Hakone, Japan: travel guide
Hot springs, volcanic steam and Fuji views in a mountain resort area
A classic Japanese mountain resort with iconic Mt Fuji views. Hakone's outdoor hot-spring ryokan, open-air sculpture park, ropeway over volcanic Owakudani, and a vintage train circuit make it Japan's most visited resort area.
About Hakone
Hakone is a mountain resort area west of Tokyo, set around Lake Ashi in a volcanic landscape, rather than a single town. It is popular for a night or two of rest, with hot-spring inns, forest walks and, on a clear day, views of Mount Fuji.
A loop of old mountain railway, cable car, ropeway and lake boat links the main sights. You can ride above the steaming Owakudani valley, visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum and its sculpture park, walk to Hakone Shrine at the lake's edge, or soak in an onsen in Hakone-Yumoto.
Hakone suits couples, families and anyone wanting a break from the city. Autumn colour and crisp winter days give the clearest Fuji views.
- Country
- Japan
- Currency
- JPY
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
Last updated
Top places to visit in Hakone
Hakone Shrine
Temple · about 1 h · free entry
Lakeside Shinto shrine with the iconic red "Torii of Peace" standing in Lake Ashi.
Pola Museum of Art
Museum · about 2 h · entry ¥2,200 (≈ ₹1,320)
Forest museum with Impressionist and modern works (Monet, Renoir, Picasso) and a glass-walled architecture.
Onshi Hakone Park
Nature · about 0.8 h · free entry
Former imperial retreat on a peninsula in Lake Ashi with panoramic Mt Fuji and lake views.
Mt Fuji View — Hakone Lake Ashi & Owakudani
volcanic valley & mountain lake · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Hakone's Mt Fuji panorama is the most accessible and reliably photogenic in Japan. The Hakone Ropeway floats above the volcanic Owakudani Valley — geothermal fumaroles hiss sulfurous steam while Fuji dominates the northwest horizon on…
Hakone Onsen (Hakone-Yumoto)
hot-spring resort village · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Hakone-Yumoto is the gateway hot-spring village to the Hakone resort area, with onsen waters flowing since the 8th century. Over 70 ryokan inns use the local sulfur-mineral waters — some offer day-use bathing without an overnight stay.…
Hakone Open-Air Museum
open-air sculpture museum · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Japan's first open-air museum (established 1969) sits on a hillside above Ninotaira with Mt Fuji visible on clear days. The 70,000 m² permanent sculpture park contains 120+ large-scale works by Picasso, Rodin, Henry Moore, Miro, and Calder…
Owakudani Valley
Nature · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
Sulphurous volcanic valley from the last eruption of Mt Hakone, famous for black eggs boiled in the hot springs.
Hakone Venetian Glass Museum
Museum · about 1.5 h · entry ¥1,800 (≈ ₹1,080)
Museum of Venetian glass art with a crystal-glass garden gallery and glass-blowing workshops.
Gora Park
Nature · about 1 h · entry ¥550 (≈ ₹330)
French-style hillside garden with a fountain, rose garden and craft studios beside Gora Station.
Hakone Sekisho (Checkpoint)
Heritage · about 0.8 h · entry ¥500 (≈ ₹300)
Reconstructed Edo-period checkpoint on the old Tokaido road by Lake Ashi with a small museum.
Things to do
- Mt. Fuji View — Hakone Ropeway & Lake Ashi Cruise Sightseeing · 6 h · from JPY 9,300 per person
- Private Open-Air Onsen Experience Experience · 1 h · from JPY 4,000 per person
- Owakudani Volcanic Hike & Geomuseum Tour · 2 h · from JPY 1,000 per person
- Lake Ashi Kayaking Adventure · 2.5 h · from JPY 7,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Hakone Loop — Ropeway, Lake Ashi & Onsen Day 10 h · from JPY 13,000
Where to stay in Hakone
- Hakone-Yumoto–Miyanoshita about JPY 35,000 per night
The gateway valley of Hakone — Hakone-Yumoto is the main hub with excellent onsen hotels, Hakone Tozan railway access and the Ropeway loop. Miyanoshita is more atmospheric and quieter with historic Fujiya Hotel.
Hotels
- Gora Kadan 5-star · JPY 80,000 to JPY 180,000 per night
- Fujiya Hotel Hakone 4-star · JPY 30,000 to JPY 80,000 per night
- Hakone Kowakien Tenyu 5-star · JPY 45,000 to JPY 90,000 per night
- Hakone Tent 3-star · JPY 4,500 to JPY 14,000 per night
Where to eat
- Hatago Ize Japanese, Hotpot · about JPY 2,500 per person
- Gyoza Center Gyoza, Japanese · about JPY 1,500 per person
- Amazake Chaya Teahouse, Japanese · about JPY 600 per person
- Bakery & Table Hakone Bakery, Cafe · about JPY 2,000 per person
- Hatsuhana Soba Honten Soba, Japanese · about JPY 1,800 per person
Getting to Hakone
Nearest airport: Tokyo (Tokyo Haneda International Airport) (HND), about 71 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Bus
- Cable Car
- Transit Pass
- Walking
More in Japan
Frequently asked questions about Hakone
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Hakone?
- The highest-rated places in our Hakone guide are Mt Fuji View — Hakone Lake Ashi & Owakudani, Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone Onsen (Hakone-Yumoto).
- Where should I stay in Hakone?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Hakone: Hakone-Yumoto–Miyanoshita.
- How do I get around Hakone?
- Ways to get around Hakone covered in our guide: City bus, Cable car, Transit pass, Walking.