The economy of Hakone is strongly dominated by the tourist industry. Hakone is noted for its onsen hot spring resorts, which attract both Japanese and international visitors due to its proximity to the greater Tokyo metropolis and to Mount Fuji. Sights include the volcanically active Owakudani geysers and Hakone Shrine on the shore of the lake, as well as the Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands. In April the cherry blossoms (sakura) and in autumn the Miscanthus sinensis (susuki) are noted sights.
Hakone has a number of art museums, including the Hakone Open-Air Museum and Pola Museum of Art.
Major events include the annual Hakone Ekiden, a long distance foot race, held at the New Year, which runs from Tokyo to Hakone and back over two days, partly in commemoration of the T?kaid? road.
One famous hotel in Hakone is the historic Fujiya Hotel in Miyanoshita, which was patronized by noted literii, politicians and foreign dignitaries in the Meiji and Taish? and early Sh?wa periods.
A noted local handicraft is parquetry.
In the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hakone is renamed "Tokyo-3" and becomes the setting of the series, alongside Mount Hakone. For a brief period in 2010, the town tried to leverage this as a publicity stunt for the Rebuild of Evangelion series, but canceled plans when the show's fanbase literally overran the town and began disrupting school and work
