If you are visiting the natural splendor of Hakone (located just over an hour from Tokyo Station by shinkansen bullet train and bus), I recommend hopping on one of the extravagant pirate ships cruising along the stunning Lake Ashi.
You might be wondering…why pirate ships?
Well, I’m sure you didn’t doubt it, but let me confirm that they aren’t real pirate ships; rather, replicas of historic ones. For instance, the red Royal II is inspired by an 18th-century French sailing warship. The story goes that the president of the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise at the time wanted to create a fantastical attraction in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964. After gaining inspiration from a Disneyland ride in the United States, he came up with the idea for pirate ships!
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise: https://shorturl.at/dKdOR
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oDibAojCYjTCqu149
