Hakone is popular not only for its natural beauty and hot springs but also as a destination where visitors can enjoy various craft experiences. Among these, “Hakone Craft House” is beloved by many tourists as a facility where you can easily try authentic crafting, including glassblowing, pottery, and lampwork bead making.
In this article, we’ll explain in detail the appeal and ways to enjoy crafting at Hakone Craft House. Why not create a special handmade piece as a memento of your trip?
What is Hakone Craft House? A Popular Spot for Craft Experiences
Hakone Craft House is a craft experience facility located within the beautiful “Hakone Gora Park,” which showcases seasonal natural beauty. It’s popular among tourists and families as a spot where you can easily enjoy authentic crafting, including glassblowing, pottery, and lampwork bead making.
The biggest appeal is being able to create your own original pieces under the guidance of skilled craftsmen, making it perfect as a travel memory. Here, we’ll explain in detail the basic information about Hakone Craft House, the appeal of craft experiences, and points that even beginners can enjoy.
Basic Information and Appeal of Hakone Craft House
Hakone Craft House is located about a 10-minute walk from “Gora Station” on the Hakone Tozan Railway, making its accessibility one of its main attractions.
Being situated within Gora Park, visitors can stroll through the beautiful gardens or relax at cafes before or after their craft experience.
The facility offers various craft experiences including glassblowing, pottery, lampwork bead making, sandblasting, pottery painting, glass cutting, and laser engraving. Each experience includes one-on-one instruction from staff, making it accessible even for beginners.
Additionally, completed works can be taken home, making them perfect as travel mementos. They make great gifts for loved ones as well as personal keepsakes.
Reference: Recommended for Hakone sightseeing | Hakone Gora Park Hakone Craft House | Access
Why Craft Experiences are Popular in Hakone
Hakone has long been known as an area where art and culture thrive, with numerous museums and galleries scattered throughout. This has led to the spread of a culture that combines tourism with art and crafts, making craft experiences increasingly popular.
The particular popularity of Hakone Craft House stems from the ability to engage in creative activities while relaxing in nature. Away from urban noise, concentrating on handcrafts in Hakone’s peaceful atmosphere provides a sense of focus and achievement that can’t be experienced in daily life.
Additionally, with Hakone’s history as a hot spring destination, incorporating “experiences” between other tourist activities adds another dimension to sightseeing enjoyment. The ability to experience the joy of crafting alongside hot springs and dining is uniquely Hakone.
Experience Programs Enjoyable for Beginners
The craft experiences at Hakone Craft House are designed to be easily accessible for beginners. Professional craftsmen provide careful instruction, ensuring even first-timers can participate with confidence.
Glassblowing Experience
In the glassblowing experience, craftsmen support you with glass handling and shaping techniques, allowing even beginners to create beautiful pieces.
Pottery Experience
The pottery experience teaches you from the clay forming process, enabling beginners to create proper vessels.
Lampwork Bead Making
In lampwork bead making, you can create your own unique accessories using colorful glass.
Experience times are relatively short, ranging from 15 to 90 minutes, making them easy to fit into your sightseeing schedule. The content is enjoyable for a wide age range from children to adults, making it an ideal spot for family trips, couples, or groups of friends.
Flow of Experience Programs at Hakone Craft House
At Hakone Craft House, craft experiences are designed to flow smoothly from initial reservation to finished piece collection. The process for each experience is clearly laid out for first-time visitors, and there are plenty of programs that can be enjoyed in a short time.
Here, we’ll explain in detail the reservation process, what to bring, time requirements and fees, and how to receive your completed works.
Reservation Methods and What to Bring
Advance reservations are recommended for craft experiences at Hakone Craft House. This is especially important during weekends and tourist seasons when the facility can get crowded, making advance booking the best way to ensure you can participate in your desired experience.
Online Reservations Through the Official Website
Select your desired experience program and specify your preferred date and time. The real-time availability check makes this convenient. Note that phone reservations are not available.
Official Website: https://www.crafthouse.org/en/information-dantai.html
Same-day Registration (Subject to Availability)
While walk-ins are possible, popular programs often fill up quickly, so advance reservations are recommended for guaranteed participation.
About Clothing
It’s ideal to wear comfortable clothing that allows easy movement. For experiences like pottery and glassblowing where clothes might get dirty, bringing an apron or wearing casual clothing is recommended. For glassblowing experiences, avoid wearing synthetic fabrics as they can be flammable.
Workshop Duration and Fees
Hakone Craft House offers a wide range of experiences, from quick activities to more involved workshops. Here are the time requirements and fees for each experience:
| Experience | Duration (per person) | Fee (tax included) |
| Glassblowing | 15 min | From ¥3,800 |
| Electric Potter’s Wheel | 40 min | ¥3,000 + firing fee from ¥1,000 |
| Hand-building Pottery | 40-60 min | From ¥3,600 |
| Sandblasting | 60 min + 30 min processing | From ¥3,000 |
| Glass Cutting | 60 min | From ¥3,500 |
| Laser Engraving | 30 min + 30 min processing | From ¥2,200 |
| Pottery Painting | 60 min | From ¥3,500 |
| Lampwork Beads | 15 min + 50 min cooling + 30 min assembly | ¥2,500 + accessory fee from ¥400 |
| Lampwork Bead Accessories | 30 min | From ¥2,200 |
Reference: Hakone Gora Park & Hakone Craft House
For experiences, we recommend wearing comfortable clothing that can get dirty. While aprons may be available for loan, please check in advance for details.
How to Receive Completed Works
Some works can be taken home immediately, while others require later pickup.
Items Available for Same-day Collection
Works that don’t require firing or drying, such as lampwork beads, sandblasting, and pottery painting, can be completed and taken home the same day.
Items Requiring Later Pickup
Glassblowing and pottery pieces require firing and finishing processes, taking approximately 2-4 weeks to complete. There are two options for receiving these works:
On-site Pickup (If You Can Return Later)
Return to Hakone Craft House after the specified date to collect your work.
Shipping Service (For Distance Travelers)
Works can be shipped to your home for an additional shipping fee. Many tourists choose this option to avoid carrying extra items during their trip.
Part of the enjoyment comes from waiting for your finished piece, as the firing and processing can create subtle variations in the final product. Hakone Craft House ensures a smooth experience from reservation to piece collection, making it accessible even for beginners.
Access and Business Hours for Hakone Craft House
Located within Hakone Gora Park, Hakone Craft House is accessible by train, bus, or car. As a popular tourist destination, knowing the business hours and peak times in advance will help you enjoy your experience more smoothly. There are many convenient facilities for sightseeing and dining in the surrounding area, making it helpful to check access information in advance.
Here, we’ll explain in detail how to get to Hakone Craft House, business hours, parking information, and more.
Access by Train, Bus, or Car
Hakone Craft House can be accessed by train, bus, or car.
Access by Train
The nearest station is “Gora” Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway, about a 10-minute walk away. Alternatively, you can get off at “Koen-shimo” Station on the Hakone Tozan Cable Car for just a 1-minute walk. From Hakone-Yumoto Station to Gora Station takes about 40 minutes on the Hakone Tozan Railway, and you can enjoy the scenic railway journey up steep slopes along the way.
Access by Bus
If taking the bus, get off at the “Gora Park” bus stop on the sightseeing facility circuit bus for immediate access. The location is convenient to visit while sightseeing from Hakone-Yumoto or Lake Ashi areas.
Access by Car
If driving, it’s about 30 minutes from “Gotemba IC” on the Tomei Expressway via Otome Pass and Sengokuhara, or about 30 minutes from “Odawara-West IC” on the Odawara-Atsugi Road via Hakone-Yumoto and Miyanoshita. Take care when driving as Hakone’s mountain roads have many curves.
The paid parking lot can accommodate 43 regular vehicles, but due to limited spaces, public transportation is recommended.
Please use this access information to plan your visit to Hakone Craft House.
Business Hours and Tips to Avoid Crowds
Hakone Craft House is normally open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. During certain seasons and holiday periods, they may open from 9:30 AM. During winter (December 1 to February 28), closing time is 4:30 PM. Final admission times vary by experience, so please check in advance.
Hakone Craft House tends to be crowded during tourist seasons, weekends, and holidays. Consider these points for a more comfortable visit:
- Visit early in the morning
- Come on weekdays
- Make advance reservations
Especially if you’re planning to participate in craft experiences, making advance reservations will ensure a smooth experience. Also, as business hours may change depending on weather and season, we recommend checking the latest information before your visit.
Summary
Hakone Craft House is cherished by many tourists as a valuable spot where you can experience traditional crafts up close. It features various programs including glassblowing, pottery, and lampwork bead making, with the distinctive feature that even beginners can easily participate.
In recent years, the fusion of traditional techniques with modern design has made these experiences more accessible to a wider audience. Services have been enhanced to meet tourist needs, including short-duration programs, seasonal special events, and support for international visitors.
Why not visit Hakone Craft House to experience the joy of creating your own one-of-a-kind piece as a memento of your Hakone trip? Keep an eye on their new initiatives as they continue to develop their offerings.
