Need a breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo? 😮💨 Hakone, Japan is an incredible destination with natural hot springs, incredible ryokans, and of course amazing views of Mount Fuji. I’ve got you covered for the perfect way to spend one day in Hakone.
We spent 10 days in Japan, but Hakone was my favorite place that we went on our trip! I felt in awe as I stared out at Mount Fuji from this gorgeous setting. Plus, spending the night at a ryokan, soaking in hot springs and eating delicious food, was something that I’ll truly never forget.
I think that Hakone is the perfect addition to any Japan trip at just an hour away from Tokyo! Read further to plan your adventures in Hakone. Below I’ve laid out the best things to do, how to get there, where to stay, and when to go! I hope you have an incredible trip.
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Table of Contents
Itinerary For One Day in Hakone
Taikanzan
Most visitors that go to Hakone hope to see incredible views of Mt Fuji. At 12,000 feet above sea level, this mountain is an incredible sight. On a clear day, you can drive up the Yugawara toll road to Taikanzan and get incredible panoramic views 🤩 of Mt Fuji, volcanic mountains and Lake Ashi.
Unfortunately, when we went up to the top Mt Fuji was not visible 👎🏻, but we still saw incredible views of the lake. Plus, on the way down we got to see Mt Fuji in all of its glory!
Other Great Mt Fuji Viewpoints:
- Hakone Pirate Ship in Lake Ashi
- Owakudani
- Onshi-Hakone Park
How to Get to Taikanzan
If you’re using public transportation, then you’ll want to grab a Hakone Tozan Bus at the Hakone Yumato Station. Ride this for 20-40 minutes until you get to Hakonemachi-ko bus stop. Then, take a bus towards Yugawara Station and gett off at Taikanzan (about 8 minutes).
Hakone Ropeway
After you’ve driven up to Taikanzan for incredible views, then I recommend continuing down the road to the Hakone Ropeway. This ropeway connects Lake Ashinoko to Sounzan Station. But, the highlight is visiting the volcanic area of Owakudani 🌋.
💵 This ropeway is covered by the Hakone Free Pass or 1500 yen one way and 2500 yen round trip.
Simply get off at the Owakudani station to see the incredible volcanic zone at the top. You’ll be able to see hot bubbling hot springs ♨️, steam vents, and smell the strong odor of sulphur right from the station.
You can choose to either do the 30 minute walking trail to the volcanic zone, but this requires reservations and costs 500 yen. Or, if you are feeling very adventurous you can take a 2.7 mile hike to Mount Kamiyama (this hike closes based on volcanic activity).
We opted to just see the geothermal features from the station and felt like it was sufficient!
How to Get to Owakudani
You can either get on at the Sounzan or Togendai Station. If you are Hakone-Yumato, you can get to Sounzan by Hakone Tozan Railway or cable car. While Togendai, is on the shores of Lake Ashinoko and can by accessed by boat.
Hakone Open Air Museum
One thing you shouldn’t miss on one day in Hakone is the Hakone Open Air Museum. This beautiful museum combines the natural setting with stunning pieces of artwork. You can wander the grounds admiring the immersive art, while taking in stunning mountain views.
Admission is 1600 yen per person or 1400 yen if you have the Hakone Free Pass.
There are various exhibition halls including a Picasso one, that is two levels and features many pieces of his work. It’s an incredible place to spend a few hours, especially if you love art! 🎨
How to Get to Hakone Open Air Musuem
Take the Hakone Tozan Railway 30 minutes from Hakone-Yumato station to the Chokoku No Mori Station. If you have the Hakone Free Pass then this route is covered, if not it’s 460 yen.
Hakone Hot Springs
Hakone is one of the most popular and authentic areas to bathe in the Japanese hot springs (onsen). There are a variety ways of doing this including staying at a local Ryokan or visiting the public bath houses.
One of the most popular areas is Yumoto, which has many options. There are a variety of bath houses, hot springs, and ryokan in this area. Bathing in the onsen in Japan was one of my all time favorite experiences!
Bathhouses in Hakone:
Hakone-Jinja Shrine
Hakone Shrine is a beautiful shrine on the shores of Lake Ashinoko. While most of the buildings are in the forest, the large torii gates stand prominently in the Lake itself. Many people love to visit here because of the beautiful setting.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to go because of the New Year’s crowds! We will have to return on our next visit.
How to Get to Hakone Shrine
Take the Hakone Tozan Bus for 35 minutes from Hakone Yumoto Station to the Moto-Hakone boat Pier. Once you get off, it’s a 5-10 minute walk. This route is covered by the Hakone Free Pass.
Hakone Travel Planning
How to Get to Hakone
The best way to get to Hakone is by bullet train. You can get a JR pass or tickets on the JR from Kyoto, Osaka, or Tokyo. You’ll want to make sure that the Shinksansen to Odawara Station. From there, you’ll take a 15 minute train ride to Hakone Yumoto.
Plus, on sunny days you’ll get incredible views of Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen that you’ll always remember!
If you’re taking a Hakone day trip from Tokyo, then you can easily drive there within an hour. The drive is only about an hour. However, if you’re coming from Kyoto or Osaka the drive is much longer at 4-5 hours.
How to Get Around Hakone
It’s fairly easy to take public transportation around Hakone. There are multiple methods of public transit including bus, railway, boat, ropeway, and cable car! 🚌
If you plan on taking a lot of public transportation, then I recommend getting the Hakone Free Pass. This pass includes most public transportation and it is an easy way to get around town. You can figure out if it makes sense by visiting their website.
Best Time to Visit Hakone
Like many places in Japan, people will tell you that the best time to visit is the spring or autumn. In the spring, the cherry blossoms 🌸 come out and the colors paint the mountain town. While in the fall, reds, oranges, and yellows 🍂 cover the area and create a beautiful landscape.
Spring and Fall are beautiful times of year, but they bring crowds of people to the area as well.
However, Hakone is beautiful throughout the year. We visited in the winter and it was an incredible time with less crowds and snow on the tops of the peaks. In summer, you’ll find milder temperatures in the mountains, which makes it a great escape from the city!
Where to Stay in Hakone
Hakone is one of the best places in all of Japan to stay at a Ryokan. Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns that also have onsen (hot baths) and authentic Japanese meals. It’s one of the most unique places to stay in Japan and I would highly recommend you try it! ⭐️⭐️
We stayed at Gora Kadan in Hakone and it was seriously the best place we stayed in all of Japan. There were incredible meals, amazing baths, and even a spa if you wanted a massage or treatment.
Great Ryokans in Hakone:
- Gora Kadan – We stayed at Gora Kadan and it was my favorite stay of the entire trip. It’s a splurge and it books out early, but it’s so worth it!
- Hakone Kyuan
- Gora Kansuiro
- Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori
Final Tips to Visit Hakone
Hakone is a magnificent area in Japan and I would definitely add it to your itinerary! If you only have time for a day trip then I would make sure to see the incredible views of Mount Fuji and soak in one of the local onsens. I hope you have an amazing trip!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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