Planning a trip to Hakone near Tokyo? This English guide covers onsen towns, the loop transport route, Fuji viewpoints, and practical tips for international travelers.
Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 15 October 2026).
Why visit
- Hakone is a mountain onsen resort area southwest of Tokyo with lakes, ropeways, and occasional Mount Fuji views.
- The classic loop combines train, cable car, ropeway, boat, and bus.
Top places and highlights
Lake Ashi and Hakone Shrine area
Lakeside walks and the iconic torii photo spot. Boat schedules change—confirm on the day.
Owakudani valley
Volcanic scenery via ropeway. Sections may close for gas or weather—check official alerts.
Onsen stays
Ryokan and hotels cluster in several valleys. Day-visit bath rules vary by property.
Food and drink
- Black eggs at Owakudani (when open), soba, and ryokan meals are common.
Where to Eat
A short list of places to eat after sightseeing. Menus, hours, and closed days change—reconfirm on official pages (or by phone) before you go.
Hakone Amasake Chaya
Budget fit: Budget-friendly Cuisine: Teahouse / traditional sweets
A historic thatched teahouse on the old Tokaido road known for amazake (sweet fermented rice drink) and freshly pounded mochi. Ideal as a short stop while exploring Hakone’s historic paths.
What to try:
- Amazake
- Charcoal-grilled mochi
Address: Hatajuku area, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa (confirm exact pin on official map) Access: Reachable by local bus along the old-road route from Hakone-Yumoto toward Motohakone (Amasake-chaya stop). Confirm current bus names on local timetables. Hours (confirm): Official and park listings commonly note roughly 07:00–17:30 daily; reconfirm before visiting. Booking tip: Confirm hours and seating on the official site (or by phone) before you go. Official site: https://amasake-chaya.com/
Bakery & Table Hakone
Budget fit: Midrange Cuisine: Bakery cafe / lake-side casual dining
A lake-side bakery and cafe near Motohakone with breads, cafe plates, and views toward Lake Ashi—handy for a flexible lunch during a Hakone loop day.
What to try:
- House bakery breads
- Cafe lunch plates (confirm current menu)
Address: 9-1 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan Access: Near Motohakone Port (Lake Ashi sightseeing boats). Confirm walking directions from the pier on the official page. Hours (confirm): Official page lists bakery/cafe daytime hours (roughly 09:00–17:00 depending on floor); reconfirm. Closed days (confirm): Official page notes no regular closed day; still reconfirm for temporary changes. Booking tip: Confirm hours and seating on the official site (or by phone) before you go. Official site: https://www.bthjapan.com/hakone.php
THE FUJIYA HOTEL — Restaurants
Budget fit: Upscale Cuisine: Hotel fine dining (French / Japanese / Western)
THE FUJIYA HOTEL lists multiple on-site restaurants (French, Japanese, and Western). A practical option for overnight guests; outside-guest seating, if any, should be confirmed with the hotel before you go.
What to try:
- French, Japanese, and Western restaurant options (confirm which outlets are open)
Address: 359 Miyanoshita, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0404, Japan Access: Same access as THE FUJIYA HOTEL. Booking tip: Ask the hotel whether restaurants accept non-staying guests and which outlets are open on your date. Do not assume walk-in access without confirmation. Official site: https://fujiyahotel.net/
Getting there and around
- Romancecar limited express or JR+Hakone Tozan Railway from Shinjuku/Odawara—confirm tickets.
- The Hakone Free Pass can simplify loop transport when it matches your plan—verify coverage.
Where to Stay
These overnight picks span different budgets. Hours, rates, and availability change—reconfirm on each official site before you book.
Gora Kadan Hakone
Budget fit: Upscale Stay type: Luxury ryokan with private onsen options
A refined ryokan on the historic Kan’in-no-miya villa grounds in Gora. Expect kaiseki dining and hot-spring bathing in a setting that blends traditional Japanese hospitality with contemporary design.
Why stay here:
- Former imperial villa grounds in Gora
- Kaiseki cuisine with seasonal ingredients
- Multiple room categories including suites with baths
Address: 1300 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan Access: Reach Hakone-Yumoto, then continue by Hakone Tozan Railway / bus toward Gora. Confirm the latest transfer timing on official transport and hotel pages. Booking tip: Reserve via the official Gora Kadan English pages or reservation center; reconfirm check-in cut-offs. Official site: https://www.gorakadan.com/hakone/?lang=en
Yumoto Fujiya Hotel
Budget fit: Midrange Stay type: Hot-spring resort hotel near Hakone-Yumoto
A practical onsen hotel at the gateway to Hakone, useful if you want Japanese-style hospitality with easy access from Hakone-Yumoto Station and multiple dining options on site.
Why stay here:
- Convenient base near Hakone-Yumoto
- Indoor/outdoor public baths plus private bath options
- Several restaurants and bars in-house
Address: 256-1 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0392, Japan Access: Short walk or short local transfer from Hakone-Yumoto Station (Odakyu Romancecar terminus area). Confirm walking route on the official directions page. Booking tip: Book via the official website when possible and reconfirm details before arrival. Official site: https://fhr.yumotofujiya.jp/?stt_lang=en
THE FUJIYA HOTEL
Budget fit: Upscale Stay type: Historic classic resort hotel
One of Japan’s pioneering Western-style resort hotels (est. 1878) in Miyanoshita. A strong pick for travelers who want heritage architecture, onsen bathing, and a polished Hakone overnight.
Why stay here:
- Historic resort hotel with registered cultural-property buildings
- Miyanoshita Onsen bathing facilities
- Multiple restaurants on site
Address: 359 Miyanoshita, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0404, Japan Access: From Hakone-Yumoto, continue by Hakone Tozan Railway toward Miyanoshita. Confirm station-to-hotel walking guidance on the official site. Booking tip: Book via the official website when possible and reconfirm details before arrival. Official site: https://fujiyahotel.net/
Best time to visit
- Clear winter days can favor Fuji views; ropeways may suspend in strong wind.
Practical tips
- Build buffer time for popular ropeway queues.
- Check volcanic and weather alerts before relying on Owakudani.
- The other Fuji view, on the Yamanashi side of the mountain rather than the Hakone side, is the Kawaguchiko travel guide .
Suggested day-trip outline
- Morning train to Hakone-Yumoto.
- Loop via Tozan, ropeway, and lake.
- Onsen soak; overnight or return to Tokyo.
A transport pass for the loop
Hakone is a chain of transfers: train up from Odawara, then cable car, ropeway, cruise, and bus. Buying each leg separately works, but a pass is usually simpler and covers the standard circuit.
The Hakone Freepass covers the Odakyu line from Shinjuku, the Tozan railway and cable car, the ropeway, the Lake Ashi cruise, and designated buses. Klook sells a digital version, and the listing shows the 2-day and 3-day options plus the current price. Check which routes your pass covers before you rely on it for a specific bus, and note that the pass is not sold to Japanese passport holders.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you book through it, at no extra cost to you.
Check the Hakone Freepass on Klook
More guides across Kanto
Kanto is more than Tokyo, and the days below are separate outings rather than variations on one loop. Odawara and Enoshima sit on the same corridor as this trip; the rest are on other lines.
- Tokyo Skytree — the observatory in Sumida, and how the ticket tiers work.
- Odawara Castle — a rebuilt keep on the road up to Hakone, so it pairs with this trip rather than replacing it.
- Shibuya — SHIBUYA SKY and the scramble crossing.
- Hitachi Seaside Park — nemophila and kochia on the Ibaraki coast.
- Mount Takao — a temple hike on the western edge of Tokyo.
- Chichibu — a mountain town and its night festival, in Saitama.
- Enoshima — island shrines and a coastal day from Tokyo.
Before you go
Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.
Sources
- Hakone Tourism: https://www.hakone.or.jp/ (checked 2026-10-15)
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO): https://www.jnto.go.jp/en/ (checked 2026-10-15)
Explore More of Japan
If you are planning a wider Japan itinerary, these guides pair well with this destination:
- Kawagoe Travel Guide: Warehouse Streets Near Tokyo — Another easy Tokyo-area outing—warehouse streets and candy alley snacks in Kawagoe.
- Kusatsu Onsen Travel Guide: Yubatake Hot Springs in Gunma — Compare two Kanto onsen escapes—Hakone’s Fuji loop versus Kusatsu’s Yubatake town steam.
- Ginzan Onsen Travel Guide: Historic Hot-Spring Town in Yamagata — For a quieter historic onsen street farther north, consider Ginzan in Yamagata.
- Kamakura Travel Guide: Great Buddha, Temples, and a Tokyo Day Trip — Temples and the Great Buddha on the coast. Treat it as its own day from Tokyo, not a stop after Hakone.
- Nikko Travel Guide: Toshogu Shrine, Waterfalls, and a Tokyo Day Trip — Shrines and waterfalls north of Tokyo. It is not on the way to Hakone.
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