Gora Park and Hakone Craft House
It may be cold outside but it’s blazing hot in here.
Furnace ablaze and a spectrum of colours to choose from: which will you choose? Getting creative and arty while you’re on holiday often gets overlooked by things like volcanoes, lakes and extreme sports. If you’re into that, good for you. But if you’re not, there’s a world of chilled out activities for you to do in Hakone too. In particular, the Hakone Craft House in Gora Park.
Watching the sunset in Gora Park is beautiful. The gardens are laid out in intricate patterns. Trees sprout colourful blossoms or bend over with the weight of snow. The seasons take centre stage. For many people, it’s a busy time snapping away at Mt. Fuji or kayaking around Lake Ashinoko. Gora Park is the place to relax.
Inside Gora Park is a craft workshop where you can try glass blowing and other activities.
The path leading through Gora Park eventually ends up at what looks like a large, cozy cottage. In fact, this is one of the most magical places in Hakone. Feast your eyes on the dazzling home made crockery or head over to the jewellery shop to see what happens when you line up stunning little beads in just the right way. What makes this place unique is that pretty much everything you can see, you can also make right there and then.
Crafting workshops will set you back at least a few thousand yen (on average you’re looking at 3000 yen) but on top of friendly staff brimming with encouragement and top notch serve that’ll even appeal to those lacking in artistry or Japanese, they’ll ship home your masterpiece for you. So stock up on souvenirs for your family and friends before you hop back on the Romancecar safe in the knowledge that you have a little piece of Hakone waiting for you in the mail. And you made it yourself!
