On April 25, 2025, the newly remodeled Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Station as well as the station-front plaza were reopened. The centerpiece is the newly built Earth Valley, an observation area offering visitors unforgettable experiences. The name “Earth Valley” was chosen because it is a space where visitors can feel the “living earth” through Owakudani’s rugged exposed rock, steaming fumaroles, and smell of sulfur in the air.

This area was designed around the themes of “black, geo, and wind,” and each of its zones offer a different way to experience the natural beauty of Owakudani. For example, as the name suggests, the Wind Circle Terrace (Kaze no Wa Terrace) allows visitors to get a 360° panoramic view while being embraced by the winds that blow through the valley. Meanwhile, the Breath Deck (Ibuki no Deck) delivers a thrilling view of steaming fumaroles directly under your feet through its glass deck.

At the Edge of the Vast Sky (Ozora no Hotori), visitors can not only watch the gondolas of the Hakone Ropeway as they glide through the air, but also experience an unparalleled feeling of liberation and freedom delivered by the view of the surrounding mountains, forests, and expansive sky.

The first floor and exterior of Owakudani Station have also been renovated. Newly opened on the first floor is the Tani no Marché shop offering exclusive drinks, sweets, and souvenirs. Here you can find local tastes and treats available no place else, as well as an array of wonderful items that you won’t be able to help yourself from taking home.

The first thing that will catch your eye as you exit Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Station is the Wind Circle Terrace. This observation area sets the stage and provides visitors to Owakudani Station with their first experience of the scale of Owakudani’s vast natural beauty. As the name suggests, the area has a circular terrace that allows the wind to blow through its center, providing a 360° view of Hakone’s magnificent nature no matter which direction you look.

When we actually stood there, we were surprised by the fact that it felt even more open than we had expected. The wind blowing up from the valley is also astonishingly powerful, and cold. The wind carries the distinctive smell of sulfur, telling you that you have reached Owakudani.

A part of the terrace juts out toward the mountains and is a great place to take a photo to remember your visit. The terrace’s safety barrier is not too high and doesn’t block the view, making it easy to get pictures featuring Owakudani’s spectacular fumaroles and precipices.

It’s an invigorating place that is completely out of the ordinary and just makes you want to spread your arms out and take a deep breath.

Those who come to Earth Valley by car or bus can also enjoy the dramatic climb up the stairs leading to the terrace from below. With each step up the stairs, the sound of the wind grows louder and the excitement builds. The Wind Circle Terrace as seen from the bottom of the stairs is also a sight to behold.

Our next stop was the Breath Deck. It was built sticking out into thin air. When you stand on it, you can see Owakudani’s distinctive bare rock and the steam that endlessly billows from it. The deck’s safety barrier and floor are made of glass. This viewing spot enables you to truly feel the “breath” of the living mountains from directly above and beside you.

Stepping onto the deck, the first thing that we were surprised by was the height! Because the rocky terrain and fumaroles below are clearly visible, just standing there was a bit of a thrill.

Gradually, however, a sense of being directly connected to the energy of the Earth overtook the fear. Peering down at our feet and over the safety barrier, we could see the craggy rock of Owakudani, its unceasing jets of steam, and yellow and white sulfur crystals. It was like a living cross section of the Earth. The more we looked, the more it drew us in and the more we couldn’t take our eyes off the view.

One of the trademarks of Owakudani is the scenery created by the gondolas of the Hakone Ropeway leisurely passing through the valley. Traversing the steaming fumaroles as they seemingly glide through the air, the gondolas have a certain majesty that is somehow soothing just to look at.

The Edge of the Vast Sky is a spot where you can view the ropeway gondolas up close. Sometimes we found ourselves making eye contact with passengers on the ropeway. We would wave at them, and they would wave back. Being so close to the gondolas makes these kinds of pleasant interactions possible.

The Edge of the Vast Sky is also located at the edge of Earth Valley and offers an extremely clear view unobstructed by buildings or trees. As its name suggests, this is a place where you can feel like you are right next to the sky.

It is also a great place to get a sweeping view of the city center and the range of peaks that make up the outer rim of Mt. Hakone. Information panels show the names of the mountains and landmarks that can be seen from the deck. These spark conversation, and we found ourselves naturally asking, “I wonder what mountain that is?” and “Is that Tokyo Skytree?” In addition, counters line the perimeter of the area and there are also benches, making this the perfect place to take a break with a drink or a sweet treat.

This spot is also home to facilities that support Owakudani, such as the Valley Wind Turbine (Tani no Fusha), a windmill that generates electricity; and the Volcano Monitoring Camera (Kazan no Camera), which is used to keep a constant watch on volcanic activity in the area. Being able to see some of the mechanisms that support local nature conservation and tourism, normally hidden from view, makes the Edge of the Vast Sky a really unique place.

After strolling around Earth Valley, we were hungry. The Owakudani Station Diner, located on the second floor of Owakudani Station, was the perfect place for us to head to. Making our way back inside Owakudani Station from the observation area, the diner was up the stairs. The diner’s large windows offer a view of the area’s distinctive rough natural rock as well as the ridges of Mt. Hakone’s outer rim.

During this visit, our aim was to try two “black” local specialty dishes: The Owakudani curry with soft boiled egg (1,350 yen, tax incl.) and the quantities-limited Hot Curry Udon (1,200 yen, tax incl.).

The Owakudani curry with soft boiled egg features a blackish-brown roux that was inspired by the area’s volcanic activity. Scooping up a spoonful, the aroma of the curry had us intrigued. Richly spiced, the curry fills your mouth with full-bodied flavor and spiciness. And the onsen tamago soft-boiled egg served on top is exquisite. Breaking the yolk and mixing it in with the roux results in a smoother, more mellow flavor.

The Hot Curry Udon is particularly popular on cold days. The day of our visit was in late April, but it was still chilly up in the mountains, and we found ourselves drawn to this hot dish. The fat udon noodles carry the black curry soup to your mouth, and you can feel yourself warming up with each bite. You can really taste the flavor of the spices, but the curry isn’t too spicy, and goes well with the noodles.

Also, if you sit by the window, you can get a panoramic view of the Breath Deck and the Edge of the Vast Sky. Here, you can enjoy a unique and luxurious moment and have a meal while taking in the distinctive scenery of Owakudani and the slow-moving gondolas of the Hakone Ropeway.

Don’t forget to stop by the Tani no Marché souvenir shop on the first floor of Owakudani Station. The bright and cheery store is filled with Hakone souvenirs, exclusive sweets, and local drinks. Just looking was enough to get us excited!

We found tons of souvenirs, and even their packages were cute, like black Owakudani eggs boiled in a squid ink-based sauce (750 yen, tax incl.), Hakone black egg-themed macarons (1,190 yen, tax incl.), and Hakone black egg-themed tart cookies (780 yen, tax incl.). It’s fun thinking about what souvenir to get for someone, and deciding maybe you’ll get one for yourself, too!

One of the things we decided to buy was a Fujisan-oshi Bottle (550 yen, tax incl.), sold exclusively in Owakudani, to show our appreciation for Mt. Fuji. The “-oshi” in the name refers to oshikatsu, the Japanese activity of showing support for your favorite band or place, etc. The inwardly bulging bottom of the clear bottle is modeled after Mt. Fuji, and even faithfully depicts the mountain’s rough surface. It just makes you want to pick it up and look at it up close!

The Fujisan-oshi Bottle was designed around two concepts. One was the idea of taking home Mt. Fuji as seen from Hakone in a bottle so visitors could bring back a physical representation of their trip memories. The other was a modern and playful way to use the product as an oshikatsu item to be enjoyed together with bottle caps topped with a 2-D acrylic figure of Mt. Fuji, also available for sale in your favorite color (300 yen, tax incl.).

On sale now, these bottle caps are offered in nine different colors. You can choose your favorite color and have fun taking a photo together with a 2-D acrylic figure of your favorite character or idol!

What really stands out at the Tani no Marché, however, is the exclusive sweets and drinks that can only be enjoyed here. All of them are inspired by the nature and scenery of Owakudani.

The first one we recommend trying is the Tanimaru Soft ice cream (600 yen/tax incl.). “Tanimaru” is an abbreviation of “Tani no Marché.” There are three flavors to choose from: Rich, mellow vanilla; Hakone Sanroku black tea, which has a mature aroma and astringency; and a mix option which allows you to enjoy the first two flavors at the same time. Of particular note, the addictive Hakone Sanroku black tea flavor has a delicate tea aroma and a rich yet refreshing aftertaste.

Another point we want to note is that the shop serves its ice cream using three different swirl styles. This was inspired by Owakudani’s distinctive rough, bare rock and the steam that seeps through it, resulting in the valley looking different each day. It’s nature’s way of telling us that “nothing is the same every day.”

The soft-serve ice cream is topped with a round, baked waffle. Designed to represent the Earth, its crunchy texture goes perfectly with the smoothness of the soft-serve ice cream. You can also use the waffle to eat the ice cream instead of a spoon!

The shop’s photogenic drinks are perfect for enjoying along with its sweets. The Valley Soda and Geo-nade (650 yen each/tax incl.) are both original drinks inspired by the scenery of Owakudani.
(Valley Soda shown in the photo on the left and Geo-nade on the right.)

The Valley Soda is an orange-colored soda inspired by the valley of Owakudani. Infused with tea soda and featuring red grapefruit pulp at the bottom of the cup, the Valley Soda is a refreshing drink. Stir well before drinking. The bitterness of the grapefruit and the aroma of the tea make for a perfect flavor combination on a hot day.

The Geo-nade is a striking black-colored drink. The black color is actually lemon-flavored jelly, which tastes surprisingly refreshing. The sweet and sour flavor of the lemonade, the texture of the jelly, and the juiciness of the included lemon wedge go well together, creating a delightful disparity between the appearance and the taste.

You can enjoy your sweets and drinks using the counter inside the Tani no Marché or the seating outside the station building.

Armed with soft-serve ice cream and a drink, we headed for the Rock Nest Bench (Iwa no Su Bench), an area where you can take a relaxing break while enjoying a view of Owakudani’s great outdoors. The shapes of the benches in this area are designed to be reminiscent of the rocks that roll down the slopes of Owakudani. Located under the roof of the station building, it is a great place to cool down from the sun or to shelter from sudden rain.

The benches look sharp and hard, but actually have a surprising degree of cushion and are soft to sit on. Despite their uncomfortable-looking appearance, when you actually sit down on one, they are quite comfortable, and this discrepancy is part of their charm.

Earth Valley is located at an altitude of 1,000 meters but is packed with a variety of experiences. Visitors can engage with Owakudani’s unique nature—including its distinctive rocky landscapes, fumaroles, and sulfurous scents—through sight, sound, touch, and taste. They can learn about the area and even take a part of it home as a souvenir. With this recent remodeling, visitors can use their senses and curiosity to enjoy Owakudani even more than ever before.

If you’re looking to visit this bigger and better Owakudani, we recommend the Owakudani 2-Day Pass and the Hakone Freepass. These ride passes are perfect for those looking to enjoy the Hakone area efficiently, without restriction, and at a good price. For the route we took, the Owakudani 2-Day Pass was the most economical option, but if you are planning a trip to Hakone, we recommend the Hakone Freepass, which is the best choice for enjoying the entire Hakone area.

The Owakudani 2-Day Pass allows unlimited travel on designated sections of the Hakone Tozan Train, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, and Hakone Ropeway, and also includes round-trip travel on the Odakyu Line (from the departure station of your choice to Odawara Station). It also includes free admission to Hakone Gora Park. Whether you’re traveling from Shinjuku or Odawara, you can enjoy sightseeing in Owakudani at a reasonable price.

The Hakone Freepass allows unlimited rides on a total of eight vehicles, including the Hakone Ropeway, Hakone Tozan Train, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, and Hakone Tozan Bus. The pass also includes round-trip travel on the Odakyu Line from the departure station of your choice to Odawara, another major benefit as it can be used to access Hakone including from the Tokyo metropolitan area!

For example, departing from Shinjuku Station, you could take the Romancecar to Odawara and then take the Hakone Tozan Train to the Hakone Cable Car to the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani. This route itself is already a sightseeing experience, and one of the great things about the pass is that you can use it to enjoy the area’s extraordinary scenery while on the move.

The Freepass also includes a number of discount offers. You can get discounts on admission fees, food, and beverages at more than 70 destinations, including museums, hot spring facilities, and restaurants, enabling you to continue to enjoy great savings at the places you stop by during your trip. At the Owakudani Station Diner we ate at during our visit, Freepass users can get a 20% discount on soft drinks just by showing their pass. Feeling like you’ve saved money even with just a small discount on a single drink immediately makes your trip feel that much more rewarding.

For those looking to go on a journey to experience nature and feel the energy of the living mountains, we encourage you to visit the newly remodeled Owakudani! And to enjoy sightseeing and freedom of movement without restriction, we recommend the Owakudani 2-Day Pass and Hakone Freepass so you can tour Hakone by any route you wish.

Note: Information as of May 31, 2025.