Shopping · Hakone · Japan
Shopping in Hakone
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Aimaimyi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Hakone shopping centres on traditional crafts and food souvenirs, especially Yosegi-zaiku marquetry and puzzle boxes, and the shops of Hakone-Yumoto's main street. Best souvenirs: Yosegi-zaiku marquetry, Puzzle boxes and Onsen manju and sweets.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 0
- Top souvenir
- Yosegi-zaiku marquetry
Where to shop
Hakone-Yumoto main street
Souvenir shops, sweet shops and craft stores between the station and the river.
Hatajuku
The village on the old Tōkaidō where Yosegi-zaiku woodwork has been made for generations, with workshops and shops.
Gotemba Premium Outlets
A large outlet mall reachable by bus from Sengokuhara, for fashion and outdoor brands.
What to buy
Yosegi-zaiku marquetry
Geometric mosaics of natural-coloured woods made into boxes, coasters and trays.
Puzzle boxes
Himitsu-bako wooden boxes that open only after a series of sliding moves.
Onsen manju and sweets
Boxed steamed buns and local sweets from Yumoto's shops.
Kamaboko
Odawara fish cakes, vacuum-packed for travel.
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Black eggs, Onsen manju, Amazake and Odawara kamaboko. Shops beside the volcanic vents at Ōwakudani, reached by the Hakone Ropeway. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Hakone-Yumoto | $$ | The gateway onsen town by the station, with souvenir streets and riverside ryokan |
| Miyanoshita | $$$$ | Historic hot-spring village around the 1878 Fujiya Hotel |
| Gōra | $$$ | The hub at the top of the Tozan line, with the cable car, Gōra Park and many ryokan |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in JPY. Tipping is not customary in Japan. Some guests leave a small gratuity in an envelope for ryokan staff, but it is never expected.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February; the busiest months are August and November.
- July: Lake Ashi lake festival with torii-yaki fires (usually late July)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Hakone?
Yosegi-zaiku marquetry, Puzzle boxes, Onsen manju and sweets and Kamaboko.
+Where is the best shopping in Hakone?
Hakone-Yumoto main street: Souvenir shops, sweet shops and craft stores between the station and the river.