Last updated on May 18th, 2020 at 01:16 pm
During our week long trip to Tokyo, we were only able to take one day trip. We decided to spend one day visiting Hakone, because we wanted to see Mount Fuji. If you are interested in taking a day trip to Hakone from Tokyo, here is everything you need to know.
Why take a day trip to Hakone?
Hakone is in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan, surrounded by the mountains of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The town is known for its glorious views of Mount Fuji over Lake Ashi, as well as its onsen hot springs, Hakone Shinto Shrine, and sulfur springs of Owakudani Valley.
Hakone is about an hour and a half (depending on method of transportation) outside of Tokyo, which makes it an easy day trip or weekend getaway for tourists and locals. There is much to do in Hakone and it is a breath-taking place to visit.
When to Visit Hakone
The busiest months to visit Hakone are January, March, and April. Luckily, we went in January. I honestly do not recommend going during this time of year, at least not around New Year’s. There were so many people it didn’t feel worth it, although perhaps if we had more time it would have been better.
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The spring is busy due to cherry blossom season, but can be rainy. Summer is the slow season in Hakone, with warm temperatures, humidity and fewer tourists. Fall can be slow as well and brings colorful foliage and snow towards the end of the season. The winter brings temperatures between 51°F and 59°F, but still sees a large amount of tourists.
Mount Fuji, one of the many reasons to visit Hakone, is not always visible due to cloud cover. The best time of year to see the famous volcano is during the winter months, specifically December and January. This is why we decided to visit Hakone during our trip to Tokyo over New Year’s. April through August usually has the worst visibility.
Hakone has much to offer any season of the year. If you are planning a trip to Hakone, avoid visiting over the weekend. Determine the best season for your visit based on what Hakone has to offer at that time of year, whether its views of Mount Fuji, the cherry blossoms, or fall colors.
Hakone Freepass
You can purchase the Hakone Freepass for your visit to Hakone, which I highly recommend because it allows you access to the sightseeing cruise across Lake Ashi, the ropeway, and the cable cars so you can see Mount Fuji better. During our visit, the Hakone Tozan Train line was out of order, so that section of the trip was replaced with buses. Check the status of the construction here.
The Hakone Free Pass is 5700 yen for adults and must be purchased at an Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center or from a ticket vending machine at Shinjuku Station.
How to take a day trip to Hakone from Tokyo
If you have the JR Rail Pass, you can board the Shinkansen train in Tokyo going to Odawara Station and transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railway line (or a replacement bus). This is the fastest option but only really makes sense if you are visiting several different cities in Japan and are already planning on getting the JR Rail Pass.
If you have the Hakone Free Pass, you can board any trains going to Hakone from Shinjuku Station except the Romance Car, which involves purchasing an extra ticket. The Romance Car is only 1100 yen extra and this is worth it in my opinion because on the Romance Car you have your own seat, food and drink are allowed, and there are restrooms. It is also more obvious which train is the correct train, if you are like me and are easily confused about transportation in different countries. The train we ended up taking was standing room only for the majority of the ride, which was not enjoyable.
Once at the Hakone-Yumoto station, it was necessary to wait in line to transfer to a bus, which then took us to Hakone. Once the construction is complete, you would transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railway line to get to Hakone. It ultimately took us four hours to arrive in Motohakone due to the line for the bus and a relay race that caused traffic to be horrible.
One Day in Hakone
Lunch in Hakone
Once we finally arrived, we were starving. We ate some delicious dipping soba noodles and tempura at Shinsho Soba. The soft cream here looked amazing, so I recommend trying some. Instead I went for the matcha flavor they had next door, but I could tell I had made the wrong choice.
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Hakone-jinja Shrine
The Hakone-jinja Shrine is a very popular spot for good reason. We visited the Shinto shrine, but it was packed because the Japanese people were doing Hatsumōde, the first shrine visit of the year.
We also tried waiting in line for Hakone Jinjya Heiwa-no-Torii and after waiting for 45 minutes in line and still having a fourth of the line left, we gave up so we wouldn’t miss our boat across Lake Ashi.
Lake Ashi
The trip across Lake Ashi that is included in the Hakone Free Pass is a Pirate Ship, which is very fun but can make it difficult to get pictures without the ship in them. The views were incredible. This was my favorite part of our visit to Hakone.
Hakone Ropeway
The boat trip takes about 30 minutes. They deboard at Togendai-ko, where you must catch the ropeway or return on the pirate ship. The ropeway takes you over Ōwakudani, a volcanic valley with active vents that release volcanic gas. Many of the components of this volcanic gas are toxic and can be dangerous for people with preexisting conditions. Please read more here to determine if the ropeway is a good choice for you. The ropeway provides breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi, as well as the volcanic valley.
It is possible to get off at Owakudani, where you can eat a black hard-boiled egg (Kuro-tamago) boiled in the volcanic hot springs, which is supposed to increase your life by seven years. Unfortunately, all the delays we had experienced were catching up with us and we had to board the next ropeway immediately before they closed.
At the end of the ropeway is usually the cable car, but as the Tozan Line was under construction, we had to wait in more lines to return on the bus. This part of the trip also took forever because of traffic, although I am not sure what was causing it at that point. We then transferred to the Hakone Tozan Train to return to Hakone-Yumoto.
Other Things to do in Hakone
Japanese Onsen
Hakone is famous for its Japanese onsen, or natural hot springs, that are heated from Mount Hakone, an active volcano. There are many hotels in the area that offer access to a Japanese onsen. However, traditional onsens do not permit swimsuits. If you are just visiting for the day, or you prefer to wear your swimsuit, Yunessun Hot Springs has a day pass option where you can experience their many hot springs, some more traditional than others.
Hiking
Hakone is a beautiful, mountainous town, which makes hiking a ready and available activity to enjoy during your visit. Hiking around Hakone in the fall, with the leaves changing color, sounds amazing. Tokaido Road is a good option because it is not too difficult and has a historic significance. During the Edo period, from 1603 to 1868, this trail linked Kyoto and Tokyo and many traveled along the path. The current trail begins at Motohakone and ends at Hakone-Yumoto, with a small section near Moto-Hakone remaining paved with stones. There is also a traditional rest house, Amazake-chaya, that people still frequent when traveling along Tokaido Road. At this rest stop you can try amazake, a rice drink, and mochi while you rest your feet.
There are many other trails to explore around Hakone, depending on the desired difficulty and sights. There are several waterfalls in the area as well, which could be visited by hiking or using the Hakone Freepass to take the bus.
Hakone Open Air Museum
The Hakone Open Air Museum is an outdoor museum featuring sculptures and works of art from Picasso, Henry Moore, as well as many Japanese artists. There is also an indoor section of the museum featuring sculptures. Wander the gardens of the museum and observe the works of art against the backdrop of Hakone’s beautiful mountain scenery. If museums interest you, Hakone has several other museums you can check out as well.
Should you take a day trip to Hakone from Tokyo?
The short answer? No. While Hakone is incredibly beautiful, there is much to do and it is hard to really enjoy it in just one day. I suggest instead spending at least one night in Hakone, perhaps at a traditional Ryokan. This will alleviate any stress of rushing to do everything and traveling to and from Hakone in one day. This will hopefully also allow you to experience parts of Hakone in the morning and evenings, before the day trippers arrive. I highly recommend visiting Hakone on a week day and not during the holiday season.
Have you ever taken a day trip to Hakone from Tokyo? What was your experience?
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