If beautiful Japanese artwork, towering shrines and volcanic landscapes intrigue you, then a day trip to Hakone has to be on your itinerary. Not only is it a good place to try and spot Mt. Fuji, but there is an abundance of natural beauty to soak in and plenty of hot springs to soak in. Hakone is a hot spring hotspot! Make sure to pack a swimsuit for the day, as you’ll find that there are a variety of onsen to choose from who allow day access.
You could spend a night here and stay in an onsen hotel to really enjoy the benefits but if you’re pressed for time, a day trip to Hakone is still enough for an unforgettable trip. Even though I didn’t manage to catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji on my trip, my day in Hakone was such a standout.
Getting to Hakone from Tokyo
Hakone is just over 60 miles out of Tokyo, taking you around 1.5-2 hours to reach it from the city. There are two ways to reach Hakone.
Hakone Freepass / Odakyu Line
One way of reaching Hakone is taking the Odakyu line using the Hakone Freepass (keep reading to find out more about the Freepass). This will take you to Odawara station (which is a bit further out than the main Hakone-Yumoto station) and this route can take up to two hours. This line is a normal commuter line, so there are lots of stops and no seats reservations. However, this route is covered by the Hakone Freepass so your journey won’t cost extra if you have this pass.
Romancecar
The best way to reach Hakone is using the Romancecar. The Romancecar means you get to ride the direct train from Tokyo’s Shinjuku station to Hakone-Yumoto station. It costs 1,200 yen (approx £6) each way and for me, it was worth it. The journey takes around 80 minutes, the seats are comfortable, and you don’t have to faff with changing lines. Please note, in order to ride the Romancecar, you must either have a Hakone Freepass or buy a separate ticket to Hakone – you then upgrade to the Romancecar.
Using the Hakone Freepass
The Hakone Freepass acts as a travelcard for Hakone, providing you free travel on Hakone-Tozan buses, trains, the cable car and ropeway, free access to some of the sites and discounts on over 70 facilities. I highly recommend purchasing the Hakone Freepass on Klook.
The pass costs 6,100 yen or approx £31 and once you purchase your pass online, you have to make sure you arrive at the station early enough to exchange your e-ticket for a physical ticket! Check the timetable and plan accordingly.
One of the major perks of the pass is that you get your train from Tokyo to Hakone included, plus one of the best perks was getting to ride the iconic pirate ship across Lake Ashi. To use your pass for travel, you simply show it to the bus drivers or scan the QR code on your pass at the gates.
Important note: we purchased the 2-day pass and thought we could use it to go back to Hakone the next day within our ticket limitations but we could not. The ticket only includes one return journey between Tokyo to Hakone with unlimited use of the local transport in Hakone within 2 days – very useful if you’re spending one night in Hakone.
The perfect day trip to Hakone
Start early as we only have one day here. When you arrive at Hakone-Yumoto, exit the station and travel to Motohakone-ko using the Hakone Tozan Bus. From Platform 1, you’ll catch the H bus to Motohakone-ko, which will be the start of your sightseeing. The journey takes around 30 minutes and you can use your Hakone pass for free travel – simply show it to the driver as you board.
Narukawa Art Museum*
Your first stop is going to be the Narukawa Art Museum. Even if you’re not an art lover, you’re going to want to visit. The panoramic views here overlooking Lake Ashi are not to be missed. You can even see Hakone Shrine from the museum’s panorama window. Unfortunately, this one isn’t included with the Hakone pass but there is a discount and it costs 1,300 yen for passholders.
Photo taken from Narukawa Museum of Art’s website
Hakone Shrine*
After you’ve enjoyed exploring this contemporary art museum dedicated to a style of painting known as nihonga, walk down to Hakone-jinja Shrine, a picturesque red torii gate on the banks of Lake Ashi called the Torii of Peace.
Sail on a Pirate Ship across Lake Ashi*
Next up, you’re going to board a beautiful and opulent pirate ship that takes you across Lake Ashi. You’ll board from ‘Hakone Sightseeing Cruise’ which you can pop into Google Maps. This was one of my favourite moments! We grabbed a beer on board and just enjoyed the stunning scenery! We really thought we’d get lucky with Mt. Fuji views since it was such a clear day but there seemed to be a huge cloud surrounding the iconic mountain!
Hot Springs in Obaku
Disembark at Todengai, where you can take the Hakone Ropeway. If you’d like to soak in some healing properties of an onsen, hop off at Obaku and head to the Hakone Green Plaza Hotel, where they offer day passes for their springs. If you are lucky enough to get a clear day, this is one of the best hot springs in Hakone for a view of Mt. Fuji.
Top tip: they don’t allow tattoos unless they can be easily covered up with stickers, which they sell on site. Larger tattoos are an issue!
Photo taken from Hotels.com
Sulphur Eggs at Owakudani*
Continuing back up the ropeway to Owakudani, also known as the ‘Great Boiling Valley’, you can enjoy the dramatic volcanic scenery here. Famous for its active volcanic landscape, hot springs, and sulphur, a popular highlight here are the black eggs (kuro-tamago), eggs hard-boiled in the hot spring waters that turn black from the sulphur.
Hakone Gora Park*
We then continued on the ropeway to Sounzan, where we caught the cable car to Gora. Explore Hakone Gora Park, a beautiful garden with ponds and flowers surrounded by dramatic mountainscapes. It changes throughout the seasons with vibrant hydrangeas taking centre stage in the warmer months while the autumn coats the park with a blanket of brown and orange.
What I didn’t realise is how much there is to do here! You can take a pottery or glass-blowing workshop or visit their tea room to experience Japanese culture.
Photo taken from Japan Guide website
Okada Art Museum
We then took a bus to the Okada Art Museum, which showcases East Asian ceramics, sculptures and paintings, all housed in a very spacious, modern facility. The museum has a discount for freepass holders making it 2,600 yen (£13 entry). Alternatively, you can explore their Japanese gardens for 300 yen.
Find a tour for your Hakone day trip:
Udon at Kaikatei*
For dinner, you have to visit Kaikatei, located just behind the Okada Art Museum, this udon restaurant is the cosiest little spot. You have to take your shoes off to enter, and the wooden interiors and beautiful greenery outside make it the most relaxing spot to end your day. The beef udon special is a must-try!
Hakone Open Air Museum
This outdoor museum features masterpieces from modern sculptors such as Rodin and Henry Moore. It’s such a unique way of experiencing artwork, since it is all outdoors within the beauty of the natural landscapes. There is also a Picasso Pavilion, an exhibition filled with over 300 pieces from the iconic artist.
I’ve featured quite a lot in this itinerary and realistically, you won’t fit everything into your day. Especially since most of them close at around 5pm (check opening times for each site). I have added an asterisk (*) to activities I think are a must-do, though it’s completely down to your personal preference. I personally chose to skip the Hakone Open Air Museum, as sculptures just aren’t of huge interest to me. You can tailor the activities to what stands out to you the most and take it at whatever pace you like! Whatever you choose to do on your day trip to Hakone, you won’t be disappointed!
