Welcome to Hakone, one of Japan’s most stunning destinations—where tradition meets volcanic landscapes, modern art, and historical intrigue. Whether you’re looking for hot springs, culture, nature, or all of the above, this guide offers a detailed, practical overview for a perfect visit. From luggage forwarding hacks to ropeway rides, museums, cruises, and sacred shrines—everything is mapped out for you.
📌 Want to capture your Japan memories with a professional photographer? Check out our guided photography tours in Kyoto.
🛤️ Getting to Hakone from Tokyo
- From Shinjuku Station: Take the Odakyu Line
- Local train (with Hakone Freepass): ~2 hrs, included
- Limited Express Romancecar: 75-90 mins, additional fee (¥1,300) but much more comfortable with reserved seats and scenic windows
- Hakone Freepass (Odakyu):
- ¥6,100 for 2 days (as of 2025) MORE INFO FOR HAKONE FREE PASS
- Covers round-trip transport from Shinjuku and unlimited rides on trains, buses, cable cars, ropeways, and the sightseeing cruise within Hakone
- Discounts at many attractions
📍 Arriving at Hakone-Yumoto Station
This is the main entry point to Hakone. If you’re staying overnight, use the baggage forwarding service at the station. Your luggage will be delivered to your ryokan by evening (typically ¥800–¥1,500). Coin lockers are also available near the ticket gates.
🛍️ Exploring Hakone-Yumoto Shopping Street
Wander through this lively street lined with specialty shops, local snacks, and unique souvenirs.
- Evangelion Store Hakone: Official merchandise shop themed after the popular anime series, featuring Hakone-exclusive goods.
- Kamaboko Yokocho (Fish Cake Alley): A compact alleyway filled with shops specializing in steamed fish cakes—great for sampling and learning.
- Nanohana: Try their famous black sesame manju, a soft steamed bun with a fragrant and nutty filling.
- Kikukawa: Known for traditional white bean paste manju, offering a classic and delicate flavor.
- Hojo Sanpuku Dango: These tricolored dango skewers come in three flavors—sweet soy, red bean, and sesame.
- Fujiya Yosegi: A longstanding purveyor of Hakone’s traditional marquetry, with puzzles, trays, and ornate boxes.
- Chimoto: Renowned for “Yumochi,” a tender rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaves, filled with lightly sweet white bean paste.
Historical Tip: Hakone served as a major checkpoint on the Edo-period Tōkaidō Road, where shogunate officials monitored travelers and weapons. Its location made it both a strategic point and a rest stop.
🚂 The Hakone Tozan Railway
- Japan’s oldest mountain railway (opened in 1919)
- Unique switchbacks let it climb steep slopes
- Seasonal highlight: Hydrangeas bloom during early summer More Info
🎨 Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Admission: ¥2,000 (¥1,900 with Freepass)
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM)
- Established in 1969, this is Japan’s first outdoor museum
- Must-sees:
- Henry Moore sculptures
- Picasso Pavilion (300+ works)
- Stained-glass tower (Symphonic Sculpture)
- Emphasizes the fusion of art and nature—ideal for creatives and families alike
🚞 Ride the Hakone Cable Car and Ropeway
After exploring the sculptures and serene landscapes of the Hakone Open-Air Museum, continue your journey into the mountains via the Hakone Tozan Cable Car, boarding at Gōra Station. This nostalgic cable car steadily climbs up the hillside through lush forest, bringing you to Sōunzan, where you’ll transfer to the Hakone Ropeway.
🚡 Soar Above Hakone on the Ropeway
The Hakone Ropeway offers stunning aerial views of the Owakudani volcanic valley, Mount Fuji (on clear days), and the surrounding mountain ranges. Gondolas depart every few minutes between 9:00 AM and 4:45 PM, ensuring smooth access throughout the day.
💡 TIP: All segments from Gōra to Tōgendai are fully covered by the Hakone Freepass, making it a must for cost-conscious travelers.
🌋 Owakudani: Hakone’s Smoking Heart
Disembark at Owakudani Station, and step into another world. Created by a powerful eruption around 3,000 years ago, Owakudani remains geologically active, with sulfurous steam rising from vents and the ground trembling under geothermal power.
Highlights at Owakudani:
- 🥚 Kurotamago (Black Eggs): Eggs boiled in sulfur springs, turning their shells black. They’re sold in sets of 5 for ¥500, and legend has it each one adds seven years to your life.
- 🧠 Hakone GeoMuseum: A compact but fascinating museum located next to the station, featuring interactive displays on volcanic activity, geological formations, and real-time monitoring data.
- ⛅ Weather & Health Note: The strong sulfur content can cause discomfort for those with asthma or respiratory conditions—visitors with such sensitivities should take caution.
🕒 Owakudani is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
🚠 To Tōgendai: Over Forests to the Lake
From Owakudani, continue your ride without getting off at Ubako Station, which is not a tourist destination. The ropeway takes you directly to Tōgendai, offering peaceful views of the forests and the crater valley behind you.
🍽️ Tōgendai: Where Ropeway Meets Lake Ashi
Tōgendai Station marks the northern shore of Lake Ashi, and is the terminal for the Hakone Ropeway as well as the starting point for the Hakone Pirate Ship Cruise.
Dining and Facilities:
- Togendai View Restaurant: Casual Japanese and Western meals with panoramic lake views—ideal for a restful lunch.
- Togendai Bakery: Great for coffee and fresh pastries, perfect if you’re short on time but still want something tasty.
⚠️ Important: Ropeway Suspension & Travel Tips
The Hakone Ropeway occasionally suspends operations due to volcanic activity, maintenance, or bad weather. Before you go, always check for the latest updates:
This site provides real-time updates on operating status, and you can also find maintenance schedules and weather advisories here.
🚢 Lake Ashi & the Pirate Ship Cruise: Sail through Hakone’s Scenic Soul
One of Hakone’s most iconic experiences is the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise—a journey across Lake Ashi aboard a grand, replica pirate ship. The lake, formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone, is known for its tranquil waters and mysterious mist that often rolls over the surface. This cruise offers more than just a boat ride—it’s a panoramic experience of nature, mythology, and history.
🏴☠️ Types of Pirate Ships
There are three impressive ships in operation, each designed after European warships from the 17th and 18th centuries:
- Royal II – A red-and-gold ship with a stately, regal design.
- Victory – Green with gold accents, inspired by British warships.
- Vasa – Blue and gold, modeled after the legendary Swedish ship.
Each ship features multiple decks, observation areas, and even “first-class” sections for enhanced comfort.
🕒 Cruise Details
- Route: Tōgendai → Hakonemachi Port → Motohakone Port
- Total Duration: About 25–35 minutes, depending on the route
- Operating Hours: Usually from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, every 30–40 minutes
⛔ Important Tip: If your destination is Motohakone Port, do not disembark at Hakonemachi, the first stop. Many travelers mistakenly get off here, assuming it’s the end of the line.
💡 Hakone Freepass Coverage
The cruise is fully included with the Hakone Freepass in standard class. You can board the ship at no additional charge by simply presenting your pass at the pier. It’s one of the best-value perks of the Freepass!
However, for those who want to enjoy more privacy and better views, first-class seating is available.
🌟 First-Class Option
- Additional Cost:
- Adults: ¥700 extra （Price may vary）
- Benefits:
- Access to a quieter, more spacious upper deck
- Large panoramic windows and better seating
- Fewer crowds—perfect for photos and couples
Purchase your first-class ticket at the boarding terminal, even with the Freepass. Just ask at the counter when you show your pass.
🗻 What You’ll See from the Boat
- ⛩ Hakone Shrine’s Torii Gate: Standing in the lake, this bright red gate is one of the most photographed spots in Hakone.
- 🗻 Mount Fuji: On clear days, the mountain looms large in the background—a picture-perfect scene.
- 🌫 Lake Ashi’s Misty Charm: Whether sunlit or foggy, the lake exudes a mystical calm that adds depth to your journey.
🔗 Helpful Links
For cruise times, ship schedules, and current operations, check the official site here:
👉 Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (Pirate Ship) – Official Website
🦢 Optional: Swan Boats at Moto-Hakone Port
- Rental Fee: ¥1,500–¥2,000 for 30 minutes (price varies by boat type)
- A family- and couple-friendly activity
- Especially scenic in spring and autumn
⛩️ Discovering Motohakone
- Hakone Shrine (founded 757 AD)
- Open 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Built by monk Mangan, who is said to have subdued a nine-headed dragon in Lake Ashi
- Deeply revered by samurai families
- Minamoto no Yoritomo prayed here for victory during his rise to power in the late 1100s
- Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo shogunate, restored the shrine in the early 1600s
- Cedar Avenue: A walkable section of the old Tōkaidō Road, flanked by ancient trees
- Bakery & Table Café: Chic café with footbath seating and views of Lake Ashi
- Known for its fresh-baked bread and strawberry mille-feuille
♨️ Staying at Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka Ryokan (Gora)
- Access: Bus or train from Motohakone to Gora
- Highlights:
- Private and public onsen
- Rotenburo on your balcony
- Kaiseki dinner included (expect dishes like sashimi, grilled fish, yuba)
- Breakfast: Miso soup, grilled fish, pickles, rice
- Yukata provided for full immersion
Rates: ¥35,000–50,000/night (incl. 2 meals), depending on season and room type
Tip: Book early—weekends fill up fast.
Optional Cultural Experiences
Hakone Venetian Glass Museum
- Bus from Gora to Hyoseki
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Admission: ¥1,800 (discounts available)
- Italian villa vibes with sparkling outdoor glass sculptures
Hakone Craft House in Gora Park
- Walk from ryokan (~5–10 mins)
- Hands-on craft workshops (glassblowing, ceramics, etc.)
- Admission: ¥550 (free with Freepass)
🍱 Departing Hakone
- Lunch: Try soba at Hatsuhana, or grab a bento for the train
- To Odawara Station: 15–20 mins on Hakone Tozan Railway
- To Kyoto: Shinkansen from Odawara (¥11,300, ~2.5 hrs)
Final Tip:
Hakone is more than just hot springs (but don’t miss it haha)—it’s a layered destination with art, history, legends, and landscapes. Perfect for couples, solo travelers, and families looking for a relaxing yet enriching escape.
