If you’re heading to Japan, you cannot miss a stop in Hakone. This beautiful mountain town is famous for its relaxing onsens, unique landscape, and comfortable ryokans. Just 1-2 hours outside of Tokyo, make sure you plan a trip to Hakone.

Getting to Hakone:

By Shinkansen: The route is going to be different depending on where you are in Tokyo. We took the Shonan-Shinjuku line from Shibuya Station to Odawara Station. Buying a ticket at the kiosks is a little confusing, so we just went right to the JR office for help. This ticket cost us about 1,520 JPY per person. Once we arrived at Odawara Station, we took the bus to the bus stop closest to our hotel. We just used Google Maps to find the right bus and paid with our Suica card in the Apple wallet.

By Romancecar: We didn’t choose this option, but it is very popular! From Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto Station (closer to Hakone but not a Shinkansen station) it takes 80 minutes and costs 2,470 JPY. You can check the timetables and get more information on the Romancecar here. 

Getting around Hakone:

In Hakone, there are less train options and mostly just buses. The main train line within Hakone is the Hakonetozan train line. We mostly used the buses which were frequent and convenient. The one downside was the buses got really packed and drove up windy mountain roads.

Accommodation:

I’d recommend staying in a ryokan in Hakone. These will often have beautiful onsens which is a key feature of this area. We stayed at Hakone Pax Yoshino which was a traditional, older, and more budget-friendly ryokan. For our first night, we tried a private onsen (that was too hot to enjoy) and an in-room Shiatsu massage.

You’ll also want to think about the location of your accommodation based on what you want to do. Hakone Pax Yoshino is a little closer to the main stations, but further away from most of the attractions.

We had to take a packed bus with our suitcases and then walk about 12 mins with our luggage from the bus stop. If you are concerned about this, you can stay somewhere close to a Hakonetozan train line stop. That way you can use the train to get from Odawara Station to your hotel.

Other Options:

A few other reasonable options I came across are Aura Tachibana, Hakone Suimeisou, or Lalaca. The luxury ryokan that everyone stays at is Gora Kadan.

Things to do:

• Hakone Open-Air Museum: Outdoor art sculptures in a scenic park with colorful structures and climbing nets for kids
• Hakone Ropeway: I was so excited about this but it was closed due to lightning. You can take a scenic cable car ride with views of Mount Fuji and the volcanic landscapes around Owakudani.
• Hakone Pirate Ship: Ride across Lake Ashi on a pirate-themed boat, a fun experience that offers incredible views of Mount Fuji and the surrounding nature.
• Owakudani Volcanic Valley: This was such a cool spot. Visit the steaming volcanic vents and try the famous black eggs, which are boiled in the sulfuric hot springs. The visitor’s center also had some of the best chocolate ice cream we’ve ever had.
• Gora Park: A beautiful, hilly park with flower gardens, ponds, and a greenhouse. You can see or participate in craft workshops like pottery or glass blowing.
• Lake Ashi Sightseeing: Explore the lake via boat, enjoy views of the torii gate from the water, and explore the peaceful lakeside areas.

Itinerary:

You can string together a bunch of these attractions in one day because there is a nice itinerary to follow to explore Hakone. You can see all the details here. I’d recommend starting at Sōunzan Station where you can buy all the tickets. You can take the Ropeway to Owakudani, then take the Ropeway down to Togendai station. From here you take the pirate ship across the lake then take the bus back.

Hakone Restaurants

If you’re staying in a ryokan, you will likely eat a lot of meals there. In a nicer ryokan they might even serve them in the comfort of your room. Otherwise, here are a few restaurants we tried in Hakone. 

• NARAYA CAFE: A cute outdoor cafe with foot baths.
• Mori-meshi: A small little cafe with beautiful views and made to order delicious Japanese food. They gave me a whole gluten free menu! I got a great beef and rice and my husband got an udon lunch.
• Owakudani station restaurant: Famous for its Japanese curry but we got the ice cream from the gift shop and it was delicious.

Any comments, ideas, or suggestions – leave a comment below!