Ultimate 2-Day Hakone Itinerary – Side Trip From Tokyo

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You can get from Tokyo to Hakone in less than 2 hours, so adding this ultimate Hakone itinerary to your Tokyo trip is a no-brainer! Known for its breathtaking views of Mt Fuji, famous ropeways over volcanic craters, and lakeside temples, Hakone has a lot to offer.

Built along the ancient Tokai-do road, Hakone was a place of respite for pilgrims and samurai traveling through the region. Soak your worries away and rest your tired feet in the area’s famous hot springs, which are said to have healing powers! 

2 Day Itinerary For Hakone

Get ready to explore the drastic landscapes around Hakone, immerse yourself in the local history, and indulge in some me-time in one of Hakone’s most famous hot springs!

Hakone Day 1 – Arrive From Tokyo To Your Hotel, Visit Hakone Gora Park And The Hakone Open-Air Museum

Set off as early as possible from Tokyo to Hakone so you can enjoy going sightseeing on the first day. The best way to get there is by train, and we recommend getting a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass).

You can use the JR Pass to get the shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Odawara. It takes around around 30 minutes and is a key transfer point for trains to Hakone. If you just want to get a single shinkansen train ticket and skip getting a JR Pass, you can book a single train ticket here. 

From Odawara, jump on a regular train to Hakone-Yumoto Station (which you’ll need to pay for as it isn’t covered by the JR Pass), Hakone’s main station. The Hakonetozan Line runs super regularly and takes just 20 minutes. 

Using the JR Pass and taking the shinkansen bullet train to Odawara and then catching a regular train from there to Hakone-Yumoto Station is the quickest way, but if you don’t have a JR Pass you can also take a regular train from Tokyo to Hakone-Yumoto Station. 

Without a JR Pass, the Limited Express Romancecar, which is run by Odakyu, is your best option. It’s an express train that takes about an hour and a half to get to Hakone from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station. 

Alternatively, you can rent a car and drive there in under an hour and a half. This might be a good option if you want to explore the Mt Fuji Five Lakes region as well as visiting Hakone on your trip. 

Once you arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station, less than a 10-minute walk away from your hotel is the traditional Masutomi Ryokan. Leave all your bags and take a minute to catch your breath after a long trip before heading back to the train station to start your first day of sightseeing! 

Hop on a train to the nearby Gora Station, which is about half an hour away by train. You’re probably ready to eat something by now, so we’ve lined up a great breakfast or lunch spot, depending on when you arrive! 

Cafe Douce is a cute family-run cafe that has great vegetarian options, which can be hard to come by in Japan. It’s just over a 10-minute walk away from the Gora Station, so it’s easy to get to. If you’re there in the morning, you can order one of their Western-style breakfasts or some of the cakes they bake themselves! They also have Japanese dishes that are perfect if you arrive at lunchtime.

From there, wander through the town to the Hakone Open Air Museum, which is just a 5-minute walk away from the little cafe. This awesome sculpture museum is one of the most famous attractions in the area, so we’re super excited to add it to our 2-day Hakone itinerary!

The museum has a lot of its exhibits outdoors, so it feels more like a sculpture park. We loved being able to wander through the art installations with views of the surrounding mountain landscape! Keep a lookout for the Symphonic Sculpture, the most notable piece on the museum grounds.

The Symphonic Sculpture is more like a little church than a sculpture. You can wander inside the circular structure, where you’ll be awed by the colorful stained-glass panels that decorate the walls from floor to ceiling. In the center of the sculpture, there’s a little spiral staircase that you can walk up to a viewing deck that has vistas over the park and the surrounding landscape! 

One of the most famous areas of the museum is the Picasso Pavilion, which is an indoor exhibit that has two floors worth of his art. We loved the variation of his work on display. There are sculptures, ceramic pieces, and paintings alongside lots of information about his life and pictures of Picasso himself.

Image via Flickr by Guilhem Vellut

You’ll spend a few hours at the museum, so you’re likely to have worked up an appetite by the time you leave. Stop for lunch at Kappei Sushi, a nearby sushi restaurant that has vegetarian and gluten-free options. Their sashimi is super fresh and delicious – you have to try it! 

After lunch head back towards Gora Station, around a 15-minute walk away. Above the station, you’ll find Hakone Gora Park. Built onto a steep slope, the park has picturesque views over Hakone, and it’s a great place to go for a relaxing walk after a long day traveling. 

Designed to replicate French gardens, the park has a large decorative fountain and a little rose garden. There are also two greenhouses, one has a tropical botanical garden inside it, whilst the other has a little flower garden. 

If you’re crafty, you could even visit the Crafthouse in the park. They run workshops on glass etching and glass blowing as well as short pottery classes. If you’re traveling with kids, it’s a great opportunity for them to try something new!

Before you leave the park, stop for a green tea at the Hakuun-do Chaen teahouse that overlooks the park’s gorgeous fountain. The teahouse was established in 1910 and is made up of four little houses styled like the simple houses villagers used to live in. Hidden amongst the park’s greenery and connected by little stone paths, they feel tucked away from the world. 

Take a moment to appreciate the surrounding tranquility and soak in the views. They also run traditional tea ceremonies; you can join if you want to learn about Japanese culture! 

If you don’t have time to spend a few days in Hakone, book this day trip tour from Tokyo. It packs everything on days one and two of this itinerary into a one-day tour brimming with attractions.

This is Tenzan Tohoji-kyo, a different onsen we visited on a separate trip.

After visiting the park, hop on the train back to your hotel. Take a moment to gather some stuff for the next activity and have a quick coffee before heading back out.

To end your first day in the Hakone region, we’ve got something extra special planned. Often called the hot spring theme park, the Hakone area is famous for its onsens (private bath houses). So, after a day of wandering around the town, head to Hakone Yuryo, an onsen that’s a short 15-minute walk away from your hotel. 

They have indoor and outdoor hot springs, as well as a sauna! We loved the way all the baths blend in with the natural surroundings and felt nestled away from the town. Look out at the green trees and enjoy the rustic decor of the place. 

If you’re traveling to Hakone with your partner, you should consider reserving one of their private onsens! That way, you can enjoy a more intimate experience, just the two of you. There’s also a spa area where you can book in for massages and different spa treatments!

One thing worth knowing before you go is that Japan’s public baths have quite strict rules on tattoos. They have some stick-on patches that you can cover your tattoos with, but they’re not very big, so if you have a bigger tattoo or a sleeve tattoo, you most likely won’t be able to go in. 

Hakone Day 2 – Take On Part Of The Hakone Loop

The Hakone Loop, also known as the Round Course, is a tour of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park that surrounds Hakone. It’s an epic round-trip day tour that takes you to volcanoes, the area’s most scenic lake, and a Japanese shrine. 

Before starting the day, have a traditional Japanese breakfast at your hotel! It comes included with your room, another reason why we love this family-run ryokan. Since it’s not unusual for cafes to open as late as 11AM in Japan, having breakfast at your hotel will also mean you can set off earlier. 

Jump on a train at Hakone-Yumoto and travel to Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway. There’s another cafe by the Gora Station that we recommend for breakfast if you decide to book a different hotel. Coffee Camp is a trendy and cozy cafe that serves classic breakfasts like egg on toast, and awesome coffee. The best thing is it’s just round the corner from the train station. Unlike most cafes in Japan, it opens at 8AM! 

From the Gora Station, you’ll take the Tozan Cable Car to Sounzan Station. The cable car runs every quarter of an hour and takes just 10 minutes. This is where the iconic Hakone Ropeway begins! The gondolas can fit up to 18 people into them, so you won’t be alone but there’s a real buzz in the air as everyone’s anticipating the journey ahead.

Board the Hakone Ropeway and you’ll be swept off the ground and carried across the crater of Mount Hakone volcano. It is a really cool experience traveling across the crater and looking down at the grey sulfur geysers releasing spouts of sulfur fumes! 

The views of the surrounding valley and mountains are awesome too. On a clear day, you can even catch glimpses of Mt Fuji in the distance – so get your camera ready for this leg of the trip. The first stretch of the Hakone Ropeway ends at the edge of the crater, at Owakudani Station. 

Fancy putting your taste buds to the test? Then try the Owakudani black eggs that they sell at the souvenir store. They start as normal chicken eggs, but then they are hard-boiled in the sulfurous springs around the volcano, so they get really smelly! If you can get over the smell, legend has it that eating a single egg will add 7 years to your life. 

When you’re done taking in the views and you’ve tried an Owakudani black egg (or not!), hop on the Hakone Ropeway cable car and travel down the volcano to Togendai Port. Overall, the cable car journey takes just under half an hour and covers a distance of 4 kilometers, making it one of the world’s longest ropeway rides!

Get ready for the next leg of adventure – a cruise across Lake Ashinoko on a pirate ship! The Hakone Ropeway drops you off at Togendai Port, where you’ll see lots of decorative pirate ships waiting along the shore. 

Popular because of the Mt Fuji views in the distance, the lake is one of the best places to see Japan’s 12,388-foot mountain from. The snow-capped peak towers over the lake and surrounding forest, adding an air of mysticism to the cruise. 

All in all the cruise lasts about 30 minutes, but you’ll remember the scenery for a lifetime! We couldn’t get over how beautiful the lake is too. Little boats bob up and down on the lake’s shores and the whole area feels wild and untouched. 

Towards the end of the journey, you’ll catch glimpses of Jinjya Heiwa-no-Torii in the distance. The giant floating red torii gate is by the Hakone Shrine and is one of the most impressive attractions in the Hakone region. 

An important thing to know is that there are two places the boats leave from Togendai Port dock at. Some of them dock at Hakone-machi, and others dock at Moto-Hakone Port. Unless you really don’t fancy adding any walking to the day, we’d recommend boarding a pirate ship that docks at Hakone-machi. 

From there, you’ll need to walk to Moto-Hakone Port anyway, but the walk is beautiful. The path travels along Ancient Cedar Avenue from one port to the other, weaving along the lake’s shores and through the forest. 

Once you arrive at Moto-Hakone Port, refuel at the Bakery and Table. One of the reasons we love it so much is because there are loads of food options. The ground floor is a bakery that sells all sorts of sweet treats and sandwiches, whilst upstairs on the second and third floors, there’s a restaurant area with a separate menu where you can stop for a sit-down lunch with lakeside views. 

Image via Unsplash by Riccardo Orlando

After lunch, visit the Hakone Shrine, also called the Hakone-jinja Shrine. The temple dates back to 757 and became known around Japan when it became a popular spot for military commanders and samurai to come to pray. Travelers have also used the spot as a site of worship as they journey through the Hakone area.

The temple is built in a traditional Japanese style and resembles many of the temples dotted around the country. But one thing that makes it stand out among the rest is the enormous heiwa-no torii, the ‘red gate of peace’ that was built by the temple on the waters of Lake Ashinoko. From the torii gate there are 89 steps that lead you to the shrine.

From the pirate ships you can spot the torii gate, but not the temple buildings that are hidden away in the dense forest. Taking pictures with the big torii gate is a must whilst you’re at Hakone Shrine.

Another peculiar feature of the shrine is the nine-headed dragon fountain. Legend has it that villagers around Lake Ashinoko were once threatened by a terrifying nine-headed dragon that roamed the region. The dragon was pacified by a local priest, and peace was restored. Drinking from the fountain before wandering into the temple is thought to bring luck in love!

Now, a festival is held each year at the shrine in honor of the dragon. Called the Ashiniko Kosui Matsuri festival, it’s held on the 31st of July each year. Thousands of fireworks are set off and burst in a colorful display over Lake Ashi!

If you’re worried about the cost of everything adding up, book this Hakone tour from Tokyo. The cost includes train tickets from Tokyo as well as the Hakone Free Pass, so you don’t have to worry about anything! 

Alternatively, opt for this local tour and pick where you want to go on a 6-hour private tour with a licensed guide! 

Image via Flickr by NeilM20

If you’ve got time, you can also visit a second shrine, Mototsumiya or the ‘original shrine’, which is on the summit of Komagatake. To get there you’ll need to walk to Hakone-en, where the Hakone-Komagatake Ropeway leaves from. As the ropeway journeys up the mountain there are stunning views of Lake Ashi and Mt Fuji. 

On really clear days you can even catch glimpses of Tokyo’s skyline in the distance! You can hike to the second shrine from Hakone Shrine, but it takes a good 2 hours, so it’s unlikely you’ll have time on this trip! Save your knees from the steep incline and take the ropeway instead.  

The line climbs up Mount Koma from the shores of Lake Ashi and has been running since 1963. On a clear day, the views of Mt Fuji are stunning! 

Once you’re back at your hotel, you can pay a little extra to rent the private onsen which is on the rooftop for an hour, the perfect way to wind down after a day exploring Hakone. They also have rooms that come with breakfast and dinner included, so for dinner, try the awesome home-cooked food they prepare at the hotel. 

Interactive Map Of Hakone

We’ve designed this handy interactive map with all the attractions and restaurants on this itinerary pinned for you! Download it ahead of your trip and use it to navigate the Hakone region.

A Bit About The Hakone Region

Hakone is a town in the southwest of the Kanagawa Prefecture. It was built on the southern bank of Lake Ashinoko in the caldera of the old Mount Hakone volcano. It’s also in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which is characterized by dense forest and lush mountains. 

Hakone is surrounded by dramatic landscapes that will capture your imagination! As well as the lake and volcano, Hakone is a gateway town to Mt Fuji. You can see the famous mountain from lots of places in the Hakone area, and Lake Ashi even made it onto our guide to the Best Places to See Mt Fuji from (coming soon).

But that’s not all Hakone has to offer. The area’s hot springs attract thousands of visitors who come to laze in the onsens dotted around Hakone. It’s thought that the waters of Hakone’s hot springs have healing properties! Incredibly, one of the hot spring resorts in the area, Miyanoshita, dates back to the Edo period!

A Little Local History

Hakone was built along the historic Tokai-Do road and was a place where tired travelers would stop to rest and rejuvenate in the healing local hot springs. The ancient route connected Kyoto and Tokyo during the Edo period. Noblemen, samurai, and religious pilgrims have all traveled along this historical route!

Hakone Packing Guide

Hakone is a city destination with lots of alluring nature spots in the surrounding area that you’ll want to visit. Pack casual clothes, and consider the specific items in this packing guide:

• Comfortable shoes: Wandering around Hakone and visiting the breathtaking outdoor attractions in the surrounding landscape viewing involves a fair amount of walking! So, pack your comfiest trainers or even some lightweight hiking boots. If you’re visiting in the summer, you might want to consider bringing some hiking sandals, so you don’t get too hot.
• Pack a warm jumper: Because Hakone is in a mountain region, it can get a little chilly early in the morning and late at night. 
• Bring a lightweight raincoat: We’d also recommend bringing a raincoat, especially if you’re visiting in autumn. October is the rainiest month of the year in Japan.
• Bring your best camera: Going to Japan is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You might want to think about packing other accessories like selfie sticks and camera hood lenses too.
• Bring some binoculars: On the second day of this itinerary, you’ll travel across a volcano crater, so bring some binoculars if you want to get a closer look at the active volcano geysers.
• Remember to pack a travel adapter: You’ll need a two-pronged Type A for Japan, so check your plugs to see if you need to get an adapter ahead of your trip.
• Get some Japanese Yen ready before your trip. It’s always a good idea to pack some cash in the local currency before your trip in case you need cash to pay for your transport from the airport or you find yourself in a sticky situation. 
• Check ahead of time that you can use your bank card to take out Japanese Yen whilst you’re abroad without being charged hefty fees! If not, plan ahead and bring all the travel money you think you’ll need. In our 10-day Japan itinerary, we estimated it costs about $147 per person per day to travel in Japan.
• Check if you need a Visa ahead of your trip! Most countries don’t need a Visa for a short holiday in Japan, but make sure you check the unique requirements for your country, so you don’t run into any unexpected problems. You can find out more on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website.
• Bring hand sanitizer: It’s not unusual for there to be no soap in public and restaurant toilets in Japan.

Immerse Yourself In Hakone’s Surrounding Landscape And Switch Off In The Local Hot Springs

We think this Hakone itinerary is a great addition to a trip to Tokyo! Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the natural landscape around Hakone. Travel over volcanic craters with geysers erupting beneath you, go on a pirate cruise across Lake Ashinoko with Mt Fuji views, and visit the city’s cool sculpture museum and park.

To top it off, schedule an evening of me-time relaxing in a hot spring. It wouldn’t be a trip to Hakone without visiting the area’s famous hot springs that have rejuvenated travelers for hundreds of years!

Hakone Frequently Asked Questions