Holiday in Hakone: 15 Best Things to Do in Hakone

Under two hours from Tokyo, Hakone is a famous onsen town. With uninterrupted views of Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi, this impressive mountainous area boasts many vantage points to take in its beauty.

Popular among local and international travelers, Hakone’s close proximity to Tokyo, makes it a convenient location to take a day trip. If you take the shinkansen and the Limited Express Romancecar, your trip will only take about an hour and cost approximately ¥5,000 to get from Tokyo Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station.

You may also take the train from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station, then transfer to take a bus to Hakone-Yumoto Station. This trip is about 2 hours long, but saves on costs significantly, costing around ¥2,000.

Hakone is also popular for its hot springs, traditional ryokan inns, Owakudani Valley and so much more, all of which you can visit during your trip. 

To fully immerse yourself in a uniquely Japanese experience, you must stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. 

To make the most of it, stay at least one night to try sleeping in a tatami room with a Japanese futon, try an onsen bath and enjoy the inclusive dinner and breakfast kaiseki ryori, high-class Japanese food made of multiple courses.

Ryokan typically provide yukata to wear during your stay and some even have onsite gardens to enjoy.

You can't have the full Hakone experience without visiting one of its many onsen hot springs. It’s easily one of the best things to do in Hakone!

This onsen resort getaway has plenty of options to choose from depending on your preference. There are three main areas with public bathhouses and private onsen for guests with tattoos: Yumoto, Hakone’s largest hot spring town, Kowakudani and Sengoku which offers a view of Mt. Fuji from its outdoor baths on a clear day.

Wash away your stress in one of the many mineral-rich onsen during your trip to Hakone.

If you want a closer, aerial view of Mt. Fuji, then take a ride on the Hakone Ropeway.  The best time to see the majestic mountain is on a clear day, so make sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast. 

Spanning from Souzan Station to Togendai Station, the gondola has stops along the “Hell Valley.” There’s even a stop at the famous Owakundani Valley. 

If you want to plan for the best views, start at Sounzan and head to Owakudani, making for perfect views of the valley below, then descend to Togendai, where you can see stunning views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi (especially during sunset). 

Owakudani Valley is one of the most popular attractions in Hakone thanks to an old legend about its life-preserving onsen eggs. A 15-minute ride on the Hakone Ropeway will get you to the volcanic valley that supplies the area’s onsens with hot spring water. It’s notorious for an abundance of sulfur, so be prepared for a strong smell on the way up.

While on top of Owakudani Valley, a kuro-tamago (black egg) is a must-try! The black eggs are hard boiled in the area’s natural 80-degree Celsius sulfur hot springs and turn their distinct dark color due to the minerals found in the water. 

Do as the locals do and eat the egg in hopes of extending your life by an extra seven years, as the legend goes.

Find out more: What to Eat in Hakone: The Onsen Getaway Town

Kawadoko (riverbed) dining has guests sit on a raised platform to soak in the sights and sounds of the river beneath them. Hakone Kawadoko Gyunabe Ukon is the first and only kawadoko-style restaurant in Hakone, providing stunning views of the Sukumo River. 

Cool off in the summer with the calming sound of the river below. Or visit during the brisk Hakone fall to see the beautiful changing leaves while sitting under a warm kotatsu. 

The food lives up to the atmosphere with Gyunabe Ukon’s famous hot pot. It features a delicious combination of tender kuroge wagyu beef and locally sourced vegetables. Nikuzushi (meat sushi) is also on offer, incorporating gourmet ingredients like caviar and sea urchin for an unforgettable meal in Hakone. 

Looking for fun things to do in Hakone with kids? Then try a ride on a cruise ship across Lake Ashi. If you want to excite the kids, hop on the pirate cruise ship for a tour! We recommend the ornate and luxurious Queen Ashinoko pirate ship to take your lake trip.

Each cruise circles around the lake with stops at three locations along the lake’s shore. The cruise lasts about 30 minutes and you will be able to see Hakone Shrine’s bright torii gate on the water, and even Mt. Fuji on a clear day!

The best kind of tourism is food tourism in our opinion. And now you can join a local byFood partner in a matsuri (Japanese festival) food cooking class in Ninomiya, Kanagawa. 

This coastal town is a stop on the way to Hakone. You will learn to make matsuri staples such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki and miso soup with instructor Manami. 

You can also join these other classes by the same host, Manami:

• Sushi-making class

• Osechi ryori cooking class

• Omurice fried rice omelet-making class

• Tempura cooking class

Book an exclusive cooking class with Manami while in Hakone to bring home the best omiyage (souvenir): a new skill!

If you didn’t know, Hakone is also home to many art museums including the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum or “Hakone Glass no Mori.” This Italian-inspired garden and museum houses over 100 pieces of Venetian glass dating back to the 15th-18th centuries. 

Following the Italian theme, the buildings are inspired by Italian-style houses. There is even a canal-like pond and a cafe restaurant where you can listen to live performances of famous Italian ballads.

Hakone is beautiful all year round, but fall in Japan particular is a particularly special time of year to visit. Our favorite spot to enjoy the colors of the changing leaves is Choanji Temple, a Zen Buddhist temple located in the Sengokuhara area of the region.

Built in 1658, the temple is known for its 500 gohyaku rakan statues, attracting visitors from all over praying for advice. Plus no two monk statues have the same facial expression. During October and November, the monk statues are surrounded by bright yellows and reds of fall foliage. 

Opening in 1914, Hakone Gora Park is the oldest French-style park in Japan. It’s walking distance from the Hakone Tozan Cable Car stop at Koen-shimo Station. Make a stop here after seeing Owakundai Valley. 

The main attraction is the large fountain in the square surrounded by beautiful rose gardens which are in full bloom during fall. You can also visit the crafthouse to participate in glass-blowing classes, a tea house, a cafe and the restaurant located next to the fountain. 

Adult tickets are ¥650, and children under 12-years-old can visit for free.

Located at the base of the Hakone region known as Yumato, is Yoshiike Ryokan’s Japanese Garden. This traditional garden is attached to the ryokan but is open to the public.

This huge garden is the perfect spot to experience a peaceful stroll through the seasonal flora and fauna. You can also reserve a stay at the attached ryokan, which enjoys views of the garden and boasts six onsen baths.

The largest display of impressionist paintings in Japan is in Hakone. The POLA Museum of Art has a rich collection of over 10,000 pieces including work from world-renowned artists like Monet and Renoir.

You will also find modern Japanese painters, glasswork, Asian clay artwork, cosmetic items and sculptures on display. 

Like the Hakone Ropeway, the Hakone Tozan Railway offers gorgeous scenic views during the fall. As you ride the cable car, be amazed by how it easily climbs slopes connecting Gora and Sounzan, climbing an altitude of over 209 meters. The trail has beautiful seasonal blooms, which can be seen from the windows. Adult day passes are ¥,1580 and kids passes are ¥500. 

If you are in the mood to explore, stop off at one of its stations and walk the local area to discover something new!

Japan history buffs rejoice. Just above the shores of Lake Ashi is the Hakone Tokaido Checkpoint, one of the five highways that connected Kyoto to Edo (now Tokyo). 

Now reconstructed, the checkpoint includes replicas of the Edo Period gates, fences, a lookout tower and quarters for the soldiers and officers. Walk over to the Kyoguchi Gomon gate for a photogenic view of Lake Ashi.

If you want to enjoy a little bit of everything Hakone has to offer, the Hakone Ashinoko Narukawa Art Museum and Observation Cafe has everything from famous Japanese-style paintings, a cafe with panoramic views of of Lake Ashi from above and a cafe that serves treats like matcha, wagashi and Fuji beer.

On a clear day, you can take stunning photos of Hakone Shrine’s torii gate and Mt. Fuji.

Hakone is worth the day trip or weekend getaway during your stay in Japan. Indulge in Japanese cuisine, experience a ryokan and don’t forget to take a bath at one of the many onsen.

Follow this Hakone two-day itinerary for more inspiration and explore our extensive guide to what to eat when in Hakone.

Hakone is most famous for its beautiful views of Mt. Fuji and its wealth of soothing natural hot springs.

Yes! With transit times from Tokyo ranging from 1-2 hours and one-way trips costing as little as ¥2,000, Hakone can easily be a day trip destination. Get an early start to make the most out of your trip.  

Hakone is easy to explore without a car. Multiple transit options are available, including the Tozan train line and cable car, multiple bus lines, a ropeway and even a pleasure cruise from one end of Lake Ashi to the other. 

The Hakone Free Pass offers good value if you are planning a multi-day trip to Hakone. It allows for unlimited trips using all the transit methods listed above, a round-trip ticket from Shinjuku (other stations are available) and also includes discounts on many tourist attractions for as little as ¥6,100. Two and three-day passes are available.