Travel tip Hakone – What awaits you

Hakone is located in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, about 100 kilometers west of Tokyo. Thanks to its good transportation connections to Tokyo, Hakone is a popular destination for day trips.

Discover the Hakone Shrine in the forest. Take an adventurous ride on the “Pirate Ship,” which sails across Lake Ashi. On clear days, you can see Mount Fuji from here. A cable car takes you to a 1,000-meter-high steaming volcano. Finally, a cogwheel train and a historic train will bring you back through forests and gorges to the valley.

Tip: Starting early is worthwhile. You really need a whole day for this excursion.

Lake Ashi Torii, Japan

Insider tips

  • Starting early is worthwhile. You really need a whole day for this excursion. Many attractions and the cable car are only open until 4:30 PM.
  • Get the Hakone Free Pass, and everything is covered with just one ticket. You can also stay overnight in the region; the pass is valid for up to 3 days.
  • You can skip extra tickets for the VIP area on the “Pirate Ship.” The view is not significantly different. The normal ticket is included in the Pass.

Find more insider tips in the respective sections.

Costs & Tickets

The convenience of this day trip is that you only need one ticket for the entire journey, the Hakone Free Pass. You can easily purchase the ticket online at: https://www.odakyu.jp/english/passes/hakone/

The cost for the pass is approximately 6,000 yen. The pass is valid for two days if you plan to spend an extended time in Hakone and the surrounding areas.

Note: Each person needs a separate ticket. Multiple tickets on one smartphone are not accepted!

Alternatively, you can also purchase the ticket at the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center, Shinjuku West.

Directions – Let’s get started

Now it’s time to get going. The trip begins at Shinjuku Station. Look for the Odakyu Line subway there. With your Hakone Free Pass, you can pass through the platform gate directly. Board a Limited Express train to Odawara (Limited Express trains are faster, more information can be found here). The journey to Odawara takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Note: Your ticket is not valid for the Romancecar train, which goes directly to Hakone on a nearby platform. If you want to take this train, you need to purchase an additional ticket. However, it’s not worth it – neither faster nor more comfortable.

Transfer in Odawara

In Odawara, you will disembark from the Odakyu Line and follow the arrows on the ground – they are hard to miss. After a few meters, you’ll reach the platform for the Hakonetozan Line heading to Hakone-Yumoto Station. After approximately 15 minutes, you will finally arrive in Hakone.

Off to the Bus

After leaving Hakone-Yumoto Station, you will find a small bus terminal right at the exit. Queue up there for the bus (Stop 2) to Lake Ashi. The bus ride takes approximately 30 minutes uphill to the lake. It’s best to ask one of the guides on-site for the correct line. There are longer routes to the lake too.

Sights in Hakone in detail

Hakone Shrine

After arriving by bus in Motohakone at Lake Ashi, you can walk along the lakeside path to reach the Hakone Shrine. The path crosses the road and veers into the forest towards the shrine. It’s not particularly steep, with only a somewhat longer staircase at the end.

The Shintō shrine was founded in 757 and is known for its distinctive torii gate on the lake’s shore.

On the way back, you can take the staircase down to the lake and see the famous torii gate there. Be prepared for the Instagram vs. Reality experience – during peak times, you may spend almost 2 hours waiting in line for a photo.

A path winds through a small bamboo forest back to the lakeside, passing the torii gate. The “Pirate Ship,” which continues the journey, docks at the bus stop where you were dropped off.

Hakone Shrine, Japan
Lake Ashi & Fuji, Japan

Across Lake Ashi

The crater lake, with a depth of up to 45 meters, was formed by the eruption of the Hakone Volcano. With a bit of luck, the lake offers a spectacular view of Mount Fuji.

Several boats operate regularly on the lake. The “Pirate Ship” sightseeing experience is included in your Hakone Pass. Find a nice spot on the ship, and shortly after departure, you’ll see the torii gate from the water on the right side.

After an enjoyable boat ride, you’ll arrive at the other end of the lake, directly at the cable car base station.

Journey to the Volcano

Upon entering the cable car, you can sense that it’s heading towards a volcano. The cabins are covered by ash dust and there’s a faint smell of sulfur.

The cable car leisurely travels over forests to Ōwakudani, a volcanic crater approximately 1,000 meters high, formed around 3,000 years ago during the last eruption of the volcano. Even today, white sulfuric smoke rises from the crater. This is also the place where you can try the famous “Kuro-Tamago” (Black Eggs). It is said that consuming just one egg can extend your life by seven years.

From the observation platform, you can already see the cable car crossing the gorge. This is where the round trip continues.

Hakone Vulcano, Japan

Across the Gorge

At the mountain station where you disembarked, the journey continues. Here, you board the next cable car. Inside the cable car, you’ll find oxygen bottles. If you feel nauseous or dizzy, you can use them, as this stretch has quite a distinctive smell. You’ll be floating directly over the smoking crater down the mountain.

Upon reaching the bottom, you’ll board a cogwheel train that takes you to the small town of Gora. Here, you can stretch your legs a bit or enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. I recommend Coffee Camp. It’s a nice café with tasty treats.

Down to the Valley

Now, fortified, you can begin the journey back to Hakone. At the station where you arrived, board the historic train that will take you back to Hakone. Being prompt is worthwhile, as during peak hours, you might only secure a standing spot.

The winding railway along wooded slopes and rugged cliffs is notable for its uniqueness. Due to the steep terrain, it’s not always possible to travel directly up or down. With intermediate stops at terminal stations, the train changes direction twice, navigating the route through switchbacks.

Take a moment to observe the Japanese train conductors sprinting past your window in a ritualistic manner to prepare the train for the onward journey.

By the way: Locals use this train route as a regular means of transportation. At terminal stations, trains traveling in opposite directions can coordinate their schedules.

Hakone train, Japan

Back to Tokyo

You will arrive directly at Hakone-Yumoto Station again. From there, it’s the same route back. First, take the Hakonetozan Line to Odawara, and then board a Limited Express train on the Odakyu Line to Shinjuku.

Day trip Hiking Nature