♨️ Kanagawa, Japan (near Tokyo)
Things to do in Hakone
Hot springs, lake views and Mount Fuji on the horizon
A favourite for honeymoons
Hakone is a mountain hot-spring resort in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the classic onsen escape from Tokyo. A loop of quirky transport — mountain railway, cable car, ropeway and a pirate-ship lake cruise — links volcanic valleys, an open-air art museum and, on clear days, picture-perfect views of Mount Fuji across Lake Ashi.
A private onsen, a ryokan dinner and Mount Fuji over the lake — serene and romantic.
Time needed
1–2 days (an overnight onsen stay is the classic way)
Best time
Autumn foliage and clear, snowy winter days are spectacular; spring is lovely too
Region
Kanagawa, Japan (near Tokyo)
Don’t miss
The Hakone loop & an onsen stay
Ride the scenic loop — the Hakone Tozan railway, the ropeway over the steaming Owakudani valley, and the Lake Ashi “pirate ship” — then soak in an onsen (many ryokan have private baths). The Hakone Free Pass covers the whole circuit.
Check availability on GetYourGuideTop things to do in Hakone
- Owakudani volcanic valley — sulphur vents and black eggs boiled in the springs.Find tours
- The Hakone Open-Air Museum, sculpture among the mountains.Find tours
- The red torii gate of Hakone Shrine rising from Lake Ashi.Find tours
- Soak in a hot spring with Mount Fuji views.Find tours
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How to get to Hakone
About 85 minutes from Tokyo (Shinjuku) on the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto, or via the shinkansen to Odawara. The Hakone Free Pass bundles the train, ropeway, cable car and lake cruise.
Best time to visit
Autumn foliage and clear, snowy winter days are spectacular; spring is lovely too. Mount Fuji often hides behind cloud — crisp, cloudless mornings give the best chance of seeing it.
Hakone tips
- Get the Hakone Free Pass — it covers the whole loop of trains, ropeway and boat.
- Mount Fuji is shy — your best chance of a clear view is early on a crisp, cloudless morning.
- An overnight in a ryokan with a private onsen is the quintessential Hakone experience.
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