Beginning December 20, 2025, a new chapter in Hakone’s long tradition of scenic travel unfolds with the launch of the Hakone Yusen Daichakai, a new sightseeing ship combined with tea culture set to glide across the waters of Lake Ashi.
The ship takes its name from daichakai, a “grand tea gathering”, and is built around the idea that a single cup of tea can create rare, once-in-a-lifetime encounters. Through this concept, the vessel seeks to become a place where people meet, pause, and connect, both with one another and with the natural and historical setting of Hakone itself.
Let’s take a closer look at this new sightseeing ship—and how it adds a new dimension to exploring Hakone and its surrounding destinations.
Sailing across Lake Ashi
Daichakai can carry up to 595 passengers on a scenic route linking Hakone Sekisho-ato, Moto-Hakone, Hakone-en, and Kojiri ports across approximately 11.3 kilometers of Lake Ashi. Refitted from the former Jyukkoku-maru, the vessel measures 28.8 meters in length with a beam of 11.6 meters and a gross tonnage of approximately 341 tons. Cruising at a gentle speed of around 11 knots, the ship is also designed to favor atmosphere and observation over haste, allowing guests to fully absorb both the tea experience on board and the surrounding landscape of Hakone.
Design and architecture
Daichakai is designed by Yasuyuki Kawanishi, an architect whose work consistently operates at the intersection of space, choreography, and human presence. Educated at Chiba University and later at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Kawanishi’s formation bridges Japanese spatial sensibilities with Northern European clarity.
Kawanishi’s professional experience with practices taught at the architectural department of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts further sharpened his interest in architecture as something experienced in motion rather than viewed at rest. This approach is evident throughout the design of Daichakai, where spaces are calibrated through shifts in light, scale, and orientation.
Aboard Daichakai, each floor offers a distinct way to experience tea and the landscape of Lake Ashi. The first floor introduces the journey with softly lit passenger seating inspired by lantern light and a dedicated tea shop serving matcha-based drinks and sweets, anchoring the experience in taste and aroma.
On the second floor, the area comes with indoor seating and tatami spaces—including a golden-hued tea room—paired with an outdoor deck that allows guests to shift easily between enclosed comfort and open air.
The third floor opens fully to the lake, where stepped benches reminiscent of tea fields invite relaxed, open-air viewing at the bow, while a quieter tatami room at the stern frames the scenery through round windows.
Matcha experience on board
To accompany the “tea-centered voyage” aboard Daichakai, a wide selection of matcha-based drinks and sweets is offered on board. On the first-floor tea shop, guests can choose from an extensive menu built around matcha, designed to be enjoyed slowly as the ship glides across Lake Ashi. Savoring tea while taking in the expansive, ever-changing scenery transforms the cruise into an immersive experience.
Highlights on the menu include an original bottled green tea, prepared from a selection of six different tea leaves. On the sweet side, there’s also a layered dessert combining silky matcha pudding and chilled matcha ice cream. More whimsical creations include a matcha latte topped with colorful three-color dango, and a hands-on matcha experience set, allowing guests to prepare their own tea with ease. There are twenty-five varieties of drinks and sweets available on board.
Exploring Hakone by land and by lake
Hakone’s appeal lies in the ease with which land and water travel connect, allowing visitors to experience the region from multiple perspectives. On Lake Ashi, Daichakai joins the lineup of distinctive sightseeing vessels operated by Hakone Yusen, including SORAKAZE, which debuted in 2024 with its open, park-like decks and immersive approach to lake travel. Together, these ships offer contrasting yet complementary ways to engage with the lake: one centered on tea and gathering, the other on open-air exploration.
Beyond the water, Hakone unfolds seamlessly on land. One of the most meaningful ways to experience this landscape is through Hakone Sansha Mairi, a traditional pilgrimage that traces Hakone’s spiritual heart. The route connects Hakone Shrine, tucked beneath towering cedar trees near the lakeshore; Kuzuryu Shrine, dedicated to the dragon deity believed to protect Lake Ashi and bring good fortune; and Hakone Motomiya, the inner shrine perched atop Mount Komagatake, the highest peak in the Hakone mountains. Completing the circuit is said to dispel misfortune and invite good luck, but even without the promise of blessings, the journey itself feels quietly restorative.
Venturing a little farther expands the sense of discovery. About 20 minutes from Hakone, Jukkoku Pass opens up a completely different vista, where mountains, sea, and sky meet in a sweeping panorama. Named for its views across ten historic provinces, the pass rewards clear days with sightlines that reach Mount Fuji, the Southern Alps, and Suruga Bay. The Jukkoku Pass Panorama Cable Car adds to the pleasure, gently lifting travelers toward the summit.
At the summit, PANORAMA TERRACE 1059 provides another place to pause and enjoy the surrounding views, with multiple decks designed for different ways of spending time. Hammock-style seating encourages visitors to sit back and look out over the landscape, while open platforms offer easy spots for photos of Mount Fuji and the surrounding area on clear days.
Within the area, TENGOKU CAFE adds a casual stop with drinks and desserts, making it easy to linger a little longer. The cafe offers a range of locally inspired sweets and drinks to enjoy alongside the expansive views. Menu highlights include the signature 1059 Mont Blanc made with Shizuoka tea, churros, and lattes such as the TENGOKU Latte featuring local tenku matcha, a Mount Fuji Latte, and other seasonal drinks, all designed to pair with the setting’s panoramic outlook.
Hakone has a way of slowing you down in the best possible way. Paired with time on Lake Ashi—perhaps aboard a sightseeing ship like Daichakai or SORAKAZE—the region is more than a scenic backdrop. Enchanting viewpoints, cultural sites, and easy transport all flow into one another, so exploring never feels complicated.
