The gateway to the Hakone hot spring area, and the oldest area in Hakone, said to have first opened in the Nara period. Its appeal lies in the convenience of direct access from Shinjuku by Romancecar, and it is also the starting station of the Hakone Tozan Railway. In front of the station, countless souvenir shops and eateries line the streets, and a wide range of facilities are concentrated here, from day-use hot spring baths to long-established large ryokan. As the starting point for sightseeing around Hakone, including Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, it is one of the busiest and most popular hubs for international visitors.