Hakone is in perfect day-trip-range from Gotemba and an all-around very popular sightseeing destination! It is really versatile as well: going by cable car through snowy mountains (known for its sulfury black eggs), to hiking along Lake Ashi with views of Mt. Fuji, and also being able to visit various shrines as well as (very popular) Tori gates in the water.
The mountains are really photogenic, with all the steam and the snow at the time. There are also shops with a lot of special, regional souvenirs revolving around the black eggs! And although it looks rather calm and peaceful in the pictures, it is very popular with tourists so it might get very crowded at peak times.
Even after going down from the mountains we still saw a lot of snow, which was quite the contrast to our trip to Kamakura just a few days before.
The lake is also really pretty and it was chill just spending a few hours walking there, especially with the occasional view of Mt. Fuji. We also had a little Takoyaki snack (very much recommended!) close to the zoo/aquarium to keep our spirits up for a whole day of walking!
There are also a few shrines and Tori gates which offer some peace and nice contrast. Not pictured is the biggest Tori gate right at Hakone Shrine; it is the main attraction and very, very crowded, so there was a long queue just to stand at the gate and take a picture (which is not my favorite kind of place…).
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