Best Tours in Hakone: Mt Fuji Views, Ryokan & Hot Springs

Hakone sits 80 kilometres southwest of Tokyo in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and it delivers one of the most varied single-day itineraries in Japan. On a clear day, Mt Fuji dominates the horizon from Lake Ashi. The Hakone Ropeway crosses an active volcanic crater. The Open Air Museum houses world-class sculpture. And a network of traditional ryokan offers onsen bathing fed by centuries-old hot springs. Most visitors come on a day trip from Tokyo; staying overnight adds significantly to the experience.

Day Trips from Tokyo to Hakone

The most common access point is Shinjuku Station via the Odakyu Romancecar (approximately 85 minutes, from ¥2,470 per person one-way as of 2026). The Hakone Free Pass (¥6,100 from Shinjuku, as of 2026) covers the Romancecar fare and unlimited use of all transport within Hakone — including the ropeway, cable car, pirate ships on Lake Ashi, and local buses. It is excellent value on a full-day visit.

Day trip tours from Tokyo typically depart from Shinjuku or Harajuku, handle the Odakyu booking, and guide you through the circuit of Hakone’s main sights. Small group tours (8–15 people) run from approximately ¥8,000–¥12,000 per person; private tours for two from approximately ¥25,000–¥40,000.

Most full-day tours cover:

• Hakone Checkpoint Museum (Hakone Sekisho)
• Lake Ashi pirate ship cruise
• Hakone Shrine torii gate at the lakeside
• Mt Fuji viewpoints (weather-dependent)
• Owakudani volcanic crater (when open; subject to volcanic alert levels)
• Hakone Open Air Museum (optional add-on or independent visit)

The Classic Hakone Circuit

Hakone’s transport network is designed as a circuit — most visitors follow it in one direction and return by a different route. The standard route from Hakone-Yumoto:

1. Hakone Tozan Railway (switchback mountain train) to Gora — 35 minutes, included in Free Pass
2. Hakone Tozan Cable Car from Gora to Sounzan — 10 minutes
3. Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Togendai — 30 minutes across Owakudani crater
4. Pirate ship (Hakone Sightseeing Cruise) from Togendai to Moto-Hakone — 25–40 minutes
5. Bus back to Hakone-Yumoto or Odawara

Guided tours typically navigate this circuit while adding commentary and pausing for photos and food at the right places. Independent travel is straightforward if you have the Free Pass and a clear schedule.

Hakone Open Air Museum

The Hakone Open Air Museum (箱根彫刻の森美術館) opened in 1969 and covers 70,000 square metres of outdoor sculpture garden on the side of a mountain. The permanent collection includes work by Picasso, Henry Moore, Rodin, Giacometti, and major Japanese sculptors. The Picasso Pavilion alone holds over 300 works. Entry costs ¥1,600 for adults as of 2026; open 09:00–17:00 daily.

The museum is next to Chokoku-no-Mori Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway — 5 minutes by train from Hakone-Yumoto. Most day trips from Tokyo either include the museum in the itinerary or allow free time here while the guide handles logistics for the rest of the group.

Owakudani Volcanic Crater

Owakudani (大涌谷) is a post-eruption crater zone from the 3,000-year-old Hakone volcano. Sulphur vents, boiling pools, and the distinctive smell of hydrogen sulphide make it unlike anything else in the Kanto region. The area is intermittently closed when volcanic alert levels rise — check the current status via the Hakone Tourism Association before planning your visit.

When open, the crater walk takes approximately 45 minutes. The signature local product is kuro-tamago (black eggs) — regular eggs hard-boiled in the sulphurous hot spring water, which turns the shells black. One egg is said to add seven years to your life. A bag of five costs approximately ¥500.

The Owakudani Natural Science Museum (free entry) explains the geology and volcanic history in English. The ropeway from Sounzan to Togendai passes directly over the crater; on clear days the views of Mt Fuji across the crater are exceptional.

Lake Ashi and Hakone Shrine

Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖) is a caldera lake formed about 3,000 years ago. The “pirate ships” — actually replicas of historic European sailing vessels with Japanese decals — are kitsch but effective: the 40-minute crossing between Togendai and Moto-Hakone or Hakone-machi offers the clearest view of the Mt Fuji reflection on calm mornings.

Hakone Shrine sits at the lake’s eastern shore at Moto-Hakone. The lakeside torii gate is the most photographed spot in Hakone — best visited early morning before tour groups arrive. The shrine dates to 757 AD and is dedicated to three mountain deities. Entry is free; the precincts take 30–45 minutes to explore properly.

Hakone Checkpoint (Hakone Sekisho) is a reconstructed Edo-period barrier where travellers were inspected on the old Tokaido road between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. The museum explains the social history of the checkpoint system. Entry ¥500 as of 2026; open 09:00–17:00.

Onsen Experiences in Hakone

Hakone has nine hot spring resort districts (onsen machi), each fed by different mineral waters. Hakone-Yumoto is the largest and most accessible. Key options:

Day-use onsen (higaeri onsen): Most ryokan and dedicated onsen facilities accept day visitors without an overnight stay. Tenzan Toji-kyo (天山湯治郷) in Hakone-Yumoto is one of the best — natural outdoor baths in a forested setting, ¥1,300 per person, open 10:00–22:00. Kappa Tengoku (河童天国) near Hakone-Yumoto Station is cheaper at ¥800 and reliably crowded.

Private baths (kashi-kiriFuro): Many ryokan offer private indoor or outdoor baths bookable by the hour without an overnight stay (approximately ¥2,000–¥4,000 per hour for two people). This is a comfortable option for families or couples who prefer privacy.

Overnight ryokan: Staying at a traditional inn includes dinner (kaiseki), breakfast, and unlimited onsen use. Rates vary significantly: budget ryokan from approximately ¥12,000 per person per night; mid-range from ¥20,000; high-end (Gora Kadan, Hakone Ginyu) from ¥50,000–¥100,000 per person. The Hakone Kowakien area has several large resort hotels with enormous onsen facilities at hotel prices.

Seasonal Highlights

Cherry blossom (late March–early April): The lakeside at Moto-Hakone and the approach to Hakone Shrine are especially beautiful. Crowds are heavier than usual.

Autumn foliage (mid-October–mid-November): The Hakone Tozan Railway route and Sengokuhara pampas grass fields (Susuki no Hara) are the best autumn colour spots. The pampas grass at Sengokuhara peaks in mid-October — a 20-minute bus ride from Hakone-Yumoto.

New Year: Hakone Ekiden — the famous relay marathon from Tokyo to Hakone and back (2–3 January) — closes roads and draws enormous spectator crowds. The Hakone Shrine is also extremely crowded for hatsumode (first shrine visit of the new year) through the first week of January.

Booking Guided Tours

Tours that include the Hakone Free Pass in the price typically represent the best value — the pass alone costs ¥6,100 from Shinjuku, so any tour priced at ¥8,000–¥10,000 is adding relatively little to the pass cost while providing a guide, logistics, and narrative.

Private tours allow for more flexibility on Mt Fuji viewpoint timing (cloud cover is the biggest variable) and can detour to Gotemba Premium Outlets or the Fuji Five Lakes region if Mt Fuji is obscured. These typically cost ¥25,000–¥45,000 for up to two people for a full day.

Browse Hakone tours and day trips from Tokyo on GetYourGuide for current availability and pricing. For tours you can book today or tomorrow, check our last-minute tours page — many Hakone day trips allow same-day booking before 10am.