Hakone
Discover Hakone
Hakone (箱根) is a mountainous area west of Tokyo in Japan. The Hakone checkpoint on the historical Tokaido road marks the beginning of the Kanto region. Hakone is also the name of a town (箱根町). The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site. Its download section has some guide maps in English - seek for 英語 ("English").
What to Experience in Hakone
Taste of Hakone...
If you stay at a ryokan, dinner and breakfast might be included; make sure in advance. Hakone’s delicious natural spring water is also used to make soba, or thin noodles made from buckwheat flour. Soba is served in so many restaurants in the onsen town that it may replace rice to become the main course for your meals in Hakone. Soba can be served cold or hot, accompanied by delicious sides such as tofu, tempura or vegetables. Hakone has many onsen ryokan, traditional Japanese inns featuring hot springs. Facilities vary widely, although prices are generally somewhat elevated (especially on weekends) due to the proximity of Tokyo.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe nearest airports to Hakone are quite a distance away in the Tokyo area. If you are interested in booking a stay at a traditional ryokan in Hakone, it is strongly recommended that you plan to arrive in Hakone at least one day after you land in Tokyo. If you go to Hakone on the same day that you arrive, there is a good chance you might miss out on (and be charged for) dinner at the ryokan, or worse, you may be locked out of (and be charged for) your room at the ryokan's curfew time, if there is one. If you land at Haneda Airport early enough, there are two direct buses to Hakone-Yumoto train station, stopping in Yokohama along the way. Buses leave starting from the International Terminal/Terminal 3 at 08:25 and 12:35, with return trips leaving Hakone-Yumoto at 13:00 and 16:30. The one-way fare is ¥2000 and the trip takes about 2 hr....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Modes of transport in the Hakone region are many and varied. Your options include: Information on these are gathered on Odakyu's Hakone Navi website with a journey planner, info on how to pay the fare and route maps. Some modes of transportation - in particular the ropeway - close from time to time for regular inspections, or in windy conditions. Buses will run replacement services in these cases. Most people opt for the Odakyu Hakone Free Pass, which includes a return trip from Shinjuku and allows unlimited use of all of the above forms of transport for several days. In addition, pass holders can receive discounts at many hot springs, museums, restaurants, and other locations by showing their pass. The 2-day Free Pass costs ¥6100 from Shinjuku and ¥5000 from Odawara. A 3-day pass can be purchased for an extra ¥400. Additionally, if you have a Free Pass from Shinjuku you can use the Hakone Limited Express train by paying a surcharge of ¥1110 each way.
Where to Stay
Hakone has many onsen ryokan, traditional Japanese inns featuring hot springs. Facilities vary widely, although prices are generally somewhat elevated (especially on weekends) due to the proximity of Tokyo.
Money & Budget
Hakone Yosegi Zaiku (箱根寄木細工). Traditional Japanese parquetry. If you stay at a ryokan, dinner and breakfast might be included; make sure in advance. Hakone’s delicious natural spring water is also used to make soba, or thin noodles made from buckwheat flour. Soba is served in so many restaurants in the onsen town that it may replace rice to become the main course for your meals in Hakone. Soba can be served cold or hot, accompanied by delicious sides such as tofu, tempura or vegetables. Hakone has many onsen ryokan, traditional Japanese inns featuring hot springs. Facilities vary widely, although prices are generally somewhat elevated (especially on weekends) due to the proximity of Tokyo.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Hakone
white and brown houses near mountain under white clouds during daytime
Hakone Shrine and Mt Fuji from Lake Ashi. Along the Tokaido road.
A boat and a Shinto arch on Lake Ashi, Hakone, Japan
body of water
brown ship on sea near mountain during daytime
A body of water with a mountain in the background
Beyond this gate God resides. Photo taken at Hakone, Japan.
gray and white mountains under white clouds during daytime
a group of boats floating on top of a lake
Two intersecting gondolas
white and brown houses near mountain under white clouds during daytime
Hakone Shrine and Mt Fuji from Lake Ashi. Along the Tokaido road.
A boat and a Shinto arch on Lake Ashi, Hakone, Japan