Sengokuhara Onsen: Hot Spring Guide & Visitor Access

Opening onto a wide grassland at around seven hundred meters above sea level in the northwest of Hakone, Sengokuhara Onsen is loved as a refreshing highland resort. Its use of hot springs began in the Edo period with water piped from Owakudani, and milky water from Owakudani and clear water from Ubako are still centrally managed and delivered to the inns. The clear air and open scenery give it a charm distinct from other Hakone springs.

Highlights

• The Sengokuhara silver grass field covering the slopes of Mount Daigatake, stunning in golden autumn
• A trail cutting through the grass with photogenic views
• Distinctive facilities such as the Hakone Wetlands Botanical Garden and the Hakone Glass Forest Museum
• Cloudy milky water drawn from Owakudani

Enjoying the Seasons

From late September to early November the pampas grass reaches its peak, shifting from silver to gold across the field. Early summer brings varied plants at the wetlands garden and pleasant highland breezes amid fresh greenery. In winter you can soak in milky water under crystal clear air and savor the quiet of the highlands.

Access and Basic Information

• About twenty eight minutes by Hakone Tozan Bus from the east exit of Hakone Yumoto Station, alighting at Sengoku Kogen
• The Hakone Wetlands Botanical Garden is open from late March to the end of November, from nine to five with last entry thirty minutes before closing, and admission is around seven hundred yen
• The Hakone Glass Forest Museum is open from ten to five thirty, with entry until five, showing a varied collection centered on Venetian glass
• Mainly milky water from Owakudani, supplemented by clear water from Ubako. The main water type is cloudy sulfate spring water

Practical Travel Notes

• The pampas grass peaks from late September to early November. Roads and parking get very crowded on weekends in this season, so using public transport or visiting early in the morning is recommended
• The field is even more beautiful in the morning light around eight or the slanting light of dusk. Walking the trail alone takes about thirty minutes to an hour
• With sights such as the wetlands garden and the Glass Forest Museum dotted about, it is easy to spend a whole day combining sightseeing and bathing
• Budget wise, museum and garden admission runs from a few hundred to over a thousand yen, and it stays affordable even with a day bath. The milky water warms a chilled body especially well

A Quick Tip

The grass viewing season draws crowds, so aiming for the slanting light of early morning or dusk makes the field shine even more beautifully. A stroll in the highland breeze after a bath is also recommended. The milky, sulfur bearing water warms you well, so remember to rehydrate.