This page covers what to know so you can plan a visit to Hakone as part of your Japan itinerary!
Hakone is known for its hot springs (onsen!), lake views, steaming volcano valley (Owakudani)… and views of Mount Fuji if the weather is good enough!
It’s a popular nature day trip from Tokyo, although it will be a long day.
Hakone is also a top pick for an overnight stay in an onsen town.
Whether you’re making it a day trip or visiting Hakone over several days, there are transportation passes available to explore the Hakone area so all you need to do is show your pass and move through ticket gates easily.
From Shinjuku, it’s about 2.5 hours one-way to get to Gora Station, which is a gateway to the popular Hakone ropeway.
Hakone is pronounced more like ha-ko-nay.
Now here’s more of what to know to plan your visit to Hakone!
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PLAN YOUR HAKONE TRIP > Hakone freepass | Hakone Loop map | Odawara Station map | Tokyo to Kyoto shinkansen stops
Onsen hotels in Hakone: Hakone Yutowa in Gora | Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu | Lakefront Hakone Hotel
Hotels near Odawara Station: Tenseien Annex | Toyoko Inn
Hakone on your own: transportation pass
The Hakone Loop is the popular sightseeing route that circles the Hakone area. You’ll get to see the Owakudani volcano valley, as well as go down to Hakone’s famous Lake Ashi. If it’s a clear day, you’ll have many opportunities to see Mount Fuji. The Hakone Loop combines different modes of transportation, including train, cable car, ropeway, bus, and even boat!
The most common and convenient way to travel around Hakone to do the Hakone loop on your own is with a 2-day or 3-day Hakone pass. (There is no one-day pass.) This pass includes unlimited transportation to be able to do the Hakone loop, as well as round-trip transportation from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.
The Owakudani Pass is for you if the ONLY thing you want to see in Hakone is the volcano valley. Most notably, it includes unlimited Hakone Ropeway rides over the Owakudani volcanic steam vents. You can buy the pass to include transportation from Shinjuku Station or Odawara Station.
For a small segment using either pass, see the route to go from Gora Station to Owakudani. Along with seeing volcanic steam vents, the volcano valley is where you go for the iconic black eggs of Hakone that were boiled in an onsen pond.
If you do the Hakone Loop, or even just go to the volcano valley, you can have a free foot onsen experience in Hakone!
Hakone day trip tour from Tokyo
Tour from Tokyo: Day trip to Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani volcano valley, and Lake Ashi
A day trip to Hakone is one of the most popular full-day tours from Tokyo. Leave the transportation planning to someone to see the highlights and possible Mount Fuji views!
Read the reviews on viator or klook.
Hakone map
Take a look at the Hakone map for a visual of the important things to know about when planning a trip to Hakone. See the Tokyo map for more day trips.
Where to stay in Hakone
Hakone is one of the most popular onsen towns near Tokyo.
Stay overnight in Hakone and get a classic Japanese experience by choosing a room with a private onsen.
Where to stay in Gora: Tensui Saryo
Compare prices and read the reviews on expedia and booking.com.
Where to stay near Lake Ashi: Fujimi Terrace Hakone Ashinoko
Compare prices and read the reviews on booking.com and expedia.
Baggage delivery is available from Hakone-Yumoto Station to your accommodation in Hakone. Look for Hakone-Yumoto Station on the Odakyu Line website for details.
In transit to Hakone from Tokyo: Odawara
Odawara Station is a common transit point when going from Tokyo to Hakone. You can use it just as that, as a transit point. There is a direct train from Shinjuku to Odawara, and then you can continue immediately onwards on another train to Hakone.
Or… you can leave the train station for a quick stop at Odawara… or stay the night for a full day in Hakone the next day.
Within 1 hour, you can comfortably do a round-trip walk from Odawara Station to Odawara Castle.
With a little bit extra time, you can get greater historical context of the castle town through a ninja and samurai tour.
Stay overnight near the train station at Tenseien Odawara Station Annex hotel which has a free public onsen, along with a nearby food court.
The next day, you can leave your luggage at the Odawara Station coin lockers and do a day trip to Hakone, and then return to Odawara to continue on to your next destination in the evening by shinkansen. Odawara is on the shinkansen bullet train line.
There is also a free ashiyu foot onsen in Odawara near the train station!
Hakone on the blog
JAPAN TRAVEL > Hakone freepass | HAKONE MAP | TOKYO MAP