Introduction
Gora Park (強羅公園, Gōra Kōen), located on the steep slope above Gora Station in Hakone, is renowned as a Western-style landscape park. It offers a tranquil retreat where visitors can relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of Hakone. With its French-inspired garden design, rose garden, greenhouses, and various hands-on activities, this park has become an unmissable destination for tourists visiting Hakone.
Key Features
- Western-style landscape design
- Large fountain and rose garden
- Two greenhouses (tropical botanical garden and flower garden)
- Craft activities at the Crafthouse
- Restaurant with beautiful views
- Tea house for experiencing Japanese culture
Historical Background
Gora Park opened in 1914, during a period when Japan was showing increased interest in Western culture. The park’s design, centered around a French-style garden, was a novel departure from traditional Japanese gardens.
Since its opening, the park has undergone several renovations to reach its current form. Notably, a major renovation took place during the post-World War II reconstruction period, enhancing the park to accommodate more tourists.
Main Attractions
French-style Garden and Grand Fountain
The French-style garden, located at the heart of the park, is characterized by its geometric design and orderly plantings. The grand fountain at its center is the park’s symbol, harmonizing with the surrounding flowers and greenery to create a beautiful landscape. The fountain’s spray provides a cool atmosphere on hot summer days, soothing visitors.
Walking through the garden, you can enjoy flowers that change with the seasons. Spring brings colorful tulips, summer is marked by fragrant roses, autumn paints the garden in fall colors, and winter transforms it into a snowy wonderland.
Rose Garden
Gora Park’s rose garden is a beautiful spot planted with a wide variety of roses. The best times to see the roses are from May to June and from October to November when roses of various colors bloom spectacularly. The landscape created by red, pink, yellow, and white roses is breathtaking and attracts many photography enthusiasts.
Benches and rest areas in the rose garden allow visitors to relax and enjoy the fragrance of roses. Information panels about roses are also installed, providing an opportunity to learn about rose varieties and cultivation methods.
Greenhouses
There are two greenhouses in the park. One is a tropical botanical garden where you can observe tropical plants year-round. It’s filled with palms, ferns, orchids, and other plants rarely seen in Japan. The other greenhouse is a flower garden where seasonal flowers bloom beautifully. The temperature and humidity are controlled in the greenhouses, allowing visitors to enjoy plants comfortably regardless of the weather outside.
Crafthouse
At the Crafthouse, visitors can enjoy various hands-on craft experiences. Activities include glass blowing, glass etching, pottery, and dried flower arrangement. These experiences provide an excellent opportunity to engage with traditional Japanese crafts. The cost of activities ranges from 1000 to 5000 yen, and they take about 30 minutes to an hour to complete. Visitors can take home their creations as souvenirs, making for perfect travel memories.
Restaurant and Tea House
The park’s restaurant is ideally located overlooking the grand fountain. Here, visitors can dine while enjoying the views of Hakone. The menu offers a mix of Japanese and Western cuisine, including dishes made with local ingredients.
There’s also a tea house called Hakuun-do Chaen, where visitors can experience traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The tea house offers views of the garden, creating a unique space where Japanese culture and Western-style gardens blend.
Best Time to Visit
Gora Park offers beautiful scenery throughout the year, but the following periods are particularly recommended:
- Spring (April to May): When cherry blossoms and tulips are in bloom
- Early Summer (late May to June): The first peak bloom period for roses
- Autumn (October to November): When autumn foliage coincides with the second rose bloom
However, as Hakone is popular year-round, weekday visits are recommended if you want to avoid crowds.
How to Get There
You can access Gora Park by:
Train: 5-minute walk from Gora Station, the terminal station of the Hakone Tozan Railway
- About 35 minutes from Hakone-Yumoto Station to Gora Station, costs 460 yen
- Trains run every 15-20 minutes
Bus: Buses operate from various locations in Hakone
- Check the Hakone Tozan Bus official website for detailed bus routes
Car: From Tokyo area, use the Odawara-Atsugi Road and then via Hakone Shindo
- The park has a parking lot, but it may get crowded on holidays
Opening Hours and Admission Fees
- Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30)
- Closed: Infrequent irregular closing days (a few days per year)
- Admission: 650 yen for adults (free with the Hakone Free Pass)
Visitor Tips
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. The park has slopes and stairs.
- Don’t forget your camera. There are many opportunities to photograph beautiful scenery and flowers.
- Reservations are recommended for craft experiences, especially during busy periods.
- Bring sun protection and rain gear. Be prepared for weather changes.
- Consider purchasing the Hakone Free Pass. It provides free entry to the park and can be used on local transportation.
Official Website
Conclusion
Gora Park is a unique tourist destination that blends the natural beauty of Hakone with the elegance of Western-style gardens. Through its seasonal flowers, beautiful landscapes, and various hands-on activities, it offers unforgettable memories to its visitors. When traveling in Japan, be sure to visit Gora Park and fully experience the charm of Hakone. A stroll through the beautiful gardens, craft experiences, and teatime while enjoying the spectacular view will surely make your trip special.