Hakone

Hakone-Yumoto Onsen Ryokan

A traditional inn in the gateway town of Hakone-Yumoto, with communal and private onsen baths fed by natural hot springs and a multi-course kaiseki dinner served in-room.

Gora Hillside Ryokan with Rotenburo

A modern ryokan on the slopes of Gora, several with private open-air rotenburo baths on the room balcony, close to the Open-Air Museum and cable car.

Moto-Hakone Lakeside Hotel

A hotel on the shore of Lake Ashi in Moto-Hakone, steps from Hakone-jinja shrine and the pirate ship pier, with Mt. Fuji visible across the water on clear days.

Sengokuhara Family Ryokan

A quieter ryokan on the highland plateau of Sengokuhara, surrounded by pampas grass fields in autumn, with more space and a slower pace than the town centers.

Hakone-Yumoto Budget Guesthouse

An affordable guesthouse in Hakone-Yumoto within walking distance of day-onsen bathhouses, souvenir shops and the Romancecar terminus.

Gora Kadan-Style Luxury Ryokan

A high-end ryokan in Gora on the grounds of a former imperial villa, offering private onsen suites and refined seasonal kaiseki for a splurge night.

Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku

A comfortable limited-express train with reserved seating runs directly from Tokyo's Shinjuku station to Hakone-Yumoto in about 85 minutes, no transfers needed.

Hakone Free Pass

An all-in-one pass covering the Tozan train, cable car, ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise and local buses, plus discounted round-trip travel from Tokyo on Odakyu lines.

Hakone Tozan Railway

A switchback mountain railway climbing from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora, reversing direction three times on the steep grade, lined with hydrangeas in June and July.

Hakone Ropeway

An aerial cable car crossing the volcanic Owakudani valley between Sounzan and Togendai, offering views of the steaming vents and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji.

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise

A pirate-ship-styled sightseeing boat crosses Lake Ashi between Togendai and Hakone-machi/Moto-Hakone, passing beneath views of Mt. Fuji when skies are clear.

The Hakone Round Course

The classic day loop links Hakone-Yumoto, the Tozan Railway, the Gora cable car, the ropeway over Owakudani, the Lake Ashi cruise and Hakone-jinja, returning by bus.

Itoh Dining by Nobu

A refined Japanese restaurant in Gora from Nobu's culinary group, rated 4.4 from over 1,000 reviews, blending traditional technique with modern presentation.

📍1300-64 Gōra, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan · View on map

808 Monsmare

808 Monsmare is a laid-back Italian restaurant known for its wood-fired pizza with creative toppings, plus desserts, beer, and wine. It holds a strong 4.6-star rating from 1244 reviews.

📍698-10 Yumoto, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0311, Japan · View on map

BOX BURGER Hakone Yumoto

BOX BURGER Hakone Yumoto is a hamburger restaurant, highly rated at 4.9 stars from 795 reviews.

📍474-37 Yumoto, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0311, Japan · View on map

Unagi Hasegawa

Unagi Hasegawa is a Japanese restaurant, boasting an impressive 4.8-star rating from 862 reviews.

📍6-21 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan · View on map

GORA BREWERY&GRILL

GORA BREWERY&GRILL is a brewpub with a rating of 4.3 from 1482 reviews.

📍1300-72 Gōra, Hakone, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan · View on map

COFFEE CAMP

COFFEE CAMP is a highly-rated cafe, boasting 4.4 stars from 1204 reviews.

📍1320-261 Gōra, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan · View on map

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise Pirate Ship

A pirate-ship-styled boat sails across Lake Ashi, delighting kids with its elaborate design while offering views of the torii gate and Mt. Fuji.

Hakone Ropeway Ride

The cable car glides high above the smoking vents of Owakudani, giving children a bird's-eye view of the volcanic valley below.

Kuro-tamago Egg Tasting

Kids love the novelty of eating a jet-black hard-boiled egg at Owakudani, cooked on-site in the sulfurous springs and said to add seven years of life.

Hakone Open-Air Museum Sculpture Park

A sprawling outdoor museum where kids can walk among giant sculptures, climb through a children's play maze, and explore the stained-glass Symphonic Sculpture tower.

Hakone Tozan Railway Switchback

Children are fascinated watching the driver and conductor swap ends of the train three times as it zigzags up the steep mountainside to Gora.

Owakudani Volcanic Valley Walk

A short walking trail near the ropeway station lets families see bubbling sulfur vents and steaming vapor up close, a memorable sensory experience for kids.

Hakone Open-Air Museum

Japan's first open-air museum displays works by Rodin, Henry Moore and Miró across landscaped grounds, alongside a dedicated Picasso pavilion.

Pola Museum of Art

A museum set into a forested hillside near Sengokuhara, housing an impressive collection of French Impressionist works by Monet, Renoir and Cézanne.

Venetian Glass Museum

A museum styled after a Venetian palazzo displays antique Venetian glassware and chandeliers, with a garden and glassblowing demonstrations.

Hakone-jinja Shrine and Heiwa no Torii

A Shinto shrine on the shore of Lake Ashi whose red torii gate, the Heiwa no Torii, appears to float in the water and is one of Japan's most photographed sights.

Gora Park

A French-style formal garden terraced into the Gora hillside, with rose gardens, fountains, a tropical greenhouse and a hands-on craft workshop building.

Hakone Museum of Art Moss Garden

A serene moss garden and ceramics museum in Gora, its stone paths winding beneath maple trees that turn brilliant red in autumn.

Hakone-jinja Shrine & Heiwa no Torii

A Shinto shrine founded over 1200 years ago on the shore of Lake Ashi, its lakeside red torii gate a symbol of peace and one of the most visited sites in the region.

Kuzuryu Shrine (Kuzuryu Jinja)

A shrine dedicated to a nine-headed dragon deity said to protect Lake Ashi, associated with local legends of taming a once-feared serpent in the lake.

Hakone Jinja Homotsuden Treasure Hall

A small treasure hall on the shrine grounds displaying historic swords, armor and ceremonial objects donated by samurai lords over centuries.

Chikaraishi Benzaiten Shrine

A small shrine on Benten-jima islet in Lake Ashi dedicated to Benzaiten, goddess of water, music and fortune, reachable by a short lakeside path.

Old Tokaido Cedar Avenue (Sugi Namiki)

A preserved stretch of the historic Tokaido highway near Moto-Hakone lined with centuries-old cedar trees planted to shade Edo-era travelers and pilgrims.

Onsen as Ritual Purification

Hot spring bathing in Japan carries roots in Shinto purification tradition, and Hakone's onsen culture reflects centuries of ritual cleansing before travel and prayer.

Hakone's Ryokan Hospitality Industry

Many of Hakone's ryokan are family-run across multiple generations, representing one of Japan's most concentrated traditional hospitality economies.

Odakyu Group Regional Development

The Odakyu conglomerate operates the Romancecar, much of the local transport network, and several hotels, shaping Hakone's development as an integrated resort region.

Yosegi Zaiku Marquetry Craft Industry

The nearby village of Hatajuku is the historic center of yosegi zaiku, a traditional wooden marquetry craft producing intricately patterned boxes and puzzle boxes.

Geothermal Resource Management

Hakone's volcanic geology, especially around Owakudani, supports both the region's onsen industry and ongoing geothermal energy research.

Glass and Craft Workshops

Studios connected to the Venetian Glass Museum and Gora Park run glassblowing and craft workshops that also serve as small local manufacturing businesses.

Gotemba MICE and Outlet Commerce

The nearby town of Gotemba hosts the large Gotemba Premium Outlets retail complex and serves as a regional venue for conferences and business events.

Emergency Numbers 110 / 119

Dial 110 for police and 119 for ambulance or fire anywhere in Japan; English-speaking operators may take longer to connect in rural areas like Hakone.

Odawara Municipal Hospital

The nearest major hospital with full emergency services, located in Odawara at the base of the mountains, about 30-40 minutes from central Hakone by car or train.

Local Clinics in Yumoto and Gora

Small clinics in Hakone-Yumoto and Gora handle minor injuries and illnesses, though hours are limited and English support varies by clinic.

Onsen Health Precautions

Limit soaking time, especially for children and those with heart conditions, and rinse before entering the shared bath; some onsen restrict guests with tattoos.

Volcanic Gas Safety at Owakudani

Owakudani's sulfurous vents occasionally trigger temporary trail or ropeway closures when gas concentration rises; posted advisories should always be checked.

Pharmacy (Kusuriya) Access

Pharmacies in Hakone-Yumoto and Gora stock common over-the-counter medication, though selection is smaller than in Tokyo and English labeling is limited.

Hakone Hachiri Old Tokaido Hike

A section of the historic Tokaido highway between Hakone-Yumoto and Moto-Hakone, still paved with Edo-era stones and shaded by centuries-old cedars, open to walkers.

Mt. Kami (Kamiyama) Volcano Trail

A moderate hiking trail up Hakone's tallest active volcanic peak, starting near Owakudani, with views over the caldera and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji.

Lake Ashi Fishing

Licensed fishing spots along Lake Ashi's shore and rental boats let visitors try for black bass and rainbow trout in the volcanic lake.

Sengokuhara Golf Courses

Several golf courses on the highland plateau of Sengokuhara offer mountain-ringed fairways with views toward Mt. Fuji on clear mornings.

Cycling the Lake Ashi Shoreline

Rental bicycles in Moto-Hakone allow an easy ride along the flatter sections of the Lake Ashi shoreline, passing the torii gate and lakeside cafes.

Onsen Footbath (Ashiyu) Stops

Free public hot-spring footbaths near Hakone-Yumoto station and inside Gora Park let travelers soak tired feet between Round Course stops without undressing.

Takkyubin Luggage Forwarding

Most ryokan and hotels arrange same-day or next-day courier forwarding of suitcases to or from Tokyo, letting travelers move between stops hands-free.

Hakone Free Pass Booking Desk

Odakyu travel service centers at Shinjuku and Hakone-Yumoto stations sell the Free Pass and can help plan the Round Course itinerary in English.

Ryokan Private Onsen Reservation

Many ryokan let guests reserve a private family bath (kashikiri-buro) for a set time slot, avoiding the need to navigate shared bathing etiquette.

Tax-Free Shopping Counters

Larger souvenir shops in Gora and Hakone-Yumoto, plus Gotemba Premium Outlets, offer tax-free purchases for visitors with a passport.

English-Speaking Ryokan Concierge

Larger ryokan and hotels in Gora and Moto-Hakone keep English-speaking staff who can book onsen slots, arrange transport and translate menus.

Coin Lockers at Hakone-Yumoto Station

Coin lockers of various sizes at Hakone-Yumoto station let day-trippers store bags before setting off on the Round Course without checking into a hotel first.

Autumn Foliage (Late October–November)

Maple and ginkgo trees around Gora Park, the Open-Air Museum and Owakudani turn brilliant red and gold, drawing the year's biggest crowds.

Hydrangea Season (June–July)

Thousands of hydrangeas bloom along the Hakone Tozan Railway tracks during the rainy season, with special night illumination runs some evenings.

Winter Clear Skies (December–February)

Cold, dry winter air gives the clearest, most reliable views of Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi and the ropeway, alongside the coziest onsen soaking weather.

Summer Haze (July–August)

Humid summer air frequently obscures Mt. Fuji behind haze and cloud, though the greenery is lush and Owakudani's steam vents are still striking.

Cherry Blossom Season (Late March–April)

Cherry trees bloom along Lake Ashi's shore and in Onshi-Hakone Park a little later than in Tokyo due to the higher elevation, drawing spring crowds.

Early Morning Advantage

Regardless of season, the clearest Mt. Fuji views and thinnest crowds at Hakone-jinja and the pirate-ship pier come in the first hour after opening.

Buy the Hakone Free Pass First

Purchasing the Free Pass before setting out is the single biggest money-and-time saver in Hakone, covering nearly the entire Round Course.

Do the Round Course in One Direction

Following the loop Yumoto→Gora→Owakudani→Lake Ashi in one direction avoids backtracking and doubled transfer waits.

Mt. Fuji Is Shy — Don't Plan Around It

Clouds hide Mt. Fuji more often than not; the best odds are early morning and winter, but no visit should be built solely around seeing it.

Check Owakudani Status Before Going

Volcanic gas readings occasionally close the Owakudani ropeway station or walking trail; check the Hakone Ropeway website the morning of the visit.

Carry Cash for Small Shops

Many small soba shops, tea houses and souvenir stalls around Owakudani and Hakone-Yumoto are cash-only, especially outside the main hotel areas.

Send Luggage Ahead with Takkyubin

Using the ryokan's luggage-forwarding service to send bags directly from Tokyo means arriving in Hakone hands-free for the Round Course.