Lake Ashi or Ashinoko (芦ノ湖) is a volcanic crater lake located in Hakone town, Kanagawa Prefecture. Hakone is one of the busiest tourist destinations in Japan, known for Onsen resource and rich nature, and it’s particularly popular as a weekend getaway from Tokyo due to a great accessibility.

Lake Ashi, is an icon of Hakone, offering an astonishing scenery for visitors together with the Mt Fuji on the background as well as the large red torii gate standing at the shore of the lake. Around the lakes, there are a plenty of attractions including historic sites, hot spring baths, traditional ryokan inn, souvenir shops, ropeway, museums and parks. The sightseeing cruise of the lake is one of the most popular activities in Hakone town, and there are also rental bicycles that you can cycle around the lake.

Lake Ashi is a popular destination all year round, but it is highly recommended to visit there in autumn, when the trees of the mountains gradually turn their colours to warm and colourful autumn shades. The autumn leaves season is usually end of October and mid of November in Hakone area, which is slightly earlier than in Tokyo.

As the lake is surrounded by the forest and the mountains at different altitudes, you can enjoy the beautiful gradation of warm autumn colours of red, orange, yellow and green with the lake against the back drop of the snow capped Mt Fuji. The contrast of the colours is even better on sunny days when the sky is clear and blue!

For more information about Hakone area and how to get there from Tokyo, please check the following articles!

Hakone: 10 Best Things to Do Best Things to Do in Hakone and How to Get to Hakone from Tokyo jw-webmagazine.com

How to Get to Hakone from Tokyo Find the cheaper and faster transportation to Hakone from Tokyo jw-webmagazine.com

Thanks for reading! If you are looking for more information about travelling Japan, please check out the listed articles, too!

26 Best Day Trips from Tokyo Best One-Day Tours and Activities from Tokyo jw-webmagazine.com

Autumn in Japan: 10 Best Things to Do Top Things to Do and Places to Visit in Japan in Autumn jw-webmagazine.com

5 Best Autumn Leaves Spots in Kanagawa5 Best Spots to View Beautiful Autumn Leaves in Kanagawa Prefecturejw-webmagazine.com

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Written by

Naho_B_M

"The world is my oyster" A globetrotter 🌎 and hammock lover 🌞 who loves taking adventures to fuel wanderlust. Born and raised in Japan, I have spend almost a decade living and exploring countries across the world. Based on my travel experience, I'd love to share my knowledge and tips for travelling with my readers. I hope my stories help you plan your trip and have a great time in Japan 🌈