Breathtaking mountain scenery, a walk through a French village, Provencal cooking and a meeting with the doppelganger of a world-famous author -- sounds like a nice day trip. Especially when you can do it all without leaving Kanto.

"The Little Prince," by the French author and pioneer aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery, is one of the most popular children's stories in the world. However, the Musee de Saint-Exupery et du Petit Prince tells the story not only of the Little Prince but also of the glamorous and heroic life of its author.

About 20 minutes along the winding mountain road from Hakone is Sengokuhara, where the museum is situated. The site is laid out to resemble a village in Provence (where the author was born) of the late 19th century. The winding streets and little squares are named after characters and events in "The Little Prince," such as Tippler's Road and Lamplighter's Square. On the walls of the buildings are replicas of 1930s posters advertising the airmail system that linked France with its worldwide colonial empire.