1.
Hakone; the mountain hot-spring resort southwest of Tokyo
A volcanic mountain area in Kanagawa Prefecture famous for its hot springs, its views of Mount Fuji across Lake Ashi, and its ryokan inns. It is the default answer when Tokyo residents think of a short onsen trip, and it hosts the New Year's Hakone Ekiden relay race.
Common expressions
- 箱根駅伝: the university relay race run every January 2nd and 3rd
- 箱根温泉: the Hakone hot springs
- 箱根越え: crossing the Hakone pass — historically the hardest stretch of the Tokaido road
- 箱根関所: the Edo-period checkpoint at Hakone
Cultural note
Because the Hakone Ekiden is broadcast nationwide over the New Year holiday, 箱根 is tied to New Year viewing habits as much as to travel. Its steep pass also lives on in the old song line 箱根の山は天下の険 — "the mountains of Hakone are the steepest under heaven."