Hakone Sekisho and Hakone Sekisho Museum
Hakone Sekisho and Hakone Sekisho Museum
Hakone Sekisho and Hakone Sekisho Museum
3.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
The Hakone Sekisho (Checkpoint) was one of the most important and famous Sekisho throughout Japan. The Sekisho officials carried out severe inspection of travelers especially women between 1619 and 1868. The Hakone Sekisho was perfectly restored in 2007.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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3.5
434 reviews
Excellent
59
Very good
187
Average
154
Poor
28
Terrible
6
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待兼山
Osaka Prefecture, Japan46,583 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We took a sightseeing boat to Lake Ashi, disembarked at the Hakone checkpoint, and toured the area. The admission fee, including the museum, was 500 yen. After going around the checkpoint, we climbed the stairs to the watchtower. We could see the whole of Lake Ashi. The museum was a little far away, but it had old books and photographs on display.
Written 28 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jurokro
62 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
This small museum is definitely worth taking with you if you are going on the round trip by cable car, ropeway and ship anyway. You don't need much time and still get a very good insight into an interesting part of the story. From here you can easily take the bus back to Gora.
Automatically translated
Written 29 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
flo220
New York City, NY430 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
Interesting museum/recreation. The sekisho was a checkpoint to control 'incoming guns and outgoing women', which means to prevent weapons from being
brought into Edo and wives and children of feudal lords from fleeing from Edo. The area around it is beautiful as well -- if you are up for it climb up to the overlook. (Beware the steps are uneven.)
brought into Edo and wives and children of feudal lords from fleeing from Edo. The area around it is beautiful as well -- if you are up for it climb up to the overlook. (Beware the steps are uneven.)
Written 10 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harmonicaharold
Philadelphia, PA1,526 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
As restorations go, there is some history that can be experienced here. The lakeside location is breathtaking. The main purpose of the checkpoint on the main road was to monitor arms entering Edo and for preventing women from escaping Edo. Hostage taking was a method for controlling others.
Written 22 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rilakkumaholic
Narashino, Japan326 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
This is an interesting facility that recreates the Hakone checkpoint. If you have trouble walking, it's difficult to get to the watchtower. If you pay, you can get close to the building and enter some of it, but you can enjoy it without paying because you can see inside from the outside. Volunteers guide you inside and up close, but you have to go back and forth repeatedly, so I hope they improve the route.
Written 15 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
k_matsu132
Kushiro, Japan23,665 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Hakone Checkpoint was established in 1619. It was completely restored in 2007 using carpentry and stonemasonry techniques and materials from the Edo period. The buildings within the checkpoint have also been restored, allowing us to see their former appearance in detail.
To the north of Hakone Checkpoint is the Hakone Checkpoint Museum. It exhibits materials related to Hakone Checkpoint and Hakone-juku, such as checkpoint passports, records of checkpoint breakers, and old documents such as checkpoint diaries.
As it is a famous checkpoint, it is also part of school trip courses, and it was full of school trip students when we visited, so after strolling around Hakone Park we returned and took our time to tour the facilities.
To the north of Hakone Checkpoint is the Hakone Checkpoint Museum. It exhibits materials related to Hakone Checkpoint and Hakone-juku, such as checkpoint passports, records of checkpoint breakers, and old documents such as checkpoint diaries.
As it is a famous checkpoint, it is also part of school trip courses, and it was full of school trip students when we visited, so after strolling around Hakone Park we returned and took our time to tour the facilities.
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Considered Review
Norwich, UK2,721 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Quite a little complex. A major transport hub in ancient time where travellers would pay a toll to cross. More museum areas than you'd think, with stable and living quarters etc. Quite interesting.
Written 1 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dundeetravellermrshc
Dundee, UK5,171 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Visited as part of our bus tour. Free entry, luvly place beautiful views, sadly not the best day weather wise for us. Great shops for gifts etc Worth a visit :)
Written 24 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hpn
Southern California64 contributions
Nov 2011 • Couples
We visited the Hakone Checkpoint (Hakone Sekisho) in November 2011. We understand that this is one of the main attractions in Hakone. However, for reasons explained below, we didn’t enjoy this attraction much.
While in Hakone, we completed the Hakone Loop in a clockwise direction, starting from Hakone-Yumoto. We wanted to relax in a Hakone-Yumoto onsen at the end of the day, before returning to Tokyo. The Hakone Checkpoint was our second stop, after the Hakone Shrine.
Since it gets dark early in November, we didn’t have much daylight time to cover the entire Hakone Loop. In hindsight, we should have skipped the Hakone Checkpoint to make more time for the Hakone Open Air Museum.
When we got off the Hakone Tozan bus, we looked around, but didn’t see any sign pointing toward the Hakone Checkpoint. We asked a taxi driver for directions, by pointing at our map. He tried his best to help us, but we could only make out something about a gas station. We marched forward and indeed found a gas station. The Hakone Checkpoint was not far from it.
We chose the Hakone Checkpoint for its historical significance. The following is what we learned about this place from our research (unfortunately, not from our visit).
During the feudal Edo Period, Tokugawa shogun placed 53 checkpoints on major roads across the nation. One of the largest, the Hakone Checkpoint was placed along the Tokaido highway between Edo (current Tokyo) and Kyoto. It was built in 1619 to keep the feudal lords from rebelling against the shogun. No one could bring weapons into Edo. No woman or child could leave Edo. Thus, the shogun kept the feudal lords in check, since their wives and children were, in effect, hostages inside Edo.
After about 260 years in operation, the Hakone Checkpoint was demolished. Its reconstruction was completed in 2007. Supposedly true to its original form, the checkpoint includes gates, fence, housing for officers and foot soldiers, an outdoor toilet, a shooting range, a prison chamber, and a lookout tower.
As of November 2011, the entrance fee was 500 yen per person. The hours were from 9 to 5.
Here's the link to the official website for the Hakone Checkpoint in English: http://hakonesekisyo.jp/english/. It has a map of the checkpoint, as well as interesting descriptions of what's there. You should check out this website in advance of your visit.
It would have helped if we had a map of the place when we visited the Hakone Checkpoint. Upon paying the entrance fee, we didn’t get any brochure, map, or written information about this attraction. So, we wandered around, not knowing what was where.
For example, while there, we didn’t know that there is a small museum next to the checkpoint with exhibits relating to the checkpoint. The official website refers to it as the Hakone Sekisho Exhibition Hall. It’s not clear if there’s a separate entrance fee for this museum. When we walked behind the checkpoint, we came upon a small building. At the walkway entrance, there were 2 persons dressed in Halloween-like Ninja outfits. To us, they seemed like hawkers for a restaurant business. So, we didn’t enter. Upon looking at the map, we wonder if we had stumbled upon the Exhibition Hall without knowing it.
The brand-new look of the Hakone Checkpoint undermines its historical significance. White mannequins dressed in period outfits, which we saw in various buildings, fail to give the place a lively atmosphere.
Here and there, there are small signs in English, explaining the obvious, such as “dining room”, “kitchen”, or “office quarters”. There were no other explanations in English.
We wish there was more information in English, either through posted signs, in English pamphlets, or in audio guides, like those provided in the Imperial Palace tour.
Speakers are placed throughout the checkpoint to explain things in Japanese. While we didn’t enjoy our visit much, maybe the Japanese-speaking visitors did.
The best part of our visit was the Lookout Tower. From the ground, we could see people way up by the tower. We wanted to go up there. However, it took us a bit of wandering around to find the entrance to the path up to the tower. The lookout area gives a spectacular view of Lake Ashi and the entire checkpoint compound below (see attached photos).
If you have your heart set on visiting this place, gather your information from the checkpoint’s official website before you go. Then perhaps you’ll appreciate your visit more than we did.
By the way, there’s a large gift shop in a separate building before the checkpoint that is definitely worth a visit, if you decide to visit the Hakone Checkpoint.
To attract more English-speaking visitors, we suggest the following improvements to the Hakone Checkpoint management:
1. From the bus stop, install large and clear signs to help English-speaking tourists find the Hakone Checkpoint.
2. Provide English pamphlets with the same map from the official website, plus some historical background information.
3. Provide English audio guides with the same detail information from the official website.
4. Within the checkpoint, install clear signs in English to help tourists find the entrance to the walkway to the Lookout Tower.
Until some improvements are in place, we don't recommend this attraction to English-speaking tourists if, like us, you have only one day to visit Hakone and are pressed for time.
While in Hakone, we completed the Hakone Loop in a clockwise direction, starting from Hakone-Yumoto. We wanted to relax in a Hakone-Yumoto onsen at the end of the day, before returning to Tokyo. The Hakone Checkpoint was our second stop, after the Hakone Shrine.
Since it gets dark early in November, we didn’t have much daylight time to cover the entire Hakone Loop. In hindsight, we should have skipped the Hakone Checkpoint to make more time for the Hakone Open Air Museum.
When we got off the Hakone Tozan bus, we looked around, but didn’t see any sign pointing toward the Hakone Checkpoint. We asked a taxi driver for directions, by pointing at our map. He tried his best to help us, but we could only make out something about a gas station. We marched forward and indeed found a gas station. The Hakone Checkpoint was not far from it.
We chose the Hakone Checkpoint for its historical significance. The following is what we learned about this place from our research (unfortunately, not from our visit).
During the feudal Edo Period, Tokugawa shogun placed 53 checkpoints on major roads across the nation. One of the largest, the Hakone Checkpoint was placed along the Tokaido highway between Edo (current Tokyo) and Kyoto. It was built in 1619 to keep the feudal lords from rebelling against the shogun. No one could bring weapons into Edo. No woman or child could leave Edo. Thus, the shogun kept the feudal lords in check, since their wives and children were, in effect, hostages inside Edo.
After about 260 years in operation, the Hakone Checkpoint was demolished. Its reconstruction was completed in 2007. Supposedly true to its original form, the checkpoint includes gates, fence, housing for officers and foot soldiers, an outdoor toilet, a shooting range, a prison chamber, and a lookout tower.
As of November 2011, the entrance fee was 500 yen per person. The hours were from 9 to 5.
Here's the link to the official website for the Hakone Checkpoint in English: http://hakonesekisyo.jp/english/. It has a map of the checkpoint, as well as interesting descriptions of what's there. You should check out this website in advance of your visit.
It would have helped if we had a map of the place when we visited the Hakone Checkpoint. Upon paying the entrance fee, we didn’t get any brochure, map, or written information about this attraction. So, we wandered around, not knowing what was where.
For example, while there, we didn’t know that there is a small museum next to the checkpoint with exhibits relating to the checkpoint. The official website refers to it as the Hakone Sekisho Exhibition Hall. It’s not clear if there’s a separate entrance fee for this museum. When we walked behind the checkpoint, we came upon a small building. At the walkway entrance, there were 2 persons dressed in Halloween-like Ninja outfits. To us, they seemed like hawkers for a restaurant business. So, we didn’t enter. Upon looking at the map, we wonder if we had stumbled upon the Exhibition Hall without knowing it.
The brand-new look of the Hakone Checkpoint undermines its historical significance. White mannequins dressed in period outfits, which we saw in various buildings, fail to give the place a lively atmosphere.
Here and there, there are small signs in English, explaining the obvious, such as “dining room”, “kitchen”, or “office quarters”. There were no other explanations in English.
We wish there was more information in English, either through posted signs, in English pamphlets, or in audio guides, like those provided in the Imperial Palace tour.
Speakers are placed throughout the checkpoint to explain things in Japanese. While we didn’t enjoy our visit much, maybe the Japanese-speaking visitors did.
The best part of our visit was the Lookout Tower. From the ground, we could see people way up by the tower. We wanted to go up there. However, it took us a bit of wandering around to find the entrance to the path up to the tower. The lookout area gives a spectacular view of Lake Ashi and the entire checkpoint compound below (see attached photos).
If you have your heart set on visiting this place, gather your information from the checkpoint’s official website before you go. Then perhaps you’ll appreciate your visit more than we did.
By the way, there’s a large gift shop in a separate building before the checkpoint that is definitely worth a visit, if you decide to visit the Hakone Checkpoint.
To attract more English-speaking visitors, we suggest the following improvements to the Hakone Checkpoint management:
1. From the bus stop, install large and clear signs to help English-speaking tourists find the Hakone Checkpoint.
2. Provide English pamphlets with the same map from the official website, plus some historical background information.
3. Provide English audio guides with the same detail information from the official website.
4. Within the checkpoint, install clear signs in English to help tourists find the entrance to the walkway to the Lookout Tower.
Until some improvements are in place, we don't recommend this attraction to English-speaking tourists if, like us, you have only one day to visit Hakone and are pressed for time.
Written 18 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josh the Travel Guy
Halifax, Canada234 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
Hakone checkpoint museum is one of the best ways to experience the history of this section of Japan. Located close to other tourist attractions, this mostly outdoor museum sits along the eastern shore of Lake Ashi.
At 500 JPY or $6.00 CDN, the admission fee is well worth the cost. Within the outdoor section of the museum, you’ll visit the reconstructed buildings that made up the checkpoint - a border control stop between the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. Here you will learn about the importance of this checkpoint, and why this location was chosen to become the most strict and regulated border crossing within the country.
Be sure to climb up the hill at the back (there are stairs) to get to the watch towers. Here you have a view of the museum, the lake, and on a nice day, Mount Fuji in the distance.
As you continue along the path, you’ll come to an indoor section of the museum where you can see models of the long processions of people marched from cities such of Kyoto to Tokyo as a display of power and wealth, and why Tokyo loved this so-called “display of power” as a defence tactic.
I would give yourself 1-2 hours to visit this location. We paired this with the boat tour of lake ashi and still had a lot of time remaining in our day.
The museum has information in Japanese and is self-guided. I recommend picking up an English pamphlet as it contains information about each station as well as a map.
It’s a fantastic stop to learn about some history and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys knowing the background of the area they are visiting.
At 500 JPY or $6.00 CDN, the admission fee is well worth the cost. Within the outdoor section of the museum, you’ll visit the reconstructed buildings that made up the checkpoint - a border control stop between the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. Here you will learn about the importance of this checkpoint, and why this location was chosen to become the most strict and regulated border crossing within the country.
Be sure to climb up the hill at the back (there are stairs) to get to the watch towers. Here you have a view of the museum, the lake, and on a nice day, Mount Fuji in the distance.
As you continue along the path, you’ll come to an indoor section of the museum where you can see models of the long processions of people marched from cities such of Kyoto to Tokyo as a display of power and wealth, and why Tokyo loved this so-called “display of power” as a defence tactic.
I would give yourself 1-2 hours to visit this location. We paired this with the boat tour of lake ashi and still had a lot of time remaining in our day.
The museum has information in Japanese and is self-guided. I recommend picking up an English pamphlet as it contains information about each station as well as a map.
It’s a fantastic stop to learn about some history and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys knowing the background of the area they are visiting.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The geo-location show for this attraction on TA as at 31/03/2015 is incorrect and rather misleading. The correct coordinates should be 35.19199, 139.026707or thereabouts.
Written 31 March 2015
The location is 30m North-West from the point of 35.19199, 139.026707, that you said. However parking lot is on the point of 35.193929, 139.026885. I am happy if this information will be useful for you.
Written 28 January 2017
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