Hike along the 400,000-year-old caldera rim of the volcanic Hakone area

This invigorating seven-hour hike takes you along the rim of the Hakone Caldera, a depression formed by volcanic activity that began around 400,000 years ago. You can go on a guided trek that starts from the Kojiri Water Gate (723 m) and ends at a shrine (700 m) in the foothills of Mount Kintoki. Along the way, you'll traverse the Hakone Caldera rim, and pass Hakone Ashinoko Observation Park (1,005 m), Mount Marutake (1,156 m), Mount Nagao (1,150 m), and Mount Kintoki (1,213 m).

You'll get splendid views of the caldera terrain of Hakone, Lake Ashinoko, the active volcanic valley of Owakudani, and, weather permitting, a panorama from Suruga Bay to Sagami Bay with Mount Fuji as the centerpiece. Covering nearly six kilometers, this exhilarating journey will introduce you to some of Japan's most fascinating geological features.