Chapter 03 · Experiences
No. 33
Hakone days
The Daimonji ridge hike
大文字山（明星ヶ岳）ハイク
From Amida-ji, a quiet temple among cedars, up to the mountain that wears a burning 大 each August: 5.7 km with Fuji in view, then an onsen.
時刻表Timetable
- 所要Duration
- 5–6 hours
- 季節Season
- April to November.
- 人数Group
- 2–8 guests · Ages 10 and up
- 移動Getting there
- By trainBy train: Odakyu or the Hakone Tozan line to Tonosawa, and the bus or train back. Fares are paid on the day.
- 集合Meeting point
- Tonosawa Station.
- 料金Price
- Guide fee, from ¥5,000 each with your stay
Add a paid tour and the stay is 10% less; discounts don't combine
Reserve
Choose a day, and book it
Finding the open days…
The story
For walking groups of four to eight: from Amida-ji, a quiet temple in the cedars, up to Myōjōgatake, the mountain that wears a burning 大 every August. It's 5.7 km with Fuji in view, ending in a Hakone-Yumoto onsen for your legs.
From Tonosawa, one stop above Hakone-Yumoto, a path climbs through the woods past Amida-ji, a quiet mountain temple, and up onto the grassy ridge of Myojogatake. Every 16 August a bonfire in the shape of the character 大 is lit on its slope to send the summer's spirits home, as it has been since 1921.
On a clear day Fuji stands at the end of the ridge. We come down to Yumoto for a long soak in a real onsen, and the train home.
For walking groups of four to eight: 5.7 km with Fuji in view, Amida-ji on the way up, and a Hakone-Yumoto onsen to finish.
路線図
The route
Times are a guide; the day bends to the weather.
Start
Tonosawa
塔ノ沢
10 min
The trailhead, one stop above Yumoto.
+0:10
Amida-ji
阿弥陀寺
1 h
A mountain temple on the way up.
+1:10
Myojogatake ridge
明星ヶ岳の尾根
2 h 30 min
The Daimonji slope, and Fuji on clear days.
+3:40Finish
A Yumoto onsen
湯本の温泉
1 h 15 min
A real hot spring to finish.
Good to know
Included
- Your host as guide, in English or Japanese
- A route planned around your group and the weather
- Help booking tickets and restaurant tables
Not included
- Travel: train fares, fuel and tolls for your own car, or the hire car
- Admissions, boats and workshops, paid on the day
- Meals and drinks
- The onsen's entry fee
- Price
- Guide fee per person, tax included. With your stay: ¥10,000 for one guest, ¥7,500 each for two, ¥5,000 each for three to twelve. Tour only: ¥10,000 each, for two guests or more. Admissions, partner fees, meals and travel are paid on the day. Book a paid tour with your stay and the stay itself is 10% less (you always get the single best discount). Groups of seven or more, please book 10 days ahead.
- Meeting point
- Tonosawa Station.
- Ages
- Ages 10 and up · A steady climb of several hours: for children who walk well.
- Weather
- Fuji, the stars and the fireworks depend on the sky; we tell you the evening before if it's worth going.
- Cancellation
- Guide fees follow the stay's cancellation tiers. Partners' own terms apply to theirs.
On the mapG2
Myojogatake, Hakone · About 18 km from the house
Sources
- 01
The Tonosawa–Myojogatake course is 5.7 km, passing Amida-ji temple; Myojogatake is also called Daimonji-yama for the great bonfire lit on it every 16 August.
Source: hakone.or.jp (opens in a new tab) - 02
The Gora Daimonji bonfire has been lit since 1921 as an O-bon send-off fire; the strokes of the character 大 are 108 m, 162 m and 81 m long.
Source: hakonenavi.jp (opens in a new tab)
Ask us about a date.
Tell us the day, who's coming and what you'd like to see. Your host replies within a few hours, in English or Japanese.
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