set of "Yumochi" and "Chilled Sencha" ¥690
Taking a break in the shade of a tree is nice, but being able to escape the summer sun under a roof is also a welcome bonus. A chilled cup of sencha tea is so refreshing that it makes you forget the summer heat, and the fragrant aroma of the tea is truly soothing.
Yumochi is a representative Hakone confectionary made from soft mochi rice flour using domestically produced glutinous rice, filled with traditional yokan (sweet bean jelly) that resembles the rocks of the Hayakawa River that flows through Hakone, and infused with the aroma of yuzu citrus. The moment you hold it in your hand, you'll be surprised by its softness; it's fluffy and moist like a baby's soft skin, and the chewy texture that stretches so well is simply irresistible!
We've arrived at the shopping street in front of Hakone-Yumoto Station!
The Hakone Rusk series is the most popular souvenir.
「Grand Rivière HakoneHakone Rusk is affordably priced and makes a popular souvenir.
You can sample popular items from among the many flavors, including the most popular caramel almond and plain.
For skewered dango, try "Hojo Sanfuku Dango Hakone Yumoto Store".
This is what made me stop in my tracks:Hojo Sanfuku Dango Hakone Yumoto StoreCharcoal-grilled Sanfuku Dango. The Sanfuku in Sanfuku Dango means "great fortune," "happiness," and "wealth," making it a lucky charm. Three flavors are available: mitarashi, walnut miso, and black sesame. The fragrant appearance of the charcoal-grilled dumplings is impressive, and the sight of three large dumplings lined up is also very striking! I decided against it because I'd had too much mochi so far, but it's definitely something I'd like to try next time.
For gelato lovers, this is the place! "Hakone Dolce studio STELLA"
The gelato specialty shop that's currently creating a huge buzzHakone Dolce studio STELLAThis is a hugely popular shop where you'll find long lines for creative gelato that's so visually stunning you'll want to take pictures of it! The unique flavors, which incorporate local ingredients and seasonal fruits, feature new creations every time you visit, making them the perfect sweet treat on a hot day. I had to give up because the line was so long, but I'll definitely try again next time.
Mini burgers on a stick!? "Chibi-ko Burger" from Fukuzumiya
Salted seafood shopFukuzumiya"Chibi-ko Burger," a mini burger on a stick, was invented by the owner of "[Shop Name]!" These are bite-sized hamburgers, but the buns and patties are handmade with meticulous care. The contrast with the rice accompaniments such as salted squid sold at the shop is also unique, making it a fast food item perfect for eating on the go.
Freshly fried kamaboko is popular at "Kagosei Hakone Yumoto Mitsuki Store"If you've had a lot of sweets and want something to satisfy your hunger, this is the one for you!"
A must-try for tiramisu lovers! Soft serve ice cream from "Hakone Tiramisu"
On a hot day, you just want a cold soft-serve ice cream! Hakone's only tiramisu specialty shop, "Hakone TearamisuThe shop's specialty is a soft-serve ice cream version of tiramisu. In homage to the history of Hakone's development, it features illustrations of three famous figures associated with Hakone: Yukichi Fukuzawa, Eiichi Shibusawa, and Takashi Masuda. The shop opened in 2020 and is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year.
A thoughtful and stylish souvenir!
The name "Hakone Teeramisu" is a play on words, combining "Hakone Teeramisu" (which sounds like "to illuminate Hakone") with "Hakone Teeramisu" (which sounds like "to illuminate Hakone"), and the colorful packaging is inspired by a lantern emitting light.
Tiramisu Soft Serve Ice Cream ¥600
A smooth tiramisu soft serve ice cream made with domestically produced, mildly flavored mascarpone cheese and espresso.
While soft serve ice cream looks cuter in a cone, I ordered it in a cup considering how quickly it would melt in the heat. Perhaps because it was generously topped with cocoa powder, it didn't melt much and remained beautiful and delicious until the very last bite. It had a rich, creamy flavor that wasn't too sweet, and the bitter espresso left a refreshing aftertaste, making it a perfect dessert for coffee lovers like us. It was even more delicious than I expected, making it my top recommendation for dessert that day!
Under the arcade of the shopping street, you can escape the strong summer sun and enjoy eating and walking around comfortably.
To finish off our food tour, we enjoyed hot spring steamed buns from "Kikukawa Shoten".
Of course, when you think of Hakone, you think of "onsen manju" (hot spring steamed buns). My attention was drawn to a machine that made only a clattering sound, and that's where this came from:Kikukawa Shoten」。
"Castella cake" 1 piece ¥80
While hot spring steamed buns are nice, I spotted some castella cakes and couldn't resist buying just one. The firm dough was filled to the brim with smooth white bean paste, giving it a traditional taste. A perfect souvenir of my trip to the hot spring town.
I continued walking through the shopping street, took a restroom break at Hakone-Yumoto Station, and then turned back.
The Hakone Tozan Railway Moha 2 series train, which continues to run as the face of Hakone, is operated by Odakyu Hakone and Hakone Tozan Railway.
While the tranquility of Gora Station is nice, the lively atmosphere of Yumoto Station also has its own charm as a hot spring town, which is great.
The clear flow of the Hayakawa River can be seen from Ajisai Bridge.
A food tour of Hakone Yumoto that satisfies both your heart and your stomach.
Stroll through the hot spring town accompanied by the gentle murmur of the river. Discover local delicacies and sweets that can only be found here, and enjoy a moment of healing for both mind and body. On my next visit, I definitely want to try the things I missed this time, as well as the new sweets! The presence of an arcade, unaffected by the weather, is reassuring, and those with dogs can enjoy strolling around with peace of mind if they have a dog cart. Enjoy a moment of satisfaction for both your heart and stomach with the gourmet food of Hakone Yumoto.
Next episode preview | Recommended spots on the shores of Lake Ashi, surrounded by greenery and the lake
Hakone Yumoto Tourism Association
http://www.hakoneyumoto.com/
