Autumn foliage (early to mid-November) is spectacular in Hakone's mountainous terrain, with the Hakone Tozan Railway through colorful tunnels of leaves being particularly famous. Winter (January-February) offers the clearest skies and best chances of seeing Mount Fuji, plus the pleasure of soaking in outdoor onsen in cold air. Spring and summer are pleasant but Fuji is often obscured by clouds.

Japan's largest outlet mall with over 200 stores offering 30-70% discounts on international and Japanese brands. The outdoor mall is set against a stunning Mount Fuji backdrop on clear days. Free shuttle buses run from Hakone and there is a direct highway bus from Shinjuku.

Gotemba Premium Outlets

This coastal castle town features the beautifully restored Odawara Castle, surrounded by moats and gardens particularly stunning during cherry blossom season. The town also offers fresh seafood at the fishing port area and serves as a gateway between the Shinkansen and Hakone.

Odawara

Japan's longest pedestrian suspension bridge (400m) offers breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the Izu Peninsula. The surrounding park includes zip lines, adventure courses, and a flower garden. Best visited on clear mornings for optimal Fuji views.

Mishima Skywalk

Hakone's cuisine highlights local mountain and lake ingredients, traditional Japanese inn cooking, and a few unique volcanic specialties. Many visitors experience Hakone's food through ryokan kaiseki dinners, which showcase seasonal ingredients in an elaborate multi-course format. The area is also known for its soba noodles, tofu, and sweets.

The classic Hakone experience combines six modes of transport in a scenic loop: mountain switchback railway through forested gorges, cable car up steep mountainsides, ropeway over the volcanic Owakudani valley, and pirate ship across Lake Ashi. Allow a full day to complete the loop with stops. The Hakone Free Pass covers everything.

Ride the complete Hakone loop route

Hakone is one of Japan's premier onsen destinations with 17 distinct hot spring sources offering different mineral compositions. For first-timers, Tenzan Tohji-kyo in Hakone-Yumoto offers excellent day-use outdoor baths (rotenburo) in a forested riverside setting (¥1,300). For the ultimate experience, stay overnight at a ryokan with private onsen. Remember: tattoos are still prohibited at many facilities, though an increasing number are becoming tattoo-friendly.

Soak in a natural hot spring onsen

The volcanic valley's sulfurous hot springs naturally turn egg shells jet black while cooking the eggs inside. Legend says each black egg (kuro-tamago) adds seven years to your life. Sold in bags of five for ¥500 at the Owakudani station. Eat them while taking in the dramatic volcanic landscape and, on clear days, views of Mount Fuji.

Eat black eggs at Owakudani

Japan's first open-air museum (opened 1969) displays over 100 sculptures by artists including Henry Moore, Rodin, and Niki de Saint Phalle across beautifully landscaped grounds with mountain views. The Picasso Collection (318 works) and the stunning stained-glass tower are highlights. A foot bath fed by natural hot spring water lets you rest weary feet while enjoying the art. Entry ¥1,600.

Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum

The vermilion torii gate of Hakone Shrine standing at the edge of Lake Ashi, framed by cedar forests, is one of the most photographed scenes in the Hakone area. The shrine itself, founded in 757 AD, sits in a dense forest of ancient cedar trees and has been a site of worship for samurai and travelers for centuries. The atmospheric approach through towering cedars is as memorable as the shrine itself.

Visit Hakone Shrine and its lakeside torii

The gateway to Hakone and its largest hot spring town, Hakone-Yumoto sits at the base of the mountains around the Odakyu terminal station. The main street is lined with souvenir shops, manju (sweet bun) vendors, and small restaurants. Several day-use onsen (public baths) are within walking distance, and the area has the widest range of accommodation from budget to luxury. The Hayakawa River running through town creates a pleasant atmosphere.

Hakone-Yumoto (箱根湯本)

A mountain resort area centered around the terminus of the Hakone Tozan Railway, Gora developed as an upscale retreat in the early 20th century. The area is home to the excellent Hakone Museum of Art (with a stunning moss garden), several high-end ryokan and modern resort hotels, and the starting point of the Hakone cable car to Sounzan. Gora Park, a French-style garden, offers tea ceremony experiences and craft workshops.

Gora (強羅)

This volcanic valley, accessible by the Hakone Ropeway, is an otherworldly landscape of sulfurous steam vents, bubbling pools, and barren rocky terrain on the slopes of Mount Kamiyama. The area is famous for its kuro-tamago (black eggs), ordinary eggs boiled in the sulfurous hot springs until the shell turns black — eating one is said to add seven years to your life. On clear days, the ropeway offers spectacular views of Mount Fuji.

Owakudani (大涌谷)

The scenic caldera lake is Hakone's centerpiece, famous for its views of Mount Fuji reflected in its waters and the vermilion torii gate of Hakone Shrine rising from the lakeside forest. Sightseeing pirate ships and traditional-style boats cruise the lake. The old Tokaido Cedar Avenue, planted in 1618, and the Hakone Checkpoint (a reconstructed Edo-period barrier gate) provide historical interest along the southern shore.

Hakone

Highlights