A mountain area with hot springs, art museums and views of Mount Fuji.
Worth a day?
Yes. Hakone gives a day of lake views, volcanic steam and, on a clear day, views of Mount Fuji. It is a poor choice for people who want a quiet day in one place or who expect a clear view of the mountain.
Pick your pace
Hakone works as a slow day or a full one. Choose the pace that fits yours and the stops that suit it come first. Nothing is removed.
Pick one and the stops reorder. Nothing is hidden. Clear
Street food, sweets and a proper meal between sights.
A day in 3 stops
In the order that suits your pace.
- 3 hMorning
Hakone Open-Air Museum 彫Big sculptures in a mountain garden, with a Picasso room and a foot spa.
- 3 hMorning
Ropeway to Owakudani 山A cable car over a volcanic valley with steam. On clear days you can see Mount Fuji.
- 2 hAfternoon
Hot spring bath with a day-use ticket 湯Many hot spring hotels sell a bath-only ticket. A good end to a day of walking.
How to get there
FastestOdakyu Electric Railway, Odakyu Romancecar Limited Express → Hakone-Yumoto
- Time
- 80 min
- Changes
- None
- Seat
- Reservation needed
- Board the Romancecar at Shinjuku. Book a reserved seat first, because every seat is reserved.
- Get off at Hakone-Yumoto.
- Take the local transport from Hakone-Yumoto toward Lake Ashi. These sources do not confirm that route, so check it before you go.
A cheaper way
A Hakone Free Pass covers local Hakone rail and bus, but the Romancecar still needs its own limited express ticket; a JR Pass covers the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara but not the Romancecar.
Coming back. Check the Odakyu timetable for return trains, because the official page does not state a last return train and changes or refunds are not offered after a departure time.
Typical times. Check the timetable before you go.
Stay a night
Sleep in Tokyo and come by train, because the Romancecar takes about 80 minutes and Hakone is one to two hours from central Tokyo by train. A night in Hakone suits people who want hot springs and a slow morning at Lake Ashi.
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