A Complete 2-Day Hakone Itinerary
Hakone is a great day trip from Tokyo, but it’s also a wonderful place to stay a few days, relax in an onsen, see Mount Fuji, and visit the iconic Hakone Shrine. There is also a spa where you can bathe in coffee, wine, sake, and more favorite beverages! Take some time to immerse yourself in the unique activities in this 2-day Hakone itinerary. We promise you’ll absolutely love it!
How to Get to Hakone
Taking the Romance Car to Hakone from Tokyo (Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes)
The Romance Car is the fastest way to travel to Hakone (Hakone-Yumato Station) from Tokyo (Shinjuku Station) and can save you time if you are planning to do a Hakone day trip or just want to make the most of your time for your Hakone itinerary. Although the main difference between the Romance Car and regular trains is the time it takes to get to Hakone, there are also a few other perks when booking seats on the Romance Car.
On the Romance Car, all seats are reserved, so you’re guaranteed a place to sit rather than having to potentially stand on the regular train for a longer period of time. The seats on the Romance Car can also recline and can rotate 180 degrees to face each other making the ride more comfortable if you are planning to sleep or visit with others in your party. Lastly, on the Romance Car, you can also expect restrooms in all cars and luggage storage, free WiFi, and cart service with food and beverages in most cars.
Keep in mind that all seats on the Romance Car are reserved seats, so you’ll need to book in advance and it costs an additional ~1,200 yen for the Limited-Express Ticket to ride the Romance Car. In all honesty, unless you’re on a very tight budget, riding the Romance Car to Hakone is extremely worth it for the added comfort and low price!
More Information About the Hakone Romancecar
How to get to Hakone from Tokyo on the Regular Trains (Approximately 2 hours)
Although the Romance Car is typically the fastest and most luxurious way to get to Hakone from Tokyo, there are also a limited number of seats so you may have to take the regular train from Tokyo to Hakone, or if you’d like to save a few dollars, taking the regular train from Tokyo is your best bet. You might also consider taking a local train if your hotel in Tokyo isn’t near Shinjuku Station.
From Tokyo, you can take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Odawara Station which is included in your Hakone Free Pass if using the Romancecar (additional fee) or Odakyu Line. Additionally, trains are covered by JR Pass on all JR line trains. If you don’t have a JR Pass or Hakone Free Pass, taking the Odakyu Line or Tokaido Line will be much less expensive than the shinkansen. From Odawara Station, you’ll then transfer and take the Hakone Tozan Line to Hakone-Itabashi Station or Hakone-Yumoto Station.
How to Get to Hakone from the Fuji Five Lakes Area (Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes)
There are no trains that go between Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes Area but there are buses that travel between these two popular areas. From Fujikawaguchiko you would take the Fujikyu bus to Gotemba Station. At Gotemba Station, you’ll transfer to the Hakone Tozan bus line that will take you to Hakone. If you plan to visit Mt. Fuji after visiting Hakone, you’ll simply follow the same route but in reverse order.
When to Visit Hakone
Hakone is a popular place to visit year-round, but especially in the fall and winter for an onsen experience. Spring (March-May) in Hakone is one of the most popular times to visit Hakone due to the mild temperatures and low humidity. It is also the sakura (cherry blossom) season in Japan, which is widely popular in the Fuji Five Lakes area and Hakone. Keep in mind that while temperatures are generally pleasant during this time, it has been known to rain somewhat frequently during these months as well.
July-September are the hottest months to visit Hakone at an average of 75-91°F (23.8-32.7°C), which brings high humidity and often a lot of rainy days as well. There is also limited visibility of Mount Fuji during this time due to high humidity.
Fall (September-November) in Hakone is typically one of the higher times for tourism in Hakone due to the fall foliage and mild temperatures. Although the weather can be unpredictable during this time, too.
Winter (December-February) in Hakone is typically one of the slower months in Hakone, although a lot of people enjoy coming for the onsen in the area. However, in our opinion, several outdoor activities in Hakone wouldn’t be as enjoyable during snowy, cold weather.
Regardless of when you visit, be sure to avoid certain Japanese National Holidays, including Golden Week (typically the last part of April-first week of May) and Obon Festival (Held the 2nd week of August).
What is the Hakone Freepass?
The Hakone Freepass is a discount pass that covers transportation on all buses, trains, and ropeways while in Hakone.
Another advantage of having the Hakone Freepass is the discounts it gives towards over 70 sightseeing spots, onsen, historical sites, restaurants, and more in Hakone, making this a no-brainer if you are planning to follow this 2-day Hakone itinerary and travel from Tokyo.
Where to Purchase the Hakone Freepass
There are a few places you can purchase the Hakone Freepass, including the following:
- EMot: Digital Ticketing Service (adds QR code to phone)
- 7-Eleven 7-Ticket Services
- Odakyu Sightseeing Service Centers (Shinjuku Station – Tokyo)
- Hakone-Yumoto Station (and many other bus and train stations around Hakone)
- Hakone Tozan Railway Stations: Ticket vending machines
- Hakone Tozan Bus Information Centers
- Mishima Tourist Information Center & Mishima Tokai Bus Information Office
- Mt. Fuji Gotemba Tourist Information Center
How Much Does the Hakone Freepass Cost?
The price of the Hakone Freepass varies depending on how long you need a pass for and where you are departing from. If you purchase your Hakone Freepass while in Tokyo, you can also get transportation to and from Tokyo included with your pass (not including the Romance Car, which is available for an additional 1,200 yen one-way).
| 2-Day Pass | 3-Day Pass | |
| From Shinjuku Station (Includes round-trip transportation) | 7,100 yen (adults), 1,600 yen (children) | 7,500 yen (adults), 1,850 yen (children) |
| From Odawara Station | 6,000 yen (adults) 1,500 yen (children) | 6,400 yen (adults) 1,750 yen (children) |
More information about the Hakone Freepass
Transportation in Hakone
If using the Hakone Freepass, your transportation on Hakone’s trains, buses, ropeway, and boats is covered. Similar to the Japan Rail Pass, you show your Hakone Freepass when using public transportation in Hakone or scan the QR code for the stations that accept digital tickets.
If you are not using the Hakone Freepass, we recommend getting an IC card to make transportation easier. Read more about IC Cards in our guide to visiting Japan.
The main lines of transportation in Hakone are:
- Hakone Tozan Train: Runs between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora Stations. It is also famous for its switchback railway and is a very scenic train ride!
- Hakone Tozan Cable Car: Runs from Gora to Sounzan. It also has some scenic views, especially in the summertime when hydrangeas are in bloom.
- Hakone Ropeway: Connects Togendai and Sounzan. It also includes transportation to Owakudani.
- Hakone Tozan Bus: One of the more popular modes of transportation in Hakone, because it visits more stops included in this 2-day Hakone itinerary. You can also use this bus line to get to Gotemba Outlets if traveling to Mt. Fuji.
- Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise: While this cruise may seem a bit more touristy, it does offer some beautiful views between Togendai-ko and Hakonemachi-ko.
Where to Stay in Hakone
- Mount View Hakone: A budget-friendly ryokan that offers both Western and Japanese-style rooms, private and public onsen, and kaiseki dining that can accommodate some food restrictions and allergies, a rarity with kaiseki cuisine.
- Location: 885 Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0631, Japan // MAP
- Yumoto Fujiya Hotel: A historic ryokan with many on-site amenities. It is conveniently located next to Hakone-Yumoto Station. They have larger Western and Japanese-style rooms, making it a perfect family-friendly hotel too!
- Location: 256-1 Yumoto, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0392, Japan // MAP
- Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa: We love Hyatt properties in Japan and often stay at them because of my status with them. The Hyatt Regency Hakone is a fantastic modern hotel with large rooms, all of which have a terrace or balcony surrounded by nature. They also have a free shuttle from a few stations in Hakone.
- Location: 1320 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan // MAP
Places to Eat in Hakone
- Soba Kihinkan specializes in hot and cold soba noodle dishes. It is located in an old Japanese house with a sophisticated garden in the surrounding setting.
- Location: Japan, 〒250-0407 Kanagawa, Ashigarashimo District, 足柄下郡箱根町 二ノ平１２９７YK // MAP
- Pan no Mimi is an inexpensive, yet terrific spot for a sit-down lunch while in Hakone. They serve a variety of dishes, including omurice, pan gratin, hot and cold sandwiches, and other cafe items.
- Location: 170 Miyagino, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0401 Kanagawa Prefecture // MAP
- Tamura Ginkasutei is a small restaurant that specializes in katsu (fried pork cutlets), but their signature dish features minced pork and tofu prepared in a broth-filled clay pot.
- Location: 1300-739 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan // MAP
- Naraya Cafe is a small cafe that serves pizza, pastries, beer, and coffee, with an on-site footbath and beautiful views of Hakone.
- Location: 404-13 Miyanoshita, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0404, Japan // MAP
- Hakone Amazake Tea House has been in the same family for 13 generations. They proudly serve amazake, a sweet fermented rice drink, and chikara mochi, a rice cake with your choice of a savory soy sauce glaze and seaweed, sweet black sesame paste, or sweet kinako soybean flour.
- Location: Japan, 〒250-0314 Kanagawa, Ashigarashimo District, Hakone, Hatajuku, 二子山 395-28 // MAP
- Itoh Dining by Nobu is a teppanyaki restaurant that is great for fine dining and those who love steak. Itoh serves various cuts of Japanese beef, including Kobe beef.
- Location: 1300-64 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan // MAP
The Best Things to Do in Hakone
Check Out the Views from Odawara Castle
If you decide to visit Hakone from Tokyo, we suggest first visiting Odawara Castle. However, if you are coming from somewhere other than Tokyo, you can feel free to skip to the next stop on this 2-day Hakone itinerary and add Odawara Castle when it’s most convenient for your Hakone itinerary.
Odawara Castle was originally built in the 15th century, but was later destroyed by an earthquake in 1703. After being rebuilt, it was surprisingly dismantled and sold in 1870. After all of its many woes, Odawara Castle was rebuilt again in 1960 and opened to the public. Today, you can visit 5 floors of the castle, which features the important history of Odawara Castle from the Edo Period to today. There is also a small outdoor observation deck where you can view Sagami Bay and Odawara City.
In the spring, it’s a fabulous place to see cherry blossoms and many other beautiful flowers.
Location: Jonai, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0014, Japan // MAP
Visit the Infamous Hakone Shrine
Since 757 AD, Hakone Shrine has been a location honored as the guardian deity of the Kanto region, Hakone Daigongen. People visit to pray to the god of good fortune, who is primarily known for bringing luck, fulfillment of wishes, safe travels, and protection from evil. But Hakone Shrine has become known for the stunning view of Heiwa-no-Torii, the Torii of Peace, located on a stone pathway leading out to Lake Ashi.
Similar to the Floating Torii in Miyajima, this torii gate offers a stunning, peaceful waterside view that has become popular for photography and meditation. The first time I visited Hakone Shrine, I noticed a long line of people waiting to take photos of the Torii of Peace, so if taking a photo here is important to you, check the line before visiting Hakone Shrine. It tends to move quickly but can get longer as the day goes on!
Location: 80-1 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan // MAP
Take A Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Ashi
The Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise might be a bit of a kitchy novelty, after all, a few routes are on a pirate ship, but it does offer a unique vantage point for Hakone’s scenery. On board, you can see the Torii of Peace from the water, take in the seasonal foliage, and on a clear day, multiple views of Mt. Fuji!
Because the sightseeing cruises are so popular, there are many different ports on Lake Ashi, making it convenient to get from one side of the lake to the other! Here are a few of the different Lake Ashi Cruises you can take and their port locations.
There are three different access points to take a sightseeing cruise on the Hakone Pirate Ship, all of which are covered by the Hakone Freepass. Tickets can be purchased separately without the Hakone Freepass.
- Hakonemachi-ko near the south side of Lake Ashi.
- Motohakone-ko which is close to Hakone Shrine.
- Tōgendai-ko near the Hakone Ropeway
More Information About the Hakone Pirate Ship Sightseeing Cruise
The Lake Ashi Pleasure Boat, which is a regular ferry boat without reserved seats, departs from four different access points. One-way tickets and one-day passes are both available, allowing you to deboard and spend some time in another area of Hakone before returning.
- Hakonesekisho Ato near the south side of Lake Ashi
- Motohakone-ko near Hakone Shrine
- Hakone-en near the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway
- Kojiri near the Hakone Ropeway
More Information About the Lake Ashi Pleasure Boat
Location: 161 Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0521 (Hakonemachi-ko location) // MAP
Hike Along the Old Tokaido Road
A few hundred years ago, this Hakone passageway was considered the most dangerous mountain to cross in Japan due to its steep incline and unpredictable weather. Now the Old Tokaido Road is a rather popular hike to enjoy while visiting Hakone due to its history, picturesque setting, and original stone pavements that mark parts of the trail.
While on the Old Tokaido Road, there are a few places I recommend stopping at. The first is Cedar Avenue which is a beautiful pathway of trees located between Hakone-machi and Moto-Hakone, and makes for a good starting point for your leisurely hike on the Old Tokaido Road.
A short walk from there is the Hakone Checkpoint which was recreated in 2007 to its original form. It includes replicas of the lookout tower, prison chamber, officer and soldier housing, and more. If you want to learn more about Hakone’s history and the Old Tokaido Road, this is a great place to stop for a short visit.
Next I recommend visiting Amazake Chaya, a tea house that serves a hot, sweet sake known as amazake and a few traditional sweets. This was our last stop on the Old Tokaido Road but the path does continue.
The hike from the Cedar Avenue to Amazake Chaya takes around 40 minutes one-way. But if you are pressed for time, there are two Hakone Tozan buses that run on bus line K between Hakone-Yumoto and Moto-Hakone stopping at Hatajuku and Amazake Chaya so feel free to hike as much as you want to and ride the bus for other parts of the trek!
Enjoy Bathing in Favorite Beverages at Yunessun Spa
If you’re looking for something quirky to do while in Hakone, Yunessun is a spa where you can bring a swimsuit and bathe in your favorite beverages. We’re not kidding, though diluted, there are pools of wine, coffee, sake, green tea, and more. It’s one of the only onsen spas that allow bathing suits in most areas, though we found it to be more like a water park.
Yunessun has both indoor and outdoor areas, so it can be enjoyed year-round! The outdoor area has water slides, cave baths, and waterfalls. Inside the main spa area is where the baths with wine, coffee, tea, and sake are made for a rather unique onsen or water park experience. At different times during the day, staff bring out buckets of coffee and wine and dump them in the respective baths for an entertaining show.
There is also a fish bath where tropical fish nibble away on the rough skin on your feet for an additional ¥100. It might be a turn-off for some, but if you’ve ever wanted to try this, then you can do so at Yunessun.
If you also want to experience a more traditional onsen, Yunessun also has Mori no Yu, which is a regular onsen area separated by sex. In Mori no Yu, there are open-air baths located outside and indoor baths. There are also private baths that are available for rent for families, couples, or guests with tattoos.
One last thing, if you didn’t come prepared, that’s okay! You can rent towels, loungewear, and swimwear for small fees. Be sure to check Yunessun’s website for special discount coupons that change regularly.
Location: 1297 Ninotaira, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0407, Japan // MAP
Take the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani
Another popular attraction in Hakone is Owakudani. Take the Hakone Ropeway (included in your Hakone Freepass!) up to this active volcano zone that has sulphuric hot springs and hiking trails that lead to Mt. Kamiyama and Mt. Komagatake. Though you cannot relax in these hot springs, you can purchase eggs cooked in the spring’s hot water! The shells are blackened by the sulfur, and legend has it, eating them prolongs your life by seven years.
Owakudani is also a popular Mt. Fuji viewing spot, so be sure to look for the infamous mountain peak while on the ropeway and from the viewing platforms!
Location: Japan, 〒250-0631 Kanagawa, Ashigarashimo District, Hakone, 仙石原 // MAP
Explore the Unique Art at Hakone Open-Air Museum
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is the last stop on this Hakone itinerary, and it’s honestly one of the best attractions in Hakone. It’s unlike any other art museum we’ve been to and features many interactive exhibits. We easily spent a few hours there exploring the outdoor art exhibits, sculptures, and exhibition halls, followed by the building dedicated to the works of Pablo Picasso.
Location: 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0407, Japan // MAP
Hakone was definitely a magical place to visit in Japan with countless unique activities. We absolutely loved our time there and hope to make it back for fall foliage someday!
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