hakone tour package from tokyo

Hakone Tours

Most frequently asked questions.

•  Does your company offer private chauffeur services from Tokyo to Hakone? From Tokyo to Hakone, we have door to door service of car rental with driver, which is the most convenient. Our Tokyo car rental company can provide you with comfortable 7, 10, 14-seater vans, or a 20-seater Coaster bus.
•  Do you offer a transfer to our ryokan in Hakone from Narita Airport? Yes, we provide door to door limousine service to Hakone from Narita airport, our driver will greet you at the airport lobby with a welcome sign. Then transfer to Hakone will take about 2 hours.
•  For the One-Day Tour to Mount Fuji, do I choose to visit Hakone or Lake Kawaguchi? If you are traveling on the same day, Hakone is recommended. You can get a beautiful view of Mount Fuji at Lake Ashi, and also visit Hakone Shrine.
•  Do you have Hakone seat in coach tours? As of right now, our company does not have any Hakone bus tours. From Tokyo to Hakone, we currently only provide private tours and private chauffeur from Tokyo to Hakone.
•  Is it recommended to have a onsen bath or try a ryokan in Hakone? Hakone is famous for its hot springs. In different areas, the hot spring hotels (Ryokan) have their unique features, and hot spring bath is good for anytime of the year.
•  Do we need to pay tips to the driver and local guide for Hakone private tours? Generally, you do not have to give tips to the driver and tour guide. However, if you enjoy the service, you may give some.
•  How do we book one day Hakone private tour? Reservations for one day Hakone tour can be made through our online booking system, or contact our travel center directly through phone call or live chat. They can create an affordable tour itinerary for your family.
• Anthony Lobo  Travel Date：Feb. 19th 2024 Travel Route: Narita Airport Private Transfer Service We used the driving service for our first trip to Japan, and it could not have gone smoother. It was easy to find and meet our driver when we arrived at the airport and when we were picked up to head back to the airport. I would definitely recommend this service for any first timers. Honestly, it took the stress out of traveling to and from the airport and easily accommodated my family of 5. Communication was easy and everyone was extremely helpful/friendly. If you are concerned about using the subway system for the first time, I’d use this driving service to ease your mind.  
• Glen Saro  Travel Date：Feb. 8th 2024 Travel Route: Hakuba Bus Tour from Tokyo Japan Holiday Transport and Chauffeur. We booked several transfers within Japan, Firstly, from the Airport to our accommodation in Tokyo and then to and from Hakuba. Their buses and bus drivers were always on time and comfortable for our party of 13 people + luggage. Great experience. Driver was very safe and polite. He was professional and able to guide/explain about Hakuba. It was snowy and Safety is the upmost important. Lydia from their office was always polite and she also responded within 24 hours. Trustworthy company with local knowledge.
• Lydia Cheam  Travel Date：January 25th 2024 Travel Route: Hakone Day Tour My family and I took an 8/9 hours transportation/tour of Hakone with Japan Holiday, and they were amazing! Our driver was very gentle, helpful and thoughtful :) we were traveling with an infant and elderly parents, and he would inform us if the weather seemed colder and that he would wait nearby if we wanted to run back into the car quickly, or he would head over to the restaurants/tea house to check if they were open before letting us out. Really appreciated it! Also, James was very responsive and helpful when coordinating our travels prior to the trip. Thanks so much and would definitely book again when we need a tour/transport!  
• Sandeep Khosla  Travel Date：November 26th 2023 Travel Route: Osaka-Hakuba-Kyoto-Tokyo Please convey our gratitude to the company that employs him. And thank you for making wonderful arrangements for us. We have already told many of our friends and relatives about your company and excellent service.   We were reasonably satisfied with the return trip. I used this service for a business day trip meeting from Tokyo to Hakone. prompt service!  on time!  and thanks to them I had a good meeting and got back to Tokyo in time for business dinner meeting. thank you!   We are in awe of Japanese culture and hospitality. We will surely be returning for another trip.   Many thanks again  
• May Leen  Travel Date：December 20th 2023 Travel Route: Osaka to Kyoto Chauffeur Service Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to hire a private driver at the very last minute and very grateful to James, whom is very resourceful in finding me a driver in less than 2 hours upon my contact with him. Otherwise, I would have to cancel my planned itinerary. The driver, Mr. Sun whom was assigned to us speaks Mandarin and is very helpful and a safe driver. I will definitely use their service again the next time we are back in Japan but will book in advance this time. Once again, thank you James and team!  

Private Hakone & Mount Fuji Tour from Tokyo

Availability

• Important Details

Our Private Hakone & Mount Fuji Tour from Tokyo will take you to the enchanting Hakone Shrine and other breathtaking spots. Set sail on Lake Ashi with the beautiful Mount Fuji as your backdrop. As you ride along the Hakone cable car, soak in the stunning views of Owakudani Valley. Relax in the comfort and privacy of your private drive from Tokyo, ensuring a seamless journey. Don’t miss the must-visit spots like Hakone Shrine, a pirate ship cruise from Tōgendai Port, and more.

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime with our Private Hakone & Mount Fuji Tour from Tokyo , complete with transport, guide, and more. Embark on a journey that will lead you to iconic sites and breathtaking scenery. Embrace local culture and enjoy hassle-free transport from Tokyo. This tour is available with guaranteed departures, so book your spot now!

Private Hakone & Mount Fuji Tour from Tokyo Highlights

• Take a thrilling ride on the Hakone Ropeway with panoramic views of Owakudani Valley
• Relax in the comfort and hassle-free transfer of your private car from Tokyo
• Ride along Lake Ashi and see Mount Fuji in the distance
• Enjoy the calming atmosphere of Hakone Shrine

Private Hakone & Mount Fuji Tour from Tokyo Itinerary

If you have any questions about our Private Hakone & Mount Fuji Tour from Tokyo, please contact us. Our team is standing by and will be happy to help

Dates marked below in green are still available for booking. Clicking on a date will start your booking process.

Related Tours and Experiences

Nikko, Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Waterfall & Lake Chuzenji Tour – From Tokyo

Best of Asakusa Half-Day Tour

Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Tour – Culture & Food

Best of Tokyo Day Tour

Morning Sumo Practice Experience in Tokyo

Best of Tokyo Half-Day Tour

Ultimate Ramen Tour in Tokyo

Mount Fuji and Hakone Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo

Best of Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi Tour from Tokyo

Hakone, Lake Ashi Cruise & Owakudani Tour – From Tokyo

Japan Awaits

• Okinawa Island
• Multi-Day Tour
• Interesting
• Living In Japan

Private Hakone Two-Day Tour from Tokyo

This private and customizable tour for Hakone City (In Kanagawa Prefecture) is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences on the first day and allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace on the second day.

• Explore Hakone and see Mt. Fuji with an English guide on this private 2-day and 1 night tour with round-trip from Tokyo to Hakone and return. Take a cruise on Lake Ashi, ride on the Mt. Komagatake Ropeway that overlooks the Hakone National Park and walk on the Old Tokaido Road. Spend the first day exploring Hakone with your tour guide before your overnight stay at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). On the second day, you have the full the day to yourself (with Hakone Free Pass included) before returning to Tokyo.
• Guests will be able to take a cruise on Lake Ashi, ride on the Mt. Komagatake Ropeway that overlooks the Hakone National Park, Old Tokaido road walking from Hakone Sekisho checkpoint (30 minute walk), depending on weather and season.

Inclusions :

• All guide fees and transportation within Hakone
• All Hakone bus fares, mountain train and cable cars
• Hakone Free Pass + Shinkasen from Tokyo and back
• Entrance fees for Hakone Gora Park, Old Tokaido road walking along Lake Ashi (30 minute walk)
• In good weather: Owakudani Ropeway with the view of the volcanic activity at the Boiling Valley and Mt Fuji; Cruising Lake Ashi with a Pirate ship with the view of Mt Fuji
• Discount Entrance Fees to Hakone Open Air Museum, Narukawa Art Museum and the Hakone Barrier Station
• Private local tour guide for your group on the first day
• 1 night stay in traditional Japanese hotel (ryokan) with onsen hot spring experience and hotel breakfast

Exclusions :

• Meals, snacks and drinks
• Ride on the Mt. Komagatake Ropeway that overlooks the Hakone National Park (Optional: ~ 2,400 JPY)
• Gora Park’s Tea Ceremony in Japanese garden (Optional: ~ 550 JPY)
• Hakone Open Air Museum with Picasso Gallery (Optional: 700 JPY – 1,600 JPY)
• Crusing Lake Ashi with a two body modern ship and a rope way to the top of Mt. Koma (Optional, Ropeway + Ship fee: ~ 2,400 JPY)
• Narukawa Art Museum with good view of Mt. Fuji and Japanese paintings (Optional: 400 JYP- 1,500 JPY)
• Public Hot bath at Hakone Yumoto (Optional, Entrance fee: 900 JPY – 1,000 JYP, for private indoor bath: 1000 JYP- 3,500 JPY)
• Other optional activities in Hakone
• Dinner on first day (must be booked in advance): Kaiseki dinner at the hotel (Optional: 15,000 JPY per person)

  Availability:  Any day except holidays; We recommend making a reservation as early as possible and ideally, at least a month in advance .

  Location: Tokyo to Hakone, and return

• Public Transportation  – From Tokyo:  This option includes an English-speaking guide and covers all public transportation costs, including hotel pickup and drop-off within Tokyo center. Please note that admission fees and optional activity costs for both guests and tour guides are not included.
• Private Vehicle – From Tokyo:   This option includes an English-speaking guide and a private vehicle for your convenience. The private vehicle covers hotel pickup and drop-off within a 10 km radius of Shinjuku Station. Please note that admission fees and optional activity costs for both guests and tour guides are not included.
• Public Transportation- From Odawara Station:   This option includes an English-speaking guide and covers all public transportation costs from Odawara Station (Pick-up from hotel is not included). Please note that admission fees and optional activity costs for both guests and tour guides are not included.
• Private Vehicle- From Odawara Station:   This option includes an English-speaking guide and a private vehicle from Odawara Station (Pick-up from hotel is not included). Please note that admission fees and optional activity costs for both guests and tour guides are not included.
• Public Transportation:   Meet our tour guide around 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM. The exact meeting location will be provided once your booking is confirmed.
• Private Transportation:   Meet our tour guide around 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM. The exact meeting location will be provided once your booking is confirmed.

Please note that t he tour duration includes the travel time . Return to Tokyo around 5 to 6 PM.

  Price per person: Select number of people under Booking Request for pricing.

  Requirements:

• Passport will be required for transportation on tour day
• Non-smoking: All the rooms are non-smoking in ryokan, there are designated areas outside for those who would like to smoke.
• Lake Ashi and Cruising
• Komagatake Ropeway
• Hakone Shrine
• Choanji Temple
• Olf Tokaido Road
• Hakone Sekisho Checkpoint
• Hakone Open Air Museum
• Narukawa Museum of Art
• Hakone Hot Springs
• Other location as specified by the guest (within city limits)

Additional Information

Hotel information.

The hotel experience will be a traditional Japanese ryokan, in which there will be tatami floors with futon that guests may sleep on top above the floor. Hotel accommodation will be 3 Stars. For guests who would like 4 or 5 star hotel or ryokan, additional costs will apply. Please inquire at booking.

Private Tour

This private tour is for a group of 8 or less people. For a larger group, we may have two tour guides present (depending on availability).

All bookings are payable via Stripe (Booking Checkout) or Flywire. Confirmations regarding your booking will be sent at least 10 days before your activity date.

Cancellation Policy

Standard Cancellation Policy:

• Cancellation fee of 100% is charged if cancelled 7 days or less before the event
• Cancellation fee of 50% is charged if cancelled 14 days or less before the event
• Cancellation fee of 25% is charged if cancelled 20 days or less before the event

How far in advance should I book?

Hakone is a popular destination from Tokyo. We recommend making a reservation as early as possible and ideally, at least a month in advance.

When is it Peak Season and what does that mean for this tour?

There are many peak seasons in Hakone, but it is especially busy during Autumn as Hakone is one of the most beautiful locations of Japan to view autumn foliage. During peak season, there will be heavy traffic on the roads and may take two to three times the duration to travel between locations by bus at Hakone.

Other peak holidays include  Golden Week (May 6th to 27th), the Obon Holidays (August 11th to 20th), and the New Year Holidays ( December 28th  –  January 6th ).

How does the room at the ryokan work if I have children?

Children will be staying in the same room as adults. For additional beds/futons in the room, please let us know in advance so that we can make arrangements.

Non-smoking: All the rooms are non-smoking, there are designated areas outside for those who would like to smoke.

Cities All Multi-Day Tours Tokyo Kyoto Fukuoka Hakone Hiroshima Himeji Kagoshima Kamakura Kanazawa Kumamoto Kobe Matsumoto Nagasaki Nagano Nagoya Niigata Nikko Okinawa Island Osaka Sapporo Takayama Yokohama Categories All Attractions & Museums Classes & Workshops Cultural & History Day Trips Food & Nightlife Family Friendly Geisha Group Tours Language Multi-Day Tours Outdoor & Sports Photography Private & Custom Seasonal Self-Guided Sightseeing Special Events

Name (First, Last)

Date of Event

Number of People 1 person 2 people 3 people 4 people 5 people 6 people 7 people 8 people 9 people 10 people 11 people 12 people 13 people 14 people 15 people

Package Public Transportation – From Tokyo Private Vehicle – From Tokyo Public Transportation- From Odawara Station Private Vehicle- From Odawara Station

Other Experiences

• Tokyo Cheapo (繁體中文)

Hitting Up Hakone: Day Trip from Tokyo

There’s plenty to do in Hakone . Take a dip in a hot spring, head to the mountains, walk around a stunning lake, and take in the views of Mt. Fuji .

Hakone also has volcanic scenery, hiking trails, art museums, pirate ships, and bountiful history. And if you’re an Evangelion fan, there’s probably no need to tell you there’s plenty to see from the anime . Really, there’s no end to what you can do, whether you are going for a day , a weekend, or longer. Here are a few pro tips on how to get the most out of your getaway from Tokyo — of course, while keeping that budget nice and low.

How to get to Hakone

Hakone-Yumoto is the main gateway to Hakone and is a jumping-off point for most of the main sights. If you’re getting to Hakone by train (as most people do), you’ll arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station.

There are lovely hot springs and a couple of shrines to see in Hakone-Yumoto itself; however, most visitors travel further, heading either to Gōra , a town in the mountains, or Lake Ashi , a crater lake with stunning views of Mount Fuji.

While you can do both on a day trip, we recommend not burning yourself out and staying overnight instead. After all, Hakone is a place people go to relax.

Pro tip: The Hakone Free Pass (HFP) is almost always a good deal. It gives you unlimited rides on Hakone area transport, plus small discounts to some popular attractions, and you can buy it from Klook or Headout . Hakone travel notice Following increased volcanic activity and area closures in mid-2019, the Hakone ropeway has since resumed full operations, and the Owakudani area can also now be visited, although some pathways remain closed. As it is still a level-two warning area (as determined by the Japan Meteorological Agency), it is advised that you check for transport updates before traveling -- just in case. --> Read about all the different ways of getting to Hakone from Tokyo .

Hakone Free Pass

If you opt to go on your own, we recommend getting the Hakone Free Pass from Headout or Klook . This useful 2 or 3-day transport voucher gives you free access to many methods of transportation around Hakone, including the funicular railway, most buses, the ropeway, and the sightseeing pirate ship that sails across Lake Ashi.

The full pass also covers round-trip travel from Tokyo (usually Shinjuku Station) to Hakone-Yumoto Station via the Odakyu Line. However, if you want to take the special limited express Romancecar train, you’ll need to buy a separate limited express ticket for ¥ 1,200 ( ¥ 1,150 if bought online) each way.

Getting to Hakone from Tokyo

make a reservation for a panoramic view. You'll likely need to book a week or more in advance, but on weekdays and later in the day it is much easier to find seats available.-->

Where can I buy the Hakone Free Pass?

Using buses in Hakone

Hakone tours and deals

There are many ways to enjoy Hakone, and you’ll find a range of package deals on offer for Cheapo travelers.

Mt Fuji and Hakone Day Trip

One of the most popular packages is an all-inclusive sightseeing day trip from Tokyo that takes you to both Mt Fuji and Hakone.

You can take a bus tour with Klook — this costs ¥ 12,980 . However, Viator also offers a similar itinerary, but you can ride the Shinkansen back to Tokyo .

If those are sold out, there’s two more “bus out, bullet train back” itineraries we suggest, one on Viator which includes a trip to the boiling sulfurous Owakudani Valley and a similar Mt Fuji and Lake Ashi option with JTB Sunrise Tours ( ¥ 24,500 ). The exact itinerary varies between providers.

Private guide

If you fancy having someone take you around, there are plenty of private guide options. This highly rated 6-hour private guide service costs ¥ 24,000 per person. You’ll need to make your own way to Hakone though, and the price only includes the guide — so you’ll probably want to pick up the Hakone Free Pass as well.

Outdoor adventures

If you like a bit of exercise and a good view, check out this relatively easy hiking tour of Hakone . The hike has an altitude gain of about 500 meters, includes lunch at a Japanese restaurant, and hot spring at the end.

There are also a number of mountain biking tours of the Hakone and Mount Fuji area .

Lake Ashi: Mt. Fuji views and more

Lake Ashi is at the southern end of Hakone. We recommend visiting the lake early in the day — for a better chance of seeing a clear panoramic view of Fuji.

Getting to Lake Ashi

From Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the Hakone-machi (H) Line bus from stand No. 2. The top sights can be accessed on foot from H Line bus stops around Lake Ashi.

For reference, it takes about 30 minutes from Hakone-Yumoto Station to the bus stop at Motohakone, the most developed part of Lake Ashi. The bus fare is ¥ 1,080 — or free with the Hakone Free Pass .

Things to do in Lake Ashi

There’s a lot to do on the southern edge of Lake Ashi. Sights are spread out between the two ports, Hakonemachi-kō and Motohakone-kō.

Hakone Shrine

10-minute walk from Hakone-jinja-iriguchi (Bus Stop No. 150) H Line bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (30 minutes, ¥ 1,080 without HFP) Free

Hakone Shrine draws visitors with its Heiwa no Torii, the red shrine gate that appears to be rising out of the waters of Lake Ashi. It reminds us of Miyajima down in Hiroshima (which is one of Japan’s most famous viewpoints!).

If you plan to get a photo in front of the Hakone gate, we’d ask you to reconsider: there is nearly always a long line leading up to it — and the photo usually comes out under-lit.

The shrine itself has quite a few buildings and is surrounded by tall cedar trees, but the most interesting spot is the gate (and the somewhat hidden vermillion bridge nearby).

Hakone Checkpoint

2-minute walk from Hakone-sekisho-ato (Bus Stop No. 154) H Line bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (40 minutes, ¥ 1,080 without HFP) ¥ 500 ( ¥ 400 with HFP)

The Old Tōkaidō Road was once a vital trade route connecting Tokyo and Kyoto. This was during the Edo period (1603–1868) when the route was heavily guarded. Travelers had to pass through several checkpoints, with Hakone being one of the most important ones.

Hakone Sekisho — “sekisho” means “checkpoint” — served as a customs and immigration station, where officials would check travelers’ paperwork and belongings before allowing them to pass. Today, it’s a museum showcasing Edo period customs and traditions.

Parts of the Old Tōkaidō Road still exist, and visitors can walk some of it in Hakone. The closest part of the road to the checkpoint is Cedar Avenue, which gives you a little sample of what to expect on a proper hike.

Hakone Sekisho Checkpoint

Amazake-chaya: A traditional teahouse

Amazake-chaya (Bus Stop No. 322) K Line bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (23 minutes, ¥ 710 without HFP) Sweets and drinks around ¥ 500

If you have spare time, it’s worth going to Amazake-chaya . This rustic little teahouse is situated alongside the Old Tōkaidō Road and has served as a pit stop for travelers to the region since before Tokyo was, well, Tokyo. It’s been run by the same family for about 400 hundred years.

A fun way to spend an hour or two is to add a visit to the teahouse on your way to Lake Ashi from Hakone-Yumoto. The bus stop for Amazake-chaya is on the K Line route; it takes about 25 minutes to get there from Hakone-Yumoto.

At the teahouse, enjoy a cup of the warm, sweet, nutritious rice drink known as amazake (it’s not actually tea), together with some homemade mochi (sticky rice cakes).

Then, carry on walking along a preserved section of the Old Tōkaidō Highway to Motohakone. The walk, over cobblestones worn smooth with age, takes about 30 minutes.

Amazake-chaya Teahouse

For more details on hiking the Old Tōkaidō Highway, see our guide to three stunning hikes in Hakone .

Onshi Hakone Park

1-minute walk from Onshi-kōen-mae (Bus Stop No. 153) H Line bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (35 minutes, ¥ 1,080 without HFP) Free

Onshi Hakone Park is a serene area that isn’t overrun with people like some other spots in Hakone. It features a variety of walking paths, picnic areas, and seasonal flowers, such as cherry blossoms and azaleas. You also shouldn’t miss the view of Mount Fuji from the observation deck.

The park is a short walk from Hakone Checkpoint and Cedar Avenue.

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise

1-minute walk Motohakone-kō (Bus Stop No. OH67) H or K Line bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (32–35 minutes, ¥ 1,080 without HFP) ¥ 1,200 one-way , round-trip ¥ 2,220 (free with HFPass)

Feel like a buccaneer (or Luffy from the anime One Piece) aboard the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise. You’ll set sail on a golden boat that resembles a pirate ship from Motohakone Port to Tōgendai Port — where you can get the ropeway up to Ōwakudani.

During the trip across Lake Ashi (25 to 30 minutes), visitors can see the beautiful Hakone mountains and the famous torii gate of Hakone Shrine. The cruise is also an excellent way to get a closer look at Mt. Fuji, especially on clear days.

Note: You can also get the ship from Hakonemachi Port — which is closer to Hakone Sekisho — but the circuitous route only goes one way and will take you to Motohakone first before stopping at Tōgendai.

Ōwakudani: The Great Boiling Valley

As the whole Hakone area is a hot-spring hotspot, a visit to Ōwakudani, The Great Boiling Valley (not to be confused with the snow monkey haunt of Jigokudani ), is a must-visit on any Hakone tour. Riding a gondola up the mountain, you pass over an ominous, sulfuric landscape that looks like the lair of Smaug.

Getting to Ōwakudani

You can reach Ōwakudani via the J Line bus (or car, though parking is expensive) but most people visit via the Hakone Ropeway, which travels between Tōgendai and Sōunzan. Sōunzan is closer to Gōra, reached via the Hakone Tozan Cable Car.

From Tōgendai, the ropeway takes 30 minutes and costs ¥ 1,500 ; from Sōunzan, it’s 15 minutes and ¥ 1,500 . Or with the Hakone Free Pass rides on the Hakone Ropeway are free. There’s no admission price to Ōwakudani.

From Togendai Port: Hakone Ropeway (through station Ubako) to Owakudani (30 minutes, [price amount=1500] without HFP)[cheapo_icon name="route-solid"] From Hakone Yumoto Station: Hakone Tozan train to Gōra (40 minutes), Hakone Tozan cable car to Sounzan (10 minutes), Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani (10 minutes) ([price amount=2390] without HFP)[cheapo_icon name="map-marker-alt-solid"] Ōwakudani Ropeway Station[cheapo_icon name="coins-solid"] Free-->

Things to do in Ōwakudani

Once you reach Ōwakudani, you are invited to try the area’s signature black eggs — hard-boiled eggs that have been cooked in steaming, mineral-laden water. Supposedly they’re lucky and eating them can add years to your life, but mostly it’s the novelty of it, the hellfire and brimstone surroundings, and the distinctive smell that make it worth the trip.

Note: There are various side trails and hiking routes around Ōwakudani, but they are sometimes access-restricted because of noxious volcanic gases. Currently, only the short nature trail loop around Ōwakudani is open but requires advanced reservations (online in Japanese). While the main gondola route generally remains open, people with asthma or other respiratory conditions might want to give Ōwakudani a wide berth.

Gōra: Museums in the mountains

Gōra is up in the mountains, at an elevation of 533 meters (1,749 ft). Take your time with Gōra as there are plenty of museums, activities, and sights to see.

Getting to Gōra

Gōra is closer to Hakone-Yumoto. The Hakone Tozan Train runs between Gōra Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station and takes around 40 minutes. Coming from Hakone-Yumoto, Gōra is the last stop.

It’s deceptively far from Lake Ashi, so you may find yourself overstretched if you plan to do both in a day.

To get to Gōra from Lake Ashi, you can follow the circuitous route via Ōwakudani that involves taking the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, the Hakone Ropeway, and the Hakone Tozan Cable Car, alighting at the terminus in Gōra. This takes well over an hour, not accounting for time spent in transit or at Ōwakudani.

Things to do in Gōra

If you only have time to see one or two museums, take a look at our personal favorites below. But if you want to take it slow, there are plenty of others to find here and elsewhere around Hakone.

5-minute walk from Gōra Station ¥ 550 (free with HFP)

Even those without a botanical bent will appreciate this delightful mountainside park. The views across to the steep and sometimes misty mountains make for a great setting in which to appreciate the glasshouses of tropical plants, trees, and shrubbery.

There’s also a traditional teahouse for you to enjoy a cuppa the Japanese way. Gōra Park scores bonus points for being quiet with no lines of tourists, and has free entry with the Hakone Free Pass.

Hakone Gora Park

Hakone Open-Air Museum

2-minute walk from Chokoku-no-mori Station Hakone Tozan Train from Gōra (2 minutes, ¥ 160 without HFP) ¥ 1,600 ( ¥ 1,400 with HFP or ¥ 1,500 with online discount )

There are over a dozen museums in Hakone, but our favorite has to be the Hakone Open-Air Museum . This expansive outdoor sculpture museum on the side of a mountain has lots of fun interactive art and a breathtaking setting.

It showcases over 100 modern and contemporary pieces by renowned artists from all over the world. They often have limited-time exhibitions — just like the shy, giant pink cat we spotted.

Hakone Open Air Museum

Pola Museum of Art

Pola-bijutsukan (Bus Stop No. 439) S Line bus from Gōra Station (15 minutes, ¥ 310 without HFP) ¥ 1,800 ( ¥ 1,600 with HFP)

The Pola Museum of Art is a beautiful facility with a great collection of Impressionist artists, including Matisse, Monet, and Renoir. The museum’s building is also a work of art in itself, designed by architect Ban Shigeru to blend into the surrounding forest. Its spacious galleries and scenic location make it a popular destination for art lovers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Note: You can go direct from Hakone-Yumoto Station, but there are limited bus departures per day and it takes around 40 minutes on winding roads.

Top hot springs in Hakone

Onsen in Hakone are too numerous to count. However, some picks that may be of particular interest to international guests are Yunessun, Hakone Yuryō, and Tenzan.

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun

2-minute walk from Yunessun-mae (Bus Stop No. 138) H Line bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (20 minutes, ¥ 650 without HFP) From ¥ 2,100

Yunessun is a kind of hot spring theme park, with sprawling grounds and baths both inside and out. They have lots of fun baths, including tubs filled with wine, coffee, and herbs (separately, of course), as well as a water slide.

The most important thing to note is that this is a co-ed, swimsuit-wearing onsen . It’s a good choice for those who want to try the hot spring experience but are just too shy to go starkers, or those who want to share the experience with friends or family of different sexes. Read more about Yunessun . For admission, you can buy discounted tickets online .

Hakone Yuryō

16-minute walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station Shuttle bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (3 minutes, free) From ¥ 1,600 ( ¥ 200 – ¥ 300 discount with HFP)

Hakone Yuryō boasts several outdoor and indoor hot spring baths, offering guests the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate in therapeutic waters while taking in the surrounding nature.

There are both public and private baths available. Entry for the public onsen starts at ¥ 1,600 . The private onsen is considerably more expensive, starting at ¥ 9,400 for two hours, but you can get a discount with the Hakone Free Pass.

There is also an atmospheric restaurant in the facility where you can cook your food over an open hearth.

Hakone Yuryo

Tenzan Onsen

2-minute walk from Okuyumoto-iriguchi bus stop Free shuttle or K Line bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (6 minutes, ¥ 240 without HFP) ¥ 1,450

Tenzan is a standard hot spring, with beautiful rock-lined rotenburo (open-air baths) against the mountainside. The onsen offers a free shuttle bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station, but what makes this spa notable is its acceptance of tattoos , somewhat rare in the world of Japanese baths. The official policy is that inked patrons aren’t exactly welcomed — guidelines say you need to come alone — but you won’t exactly be booted out, either. Just be discreet, and you should be fine.

Kohan-no-yu

How to avoid the crowds, faqs: what is hakone known for and more, what is hakone famous for.

Most of all, Hakone is known for its hot springs. Onsen are everywhere — in day spas, ryokan, hotels, and foot baths. This is the main reason people visit. That and views of Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi. If you’re an anime fan, you might also recognize Hakone from Neon Genesis Evangelion .

How many days should I spend in Hakone?

While Hakone can be done in a day, most stay overnight to take in all the areas. Two to three days is enough to see everything, but one day is sufficient if you cut out some sights.

When is the best time to visit Hakone?

Hakone can get very busy, so it is best to visit on a weekday and outside of the fall season when it is extra crowded and hotel prices shoot up.

Late spring is when the ajisai (hydrangeas) bloom alongside the tracks of Hakone’s cute mountain train and winter is preferable because of clear Mt. Fuji views and toasty hot springs.

While on the way to Hakone, why not jump off at Odawara Station and see Odawara Castle ?

Looking for more day-trip recommendations? Consider checking out top day-trip destinations like Kawaguchiko and Kamakura .

While we do our best to ensure information is correct, it’s subject to change. This article was first published in January 2015 and has been contributed to by Carey Finn and Chris Kirkland. Last updated in February 2024 by Alexandra Ziminski.

• Hot springs
• Mountain walks
• Weekend-getaway

Get our Tokyo Cheapo Hacks direct to your inbox

How and Where to Buy Shinkansen Tickets

Top Japanese Phrases You Need Before Traveling to Japan

Tokyo's Best Airport: Flying into Narita vs. Haneda

A Beginner's Guide to Shibuya - Scramble Crossing, Shopping & Great Views!

The Best eSIMs for Visiting Japan

A Guide to ALL Pokemon Centers in Tokyo, Japan

24 Hours in Tokyo — The Ultimate Itinerary Guide

Yozakura: 8 Best Nighttime Cherry Blossom Illuminations in Tokyo

Light-ups have been extended, since the blossoms were so late this year.

Tokyo Events This Week: Pink Petals and a Fertility Festival

Tokyo events for Monday, April 1 to Sunday, April 7, 2024.

New Video: Tokyo's Best Airport — Flying into Narita vs. Haneda

Which one should you use when flying to Tokyo?

Updated Forecast: 2024 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Dates

They've been teasing us — but looks like they're about to bloom, at last.

April 2024: 5 Events Not To Miss in Tokyo

A chance to see the infamous "penis festival", puppies, processions, and more!

Mega Guide: 24 Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Choose from parks, traditional gardens, mountains and more.

The Hokuriku Arch Pass: Taking the Slow Route Between Tokyo and Osaka

Meander along Japan's "golden route" — exploring Nagano, Kanazawa and more.

Spring Escapes: Top 7 Day Trips from Tokyo

Must-see cherry blossom, moss phlox, and wisteria locations — all easily accessible from Tokyo.

Ashi Angels: Hakone for Evangelion Fans

Explore the real Tokyo-3.

Top 10 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Festivals in 2024

Where to go for street food, music — and lots of sakura.

Recommended hotels located nearby

Close without accepting

The Perfect Hakone Day Trip From Tokyo

This page may contain  affiliate links which earn us a commission at no extra cost to you to support the site. Thank you!

Hakone makes for the perfect little getaway from the big city. With beautiful views of Mount Fuji, countless onsens and a volcanic valley, Hakone has a lot to offer. Find out how to take the perfect day trip to Hakone from Tokyo below.

The beautiful mountain town of Hakone is located less than 100 km from Tokyo (1.5–2 hours). And with its stunning scenery, Mount Fuji views and hot springs, it makes for the perfect day trip from Japan’s capital city.

While staying overnight in Hakone is something I would highly recommend, it’s not always possible to find two days in your Japan itinerary. If you only have one day to visit Hakone, you can still make sure to visit all the main sights and make it an unforgettable day trip. We’ve got all the info you need!

For a relaxing break from busy Tokyo, check out the one-day Hakone itinerary below.

9. Head back to Shinjuku Station

One day in hakone map & overview.

No time to read the full guide? No problem! Here’s a map with the highlights of this Hakone itinerary:

Hakone Day Trip Itinerary

Here is my one day Hakone itinerary from Tokyo:

1. Take the train from Tokyo to Hakone-Yumoto Station

Try to get the train from Tokyo as early as possible. Since you’ll only have one day to explore Hakone, you want to make the most out of it. There are different ways to get to Hakone, depending on what passes you have (more information about the different options below), but the easiest way is by using the Hakone Free Pass .

The Hakone Free Pass is a discount pass that can help you save money (and time) while exploring Hakone. Apart from unlimited access to public transport in the Hakone area and countless discounts on museums, restaurants and onsens, the pass also gives you a return ticket from Shinjuku Station to Hakone.

You can book the Hakone Free Pass online and redeem it at Shinjuku Station on the morning of your day trip. Once you’ve got the Hakone Free Pass, you also have the option to upgrade your return ticket to the limited express Romancecar. This is essentially a faster train service and comes at a surcharge on top of the Hakone Free Pass (1,200 yen one-way).

Without the upgraded express ticket, the journey from Shinjuku to Hakone takes around two hours. With an upgrade express ticket, it takes around 80 minutes.

2. Take the bus to Lake Ashi

After arriving at Hakone-Yumoto Station, jump on the bus towards Lake Ashi. There are multiple bus routes that will take you there and you can use the Hakone Free Pass to ride them for free. The bus takes around half an hour.

Once arrived at Lake Ashi, you can take some time to explore. Around the lake, there are tons of opportunities for small nature hikes. But since we’re on a tight schedule, it’s best to only walk to Hakone Shrine – one of Hakone’s most famous landmarks .

3. Visit Hakone Shrine

The floating torii gate on Lake Ashi is probably one of the most iconic and beautiful images from Hakone. Hakone Shrine is a must-visit when in the area but prepare for queues near the torii gate (you won’t be the only one wanting to take a picture – we waited around 20 minutes).

Behind the famous torii gate, you can walk up the steps towards the main entrance of the shrine. The original shrine was built in 757 but was later relocated to where it stands today.

4. Spot Mount Fuji

Hakone is known to be one of the best places to spot the famous Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji, or Fuji-san, is one of the things Japan is most famous for – and it’s pretty clear why. This beautiful mountain (and active volcano) has been inspiring the Japanese for centuries.

After visiting Hakone Shrine, start making your way to Moto-Hakone Port or Hakone-machi-ko.

5. Sail Lake Ashi on a pirate ship

Lake Ashi looks stunning from Hakone Shrine, but it’s even more beautiful when you’re sailing across it. Especially, when you’re doing it in style…

There are three different pirate ships (yes, pirate ships, you read that correctly) sailing across Lake Ashi, each with a unique design. The trip itself takes 25–40 minutes, depending on where you board (Hakone-machi-ko or Moto-Hakone-ko).

The trip on these pirate ships is included in the Hakone Free Pass , so you can board without having to pay for an individual ticket (unless you want to upgrade for the special room and access to the front of the ship. In my opinion, this isn’t worth it! The ticket that’s included with your Hakone Free Pass is more than good enough).

On a clear day, you can find some of the very best views of Mount Fuji from the ship. The first time we saw it from here, I teared up a little. You can also see the floating torii gate from Hakone Shrine from the ship, along with Kuzuryu-Jinja Shrine and the beautiful forest surrounding the lake.

Plus, it’s the easiest way to get to the Ropeway Station, which brings us to our next stop on this Hakone itinerary…

6. Visit the Great Boiling Valley (Owakudani)

After getting off the pirate ship at Tōgendai Port, you can walk over to the Ropeway Station. Hakone’s Ropeway is also included in the Hakone Free Pass, another reason why this pass will save you so much time and money.

Stay on until you reach Owakudani Station. This should take around 30 minutes, but on a clear day, you’ll be able to see Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi. There is one stop in between, Ubako Station, which is a five-minute walk to Hotel Green Plaza Hakone. We stayed here during our trip to Hakone, but it also has a public onsen with stunning Mount Fuji views.

Once arrived at Owakudani Station, you’ll immediately see why this is called the Great Boiling Valley. When Mount Hakone erupted around 3,000 years ago, this volcanic wasteland was left behind.

The sulphurous fumes and steaming pools make for a pretty unique experience (it smells!). There are even signs that warn you of the toxic volcanic fumes.

7. Eat a black egg

Visiting Owakudani is one of the best things to do in Hakone, but you can’t leave without trying one of the iconic black eggs (Kuro Tamago). These famous eggs are regular chicken eggs, but they’re boiled in the natural hot springs in this volcanic wasteland.

The minerals in the water turn the shell black – don’t worry, the egg inside will be untouched, it looks and tastes the same as an egg you’d boil at home. But according to local lore, eating one will add seven years to your lifespan.

Whether it’s true or false, it’s not worth the risk, is it? I ate two…

8. Visit Hakone Open Air Museum

Hakone is home to quite a few museums, but Hakone Open Air Museum is one of the most popular. It’s on the Hakone Loop, making it easy to visit if you’re using the Hakone Free Pass to get around the area.

From Owakudani Station, take the ropeway to Sounzan Station. From there, you can take the Hakone Tozan Cablecar to Chokoku-no-mori Station (also included in the Hakone Free Pass). Hakone Open Air Museum is only a few minutes from here.

While the entree itself isn’t covered by the Hakone Free Pass, you will get a discount with it. The museum displays beautiful sculptures across the valley. There are multiple exhibitions, both indoors and outdoors.

After a busy day trip to Hakone, it’s time to make your way back to Tokyo again. After visiting the Open Air Museum, you can get back on the Hakone Tozan Railway and travel to Hakone-Yumoto Station. From there, the Hakone Free Pass allows you to take the train back to Shinjuku.

How to get to Hakone from Tokyo

There are different ways to get to Hakone from Tokyo, depending on what passes you hold:

1. Odakyu local express train (Hakone Free Pass)

The cheapest way to get to Hakone from Tokyo is by taking the Odakyu local express train from Shinjuku. This is the route included with the Hakone Free Pass and requires a change at Odawara Station. From there, you travel onwards to Hakone-Yumoto Station.

The train does stop at every station along the way and takes around two hours , but you can enjoy some stunning views of Mount Fuji. Plus, it’s a real money-saver!

2. Romancecar (Hakone Free Pass upgrade)

The fastest way to get to Hakone from Tokyo is by taking the ​​Odakyu Romancecar. This direct service takes you from Shinjuku to Hakone in around 80 minutes. 

If you already have purchased the Hakone Free Pass, you can pay an additional ​​fee to upgrade to the Romancecar. You can opt for this at the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Centers

If you’re using the JR Pass to travel through Japan, you can use it to travel towards Hakone (but not all the way). From Tokyo, you can take the Shinkansen to Odawara on the JR lines. This part of the journey will be covered by the JR Pass.

From Odawara Station, you won’t be able to use the JR Pass. Instead, it’s best to pick up a Hakone Free Pass from Odawara Station – this version doesn’t include the return ticket from Shinjuku and is slightly cheaper. However, it still includes all public transport within the Hakone area and countless discounts on restaurants and museums.

Is Hakone included in JR Pass?

No, the Hakone area is not included in the JR Pass . You can get to Odawara Station from Tokyo with the JR Pass, but from there, it’s best to use the Hakone Free Pass. 

Normally, it comes with a return train ticket from Shinjuku Station to Hakone, but it’s also possible to buy it at a discounted price without this ticket. This is a good option if you hold the JR Pass during your trip to Hakone.

Is the Hakone Free Pass worth it for one day?

The Hakone Free Pass is a discount pass that can help you save money and time while exploring Hakone. Despite the name, it’s not actually “free”, but you can buy them for two or three days. Sadly, there’s no one-day equivalent of the pass.

So, what should you do when you’re going on a day trip to Hakone? I recommend still getting the two-day Hakone Free Pass.

This pass is such a big money and time saver, even when you’re only using it for a day trip. It includes a return train ticket from Shinjuku Station to Hakone, unlimited access to public transport within the Hakone area (including the sightseeing cruise and the ropeway), and countless discounts for restaurants, onsens and other attractions.

But the money saving isn’t the only big plug of this pass. It’ll save you a lot of time and hassle. Since the pass gives you access to all public transport in Hakone, you don’t have to worry about buying individual tickets or paying the correct fare. Instead, you simply flash your Hakone Free Pass and you’re good to go.

We have a full guide on the Hakone Free Pass for more information – but I highly recommend it!

Is Hakone worth a day trip?

Yes, Hakone makes for a great day trip from Tokyo. It’s a lovely getaway from the big busy city, and there’s a lot you can see in a day. If you follow the Hakone Loop with the Hakone Free Pass, you should be able to see most of the area in 6–8 hours.

However, if you have enough time to add an extra day to your itinerary, I recommend staying for longer. Two or three days in Hakone is the sweet spot. Since the town is home to many onsens (Japanese hot springs), it’s an excellent opportunity to stay in an onsen hotel and try the naturally heated water for yourself.

We have a guide on where to stay in Hakone with our top hotel and Ryokan recommendations.

Finish your Japan itinerary

Weather note – the weather in Hakone can be a little temperamental. Clouds are often covering Mount Fuji, making it (almost) impossible to see. If you have a few days in Tokyo, try to be flexible when choosing your Hakone day trip.

Hakone is one of my favourite places in Japan, so I hope this guide has helped you plan your own trip there. If you’re looking for more Japan travel inspiration and advice, check out the following guides:

• Three week Japan itinerary
• Two week Japan itinerary
• Best things to do in Japan
• 6 day Tokyo itinerary .

Nele (Nay-la) graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with an English and Creative Writing Degree and has lived in the UK for nearly 10 years. She has had an interest in Japan and its culture for as long as she can remember. Since her first trip in 2018 surpassed all expectations, she has continued to return to Japan to explore more of all it has got to offer. You can read her full story here .

View all posts

2 thoughts on “The Perfect Hakone Day Trip From Tokyo”

I normally don’t bother to leave comments but for you I have to make an exception… I was looking desperately for 1 day tour of Hakone capturing the highlights, to do on my own using public transport instead of taking expensive tours. You nailed it! Thank you so much!

Thank you so much! Super glad to hear it’s been useful 🙂 Hope you have a great time in Hakone!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Must-Read Articles

50+ Best Things To Do In Japan

Is The Japan Rail Pass Worth it?

The Perfect Three Week Japan Itinerary

Japan Travel Tips Group

The Japan Travel Newsletter

Sign up to get inspired! Receive insider tips, special discounts and more to plan your perfect Japan trip.

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

japan travel Blog

Tokyo Kyoto Osaka Hiroshima Hakone Kobe Nikko Nara Kyushu All Japan Content

Plan Your Trip

Best Things To Do Japan Rail Pass 2 Week Itinerary 3 Week Itinerary Accommodation Japanese Phrases

About The Navigatio Work With Us

Deals of the Week   Green Hikes & Treks   Up to 50% OFF

Hakone Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Hakone. We've got 165 adventures going to Hakone, starting from just 3 days in length, and the longest tour is 27 days. The most popular month to go is October, which has the largest number of tour departures.

Filters applied

165 hakone tour packages with 2,778 reviews.

• Christmas & New Year

Japan One Life Adventures - 10 Days

Amazing tour, was able to see so much even in a short amount of time! Our tour guide Hayley was great, very knowledgeable and made the tour lots of fun.

• In-depth Cultural
• Train & Rail

Japan Express: Osaka to Tokyo

The whole trip was so incredible. All made possible by our excellent tour guide Mayumi. She is a asset to your company and I will miss her.

Japan Adventure

Trip was amazing. Group leader Meg was amazing with her cultural knowledge, food recommendations etc. made the trip entirely stress free. Would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to visit Japan and see all the highlights.

Stunning Japan with Shirakawa-go (private 3 star hotel rooms)

An enjoyable tour. Mixture of all age groups and a manageable size. Covered the main sightseeing things and encountered many Japanese experiences along the way. My expectations were met.

Epic Japan: Speed Trains & Street Food

The itinerary needed to be more detailed, there was a lot up in the air as to what was happening each day. There wasn’t the greatest communication between the guide and the group, as to where we were meeting and such. The places we stayed were a great mix of different style of hostel and were close to most areas in the city with a few exceptions.

Hakone Discovery, Gateway to Mt. Fuji 3D/2N

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Epic 13-Day Japan Budget Tour: Odyssey Across the Land of the Rising Sun

I did a lot of group tours in the past, more than 50 single trips and this is my second tour with this operator. It’s a budget tour and that’s what you get. Start with the Hostels. pro: - surprisingly most of the backpacker’s hostels were really clean and modern. I always had a good sleep. The showers and toilets were cleaned regularly and the water pressure was perfect. Towels (except of one time) were provided also shampoo, body wash, conditioner and hairdryer etc. contra: - most of the time we had to sleep in 6-10 bed dorms. And of course it depends on the ppl if they are noisy or smelly. Bear this in mind. Sightseeing pro: - we saw a lot of shrines, castles, temples, pubs, restaurants and of course the museum in Hiroshima etc. We could get a slight overview of Japan and all the tourist attractions. contra: - we saw a lot of shrines, castles, pubs and restaurants! Sadly, because Japan is a crazy country and has a lot more to offer. At some point I was bored to visit the next shrine. So I ended up spending a day on my own to enjoy the Japanese lifestyle. Suggestions: Akashi - a cafe in Japan is famous for having one of the most bizarre toilets - it is surrounded by a giant aquarium. Or the Shibuya Sky's escalator. It is the most famous escalator in Tokyo. Transportation pro: - experience the Japanese subway and underground station and the tons of ppl. Don’t be scared. It’s not that bad. Don’t miss! contra: - you walk a lot. If it’s from the train station to the hostel or to other places. Sometimes there were no escalators so you get a great workout by stair climbing. Due to some kind of mismanagement we had two wait two times 2 hours at a train station for our train. It’s just wasted time. If you know there is time to kill you should find an alternative. 7-Eleven is none! Tourguide pro: - our guide was friendly, funny and nice! He already made sure that we got all the information for the next day in the evening before so everyone was well informed. There was not only one moment some one was missing or didn’t know what was going on. He was very thoughtful and managed to handout seat reservations to ppl he knew they are close, so everyone felt comfortable. He waited for everyone who stayed behind, and he showed a lot of patience for everyone, even if it meant waiting until everyone took their 100th photo. He always recommended restaurants, bars or shopping areas. It was easy to find. I can tell that he put a lot of effort into the daily heads-up! contra: - lack of knockledge. I missed information about Japanese lifestyle, behavior, do‘s and don’ts. Most of the time I googled it by myself. - Unfortunately, he was unable to stop some very rude behavior from grp members. If one grp member burb‘s loudly in front of a host, he shouldn’t let this slide. I felt so sorry for this nice host ladies and I felt embarrassed myself! - His acceptance of a random f*ckboy a grp member brought into the grp after a nights out was also inexcusable. This guy showed up regularly at almost every occasion (karaoke/last team event). A few grp members including myself felt very uncomfortable. Mentioned to the guide that he should be the one to stop this (because it’s a group event) was just ignored. To not ruin the mood the grp members agreed to let it slide.

• 5% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Japan One Life Adventures - 14 Days

This tour is jam packed full of adventure. We had so much fun and we were able to experience a diverse range of cultural activities in every city along the way.

Highlights of Japan

Excellent tour Did a lot saw a lot not having bag for 3 nights was unexpected and a bit disappointing but otherwise everything went smoothly

• €150 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Premium Japan

We had an amazing holiday. Japan was all we had hoped for. The group worked so well, we all got on and became good friends. Shingo, our guide was totally great. He was so pleasant and helpful. His English not brilliant but he did a great job. We felt maybe a little more information on places and sights might have been good. He was constantly helping us all and looking after us. He made great suggestions for meals and always checked up on us all, even when we split into smaller groups for the evening. He went way beyond what he could have done and made everyone feel safe and well looked after. He even helped booking all our onward travel and ensured we were all ok on the day. Wonderful man!! The hotels were nice, if a little small with almost no storage in most of them! Breakfasts were generally very good. We saw and did so much. In fact, we felt sometimes it was a little too much to fit into each day, and either missed some things out or were too rushed, missing stopping and looking at leisure at things and shops etc. Shingo was so patient, even when we caused him to run a little late! Due to distances covered we spent a lot of time travelling which was an interesting experience. Just meant time at destinations was a little short. As Most of us were older we all felt very tired at the end of each day and struggled especially when we had to carry back packs whilst waiting to be reunited with luggage. Dont know what the answer is, if extra days added, then expense goes up. If itinerary cut back, then Interesting sights missed out! Overall, a truly great trip. We enjoyed it all!

Japan Family Holiday

Yuji did an amazing job of ensuring a smooth trip, while being very flexible to the desires of the group. He planned beautifully and gave us the skills and confidence to navigate on our own for our free time. He kept the group from frittering away time and shared insights into history and culture for the many highlights. Had we tried to do this trip on our own, we would optimistically have been able to see half as much and would have entirely missed some very memorable experiences, like Hakone. We did the family tour and would highly recommend for families with kids 9-16.

Japan Explorer

Was fun thanks, bit fast paced but the places visited definitely worth it!! Plus guide was nice!

• Local Living

Best of Japan - 8 days

A good tour. I understand that using public transport is part of the experience but on occasion I think it would have been more efficient to use a coach

Tailor-Made Luxury Japan Tour (6 Days), Private & Daily Start

I was very happy with all the accommodations/hotels. Unfortunately our first hotel in Tokyo was asking for us to pay for our accommodation because they didn’t have a payment from your tour company. This process took about an hour and a half before we were allowed access to our room. We had just arrived from a long travel day involving about 24 hours and were extremely tired. It was not a good first impression at all. Our guide had to contact someone so we could stay at the hotel. Also, no one at tour radar or our main contact person in Japan reached out to check in to see if we were doing okay or needed anything. I was hoping for better service. Tour guides and transportation was great! I especially liked our tour guide in Tokyo and the two in Kyoto.

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Japan Discovered (No. 1 Best Selling Tour)

This is my first trip to Japan and my best vacation ever. The tour guides were fantastic. Very nice group of people were my traveling companions. Most of the people on the tour were couples about my age (between the ages of 45 and 70, I think). This tour covers so many wonderful famous places. You must be healthy and pretty fit though, because there was a lot of walking each day and sometimes some hill climbing. The tour is very organized and I can’t imagine a better experience. I can see why this tour is a big favorite with everyone. The only glitch was that the driver who picked me up upon arrival at Haneda airport did not have my name on a sign, so it was difficult finding him. I eventually found him after calling my tour guide for help. Otherwise an enchanting, magical dream trip. The weather was also perfect every day I was there (March 27 to April 11,2023) with sunshine and clear skies for sightseeing.

What people love about Hakone Tours

The tour was amazing: lots of cool experiences like the temple stay, tea ceremony and kendo-class mixed with classical visits of amazing sightseeing spots. Some little points to critisize: Groups should not be bigger than 15 (makes it really hard for the tour guide to handle), the description of the tour could be more on point (breakfast is not always breakfast) and maybe using local guides for the temples (to get a better understanding of the difference and history) could improve the tour.

The guide was the best

Our group leader Meg did an amazing job. We had a great trip that was packed with fun from beginning to end. We appreciated the mix of the historical culture and buzzing night life of modern Japan.

• Japan Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• 2 Week (14 Days) Japan Travel Itineraries & Cost 2024/2025
• 1 Week (7 Day) Japan Travel Itineraries 2024/2025
• Best 3 Week (21 Days) Japan Travel Itineraries 2024/2025
• Discover the Best Japan Vacation Packages 2024/2025
• What is the best time to visit Japan in 2024/2025?
• Weather in Japan in 2024/2025

International Versions

• Deutsch: Hakone Rundreisen
• Français: Circuits et voyages au Hakone
• Español: Circuitos y viajes por Hakone
• Nederlands: Hakone Rondreizen

Hakone trip planning》Hakone one-day tour/two-day tour itinerary & Hakone transportation and accommodation recommendations!

快速導覽

Itinerary planning for Hakone one-day tour and Hakone two-day tour

If you were to travel to Hakone, what would you think of the first time? Are you staying in a different Hakone hot spring hotel, a private bath, or a Hakone hot spring hotel with traditional characteristics?

In fact, besides being a very popular hot spring attraction, Hakone is also a holiday hotspot frequented by local Japanese, especially Kanto people. Basically, when it comes to long vacations, everyone will stay with family and friends in those traditional hot spring hotels in Hakone to relax and relieve the pressure of work.

The Hakone area is very vast. In addition to hot springs, there are also different scenic spots, art galleries, and different tourist experiences in the entire area. There are some unique attractions in Hakone, such as water torii, mountain tram, glass art museum and so on. So if you go to Hakone, you must not miss these unique experiences!

In addition, in fact, Hakone is also in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is around Mt. If you have enough time, it is very worthwhile to go to two different hot spring areas in the same vacation!

Things to do in the Hakone area

Overall, in addition to different hot spring hotels in Hakone, there are actually more than ten different attractions that are worth visiting, including some Hakone-limited transportation experiences, art galleries, Owakudani Hot Springs, pirate ships, etc.

Since different types of attractions are located in different areas of Hakone, and it takes a lot of time to travel to different attractions by different means of transportation, it is highly recommended to plan the order of visiting different attractions before departure.

Selection of sightseeing itineraries in the Hakone area

Geographically, Hakone is located near Tokyo, about an hour away by rail. So in simple terms, there are 3 different itinerary plans to choose from when traveling to Hakone:

• Hakone Day Trip, Day Return Tokyo – Hakone
• Hakone 2-day tour, stay in Hakone Onsen Hotel itinerary
• Three-day trip to Hakone, deeply experience the hot spring hotels and scenic spots in Hakone

The above three different itineraries allow you to visit different attractions in Hakone and get different hot spring experiences. And which itinerary is the most suitable for you depends on how long you plan to stay in Japan and whether there are other areas you want to visit.

To put it simply, if you arrange a one-day trip to Hakone, the attractions you can visit in one day are very limited, and you don't have much time to stay in the hot spring hotel. So if time permits, it would be better to choose a hot spring hotel in Hakone.

On the other hand, if you like shopping and visiting different attractions, it is also a good choice to arrange a three-day trip to Hakone. Because you can fully enjoy the hot springs in Hakone and also have time to visit different attractions in Hakone slowly, without having to look at flowers in a hurry for the next itinerary. Another important point is that you can go to Gotemba Outlet from Hakone, or further use Fuji Hakone Tour Package Go to the Kawaguchiko area and arrange to enjoy hot springs and visit Mt. Fuji in one itinerary!

Enjoy the entire Mt. Fuji & Hakone with one set ticket! [Best Offer] Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass The best choice to save transportation expenses!

Preparations required before departure to Hakone

If you are planning a one-day trip to Hakone, it is recommended to learn about the transportation in Hakone, the method of luggage storage, the discount package suitable for a one-day trip in Hakone, the accommodation plan, etc. before departure. Your Hakone The journey will be smoother!

Transportation to Hakone

To start a one-day trip to Hakone, you must first start from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo! The Odakyu Electric Railway is the most convenient means of transportation to the Hakone area.

Generally speaking, there are two types of trains for Odakyu Electric Railway to Hakone, one is Romance Express and the other is ordinary tram. The difference between the Romance Express train and ordinary trams is that the Romance Express provides seats in the "observation car" at the front of the train, so that you can experience the same scenery as the cab!

How to reserve Romancecar

If you want to take the Romantic Limited Express "Observation Car" on your trip to Hakone, you must book a seat online before departure in order to successfully experience this special car!

In addition, it is very important that the seats of all Romantic Express trains are reserved seats, so tickets must be marked on the spot in advance or booked online.

Reserve a seat on the Romance Express, "Observation Car"

Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar Timetable

Hakone one-day tour, two-day tour luggage storage arrangements

When you usually go to other areas for sightseeing, you usually go to the hotel to check in the room first, and then leave the suitcase in the hotel before starting the whole day of sightseeing.

However, because many hot spring hotels in Hakone are far away from the main station, if you have to arrive at the hotel first to store your luggage, and then start a full-day sightseeing trip, you will waste a lot of time. Therefore, Odakyu Electric Railway cooperates with local hot spring hotels. As long as you stay at the designated hot spring hotel on the day, you can use the "hot spring hotel luggage delivery service" and let them deliver your luggage to the designated hot spring hotel in advance.

The entire process of storing luggage is very simple. As long as you pay the specified shipping fee according to the size of the luggage you need to store, the shipping company will send your luggage to the hot spring hotel you want to stay in. Basically, when you check in in the afternoon, your suitcase will arrive at the hot spring hotel you are staying in earlier than you.

Generally speaking, as long as you register before 12:30 noon, your luggage will be delivered to your designated hot spring hotel around 15:00 pm. That is, just after you have visited different scenery, you can check in the room to enjoy the hot spring time, so that you can save more time to visit different attractions.

The same is true when you leave a hot spring hotel. You can use the luggage delivery service to send your suitcase from the hotel to Hakone Yumoto Station. As long as you register before 10:00 in the morning, you can pick up your suitcase at Hakone Yumoto Station at 13:30 in the afternoon!

Charges for checked luggage service

In Hakone Yumoto, the charge for "Hot Spring Hotel Luggage Checking Service" is about ¥800-¥1500, and the charge is calculated according to the volume of the luggage. Although simply looking at the shipping cost, the shipping cost of ¥800 seems a bit too high. However, if you calculate the transportation time to the hot spring hotel in advance, the charge is actually very worthwhile.

In addition, when you use the luggage delivery service, one thing to note is that the shipping service companies have signed contracts with different hot spring hotels, so the luggage delivery service can only deliver luggage to designated hot spring hotels, and It is not an address other than the designated hot spring hotel. If your friend also lives in Hakone, they cannot send your luggage to your friend's residence.

Details: Hakone-Yumoto Station Facilities Hakone "Onsen Ryokan Baggage Delivery Service"

Choose a suitable transportation package

If you are traveling to Hakone for the first time, you may find that there are many package tickets that are suitable for you to use in the itinerary of Hakone one-day tour and Hakone two-day tour.

Among the many packages, " Hakone Freepass "," Hakone Kamakura Freepass "," Fuji Hakone Pass ", these three are commonly used preferential transportation packages. And to choose which discounted transportation package, it depends on how your Hakone itinerary is planned, and the ticket will depart to Lake Kawaguchi, Mount Fuji, or arrange a day trip to Kamakura.

To put it simply, if you plan to only go sightseeing in the Hakone area, and not depart to Lake Kawaguchi, Mount Fuji, and Kamakura at the same time, buy " Hakone Freepass " will be the most suitable transportation package choice for you.

Tips for sightseeing in the Hakone area

Hakone is a large area, and there are different types of transportation and different attractions at the same time. If you want to arrange the smoothest itinerary, you must agree with the characteristics of the entire Hakone area before departure!

Characteristics of the Hakone area

After introducing the transportation methods to Hakone and the special methods of luggage storage, it is time to understand the characteristics of the Hakone area.

Simply put, the entire Hakone can be divided into 3 parts.

The first part is Hakone-Yumoto Station on the right side of the Hakone area, the second part is Gora Station in the middle of the Hakone area, and the third part is the part of "Motohakone, Togendai, and Owakudani" on the left side of the Hakone area.

The main attractions of Hakone are scattered throughout the Hakone area, and it takes a lot of time to reach different attractions. Therefore, when planning the itinerary, it is highly recommended to arrange the scenic spots in the same direction to visit together, so as to save the traffic time the most. Otherwise, it will happen that you go to the left first, then go to the right, and then waste a lot of time in different means of transportation, and the attractions that can be visited are very limited.

The time required to visit various places in Hakone

It is also because the main scenic spots in Hakone are scattered in different areas, and there are many scenic spots. Therefore, when planning a one-day or two-day trip to Hakone, you must pay attention to the number of scenic spots arranged every day and the required visiting time.

Generally speaking, each attraction in Hakone will take you about 1 hour - 1.5 hours to visit, plus half an hour of traffic time.

Simple calculation, if it is a one-day trip to Hakone, it is probably to visit one attraction in the morning, and then visit another attraction in the afternoon. If you add the time of waiting for transportation in the middle, for example, if you just can’t get on the Hakone Pirate Sightseeing Boat, it will take you an extra hour just to wait for the next sightseeing boat.

In other words, although the one-day tour has about 9 hours of travel time, within the actual Hakone one-day tour, it will limit what you can visit in a whole day because you need to wait for different means of transportation. Number of attractions.

Therefore, when planning a one-day or two-day trip to Hakone, it is recommended not to arrange a very tight itinerary. Generally speaking, it is enough to arrange 2-3 attractions. And some people have said that Hakone is a place suitable for enjoying the scenery slowly, not a place where you need to constantly catch up with the itinerary.

Further reading: Recommended Hakone Onsen Hotel! List of Luxury Ryokan Accommodations with Private Baths!

Travel itinerary planning for the Hakone area

If you are visiting the Hakone area for the first time, you can refer to the following one-day, two-day, and three-day itinerary plans to arrange a Hakone travel itinerary that suits you best!

Hakone one-day tour, one-day round-trip hot spring experience sightseeing itinerary

If you are starting a day trip to Hakone this time, the whole day's itinerary can be arranged like this:

Morning itinerary of Hakone day trip

First, take the JR train and Tokyo Metro from the hotel in Tokyo to Shinjuku Station, then transfer to the Odakyu Electric Railway, and take the train to Hakone Yumoto Station. It is recommended to depart from Shinjuku around 07:00 in the morning, so that you can arrive at Hakone Yumoto Station before 09:00 in the morning, and strive for the most time for sightseeing in the Hakone area.

After arriving at Hakone Yumoto Station, you can go to Lake Ashi to visit the Hakone Shrine and Hakone Water Torii. And I chose to take the Hakone Pirate Boat for sightseeing in Lake Ashi in the morning because the chances of seeing Mount Fuji on a clear day are relatively high.

If you depart from Hakone Yumoto Station at 09:00 in the morning, you will arrive at Hakone-machi Port where you can take the Hakone Pirate Ship at around 10:00. If you just make it in time to board the Hakone Pirate Ship, you can arrive at Togendai Station at about 11:00. Otherwise, it is possible to arrive at Taoyuantai Station at 12:00, which will affect the subsequent itinerary.

Afternoon itinerary of Hakone day trip

After arriving at Togendai Station by Hakone Pirate Ship, you can have lunch at a restaurant near Togendai Station. Then take the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani, enjoy the hot spring environment of Owakudani, and try the unique Hakone hot spring eggs.

Stay in Owakudani for about 30 minutes, then continue to take the Hakone Ropeway to Sounzan Station. After arriving at Sounzan Station, transfer to the Hakone Tozan Ropeway to Gora. If you want to buy some Hakone specialties, or plan to sit down and have a rest, there are also many shops and restaurants near Gora Station. However, because the crowds of people visiting Jon Lot are very strong, basically if you see that there are vacancies in that restaurant, you can just walk in and order food.

If you depart from Togendai Station at 12:00 noon, you can complete your visit to Owakudani and arrive at Gora Station at about 14:00. You can choose to spend a few more laps at the restaurants and shops near Gora Station, or consider going earlier Hakone Yumoto At the station, try to visit the shops in Hakone Yumoto's shopping street before closing.

And it takes about 30 minutes to take the transportation between Gora-Hakone Yumoto. If you depart from Gora Station at 15:00, you can have enough time to go shopping in Hakone Yumoto’s shopping street, or you can take the earlier Odakyu Electric Railway train to avoid the crowds returning to Tokyo from Hakone on holidays.

In addition, because it takes about 2 hours to take the Odakyu Electric Railway from Hakone Yumoto Station to Shinjuku, Tokyo. If you choose to leave Hakone Yumoto at 18:00 in the afternoon, you will not miss the dinner hours of most Tokyo restaurants when you arrive in Shinjuku, Tokyo. You still have the opportunity to dine in the restaurant before returning to your hotel room.

At 22:00 in the evening, the one-day trip to Hakone was officially completed.

Visit Tokyo's main attractions with a single ticket! [Best Offer] Klook Greater Tokyo Attractions Pass A must-have ticket for your Tokyo travel itinerary!

Hakone two-day tour, a sightseeing itinerary that matches the Hakone hot spring experience

Itinerary for the first day of the hakone 2-day tour.

If you can arrange a two-day trip to Hakone this time, you can also refer to the one-day itinerary for the first day's itinerary.

For example, you can set off to Lake Ashi in the morning to take the Hakone pirate ship, and enjoy the view of Mount Fuji on Lake Ashi along the way. Then in the afternoon, depart from Togendai Station, take the Hakone Tozan Cable Car to visit Owakudani, and go to Gora for lunch. The last is to check in at the hot spring hotel around 15:00 in the afternoon, so that you can buy time to enjoy the hot spring.

For the dinner arrangement on the first day, you can choose the restaurant meal plan in the hot spring hotel. Especially in Hakone, there are many traditional Japanese hot spring hotels to choose from, all of them can prepare the most luxurious traditional Japanese cuisine for you.

Itinerary for the second day of the Hakone 2-day tour

If you plan to visit some Hakone art museums, such as the Hakone Glass Forest Art Museum and Gora Park, it would be more appropriate to arrange the itinerary on the second day.

Since the business hours of these art museum attractions are relatively short, if you choose to visit the next morning, you can have more time to visit slowly and take pictures. Especially in the days when the sunshine time is relatively short in winter, you can arrange some scenic spots that you are particularly interested in visiting in the morning of the next day, so that it is easier for you to take beautiful photos.

Of course, you can also consider staying in the hot spring hotel until 11:00 in the morning before checking out, so that you can enjoy the hot spring until the last moment.

So for a two-day trip to Hakone, how to arrange the next day's itinerary mainly depends on whether you are more interested in which kind of activity you are interested in between enjoying hot springs and visiting different attractions in Hakone.

And in the itinerary of the next afternoon, you can spend a little time in the Hakone Yumoto Station Visit the nearby shopping street and buy Hakone's special products, and then take the Odakyu Electric Railway from Hakone Yumoto Station to Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.

Recommended discount package: Hakone Freepass (2 days/3 days)

Hakone three-day tour, experience Hakone hot springs and Hakone scenic spots at the same time

If you have three days of travel time and want to visit different attractions in Hakone, visit the natural scenery of Hakone, and appreciate Mount Fuji, a three-day trip to Hakone will be the most suitable.

Hakone three-day itinerary focusing on Hakone attractions

Because during this three-day trip to Hakone, you can have the opportunity to stay in two different hot spring hotels and get two completely different accommodation experiences. For example, arrange check-in on the first day combined with modern hotel design Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora , and then stay in the traditional hot spring hotel design on the second day Ten Yu Inn Hakone Kowakien , so that you can get two different hot spring experiences in one go within a few days.

In addition, arranging a three-day trip to Hakone can also allow you to slowly visit every art museum in Hakone.

Since it takes a lot of traffic time to go to different attractions in Hakone, and some art galleries are relatively large, it takes about 2 hours on average to complete the visit. Basically, you can only visit 2-3 attractions in a day. So arrange a three-day trip to Hakone, and you can concentrate on visiting different art galleries on the second and third days.

A three-day itinerary in Hakone focusing on admiring Mount Fuji

Of course, in addition to arranging a sightseeing itinerary in the Hakone area, you can also buy a Mt. Fuji – Hakone Area 3-Day Tour Pass , and then use this package ticket to take unlimited transportation in the Hakone area and Mt. Fuji area, and enjoy Mount Fuji from different angles and experience different hot spring hotels within 3 days.

In this three-day trip to Mt. Fuji and Hakone, you can split the three-day itinerary into a one-day trip to Lake Kawaguchi on the first day and a one-day trip to Hakone on the third day. The itinerary for the second day, you can choose to enjoy it in the morning Lake Kawaguchi's hot springs Until the moment of check-out at 11:00, it takes about 3 hours to take a bus from Kawaguchiko Station to Hakone.

At about 15:00 in the afternoon, you can arrive at Hakone Station and go directly to the Hakone Onsen Hotels procedures. And such an itinerary allows you to enjoy the hot springs every minute and every second of the three-day tour itinerary.

If you have never been to Hakone, we would recommend you to arrange a two-day, one-night trip to Hakone. Because the hot spring hotels in Hakone are very worthy of your stay, and it is also a rare experience that can bring you good memories. Of course, you can also refer to the three-day tour itinerary of Mt. Within a short trip, you can experience hot spring hotels in two different regions.

In addition, we put all the travel information related to Hakone, Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi in Mt. Fuji - Hakone Classification allows you to study the attractions in the two regions first, and then decide how to plan your itinerary this time, focusing on hot springs and visiting Mount Fuji. If you are planning to travel to these two regions, you must not miss the useful articles in it!

More Mt. Fuji and Hakone travel information

Mount Fuji area

Mount Fuji hot spring hotel recommendation: Hotel Room with Hot Spring, Private Bath and Exclusive View on Mount Fuji! Bus Route Guide to Mount Fuji Kawaguchiko Station! JR train from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Station? The first choice for railway fans Fuji-Hakone Pass purchase discounts, itinerary planning sharing How to plan the itinerary of Lake Kawaguchi? Attractions, Transportation, Food and Overview The Flower Sea in front of Mt. Fuji Lake Kawaguchi》Annual Lavender Festival ⋯⋯ and MORE

Hakone area

Recommended Hakone Onsen Hotels》A list of high-end hot spring hotels with private baths! How to plan your trip to Hakone? Hakone Attraction Transportation Itinerary Sharing! Fuji-Hakone Pass purchase discounts, itinerary planning sharing Hakone Yumoto Attractions, hot spring hotel selection near the station ⋯⋯ and MORE

More Japan Travel Information: Tokyo | Kyoto | Hokkaido | Climbing Mt.Fuji | Hakone | Lake Kawaguchi Tips for Traveling in Japan | Japan Hotel Deals | Klook Latest Promo Code

Ryu_C@RakuRakuJP

RakuRaku, which is 楽々 in Japanese. This site is committed to providing the most authentic travel information in Japan, bringing you a different Japan travel experience!

Kawaguchiko Herb Hall & Oike Park

Kawaguchiko herb festival: enjoy lavender & view of mt. fuji in summer, more different travel information, hakone freepass: 3 days itinerary planning & latest ticket discount, hakone ashinoko hanaori hotel: private onsen with best package in hakone, hotel indigo hakone gora: an ihg hotel with private onsen in hakone, hoshino resorts kai hakone: the best traditional onsen ryokan you must try, hakone day trip from tokyo: 1 day itinerary with must-see attractions, hakone yumoto station: onsen, shopping street and things to do, 11 best ryokan in hakone with private onsen, hakone open air museum, 하코네 베네치아 유리 박물관(유리의 숲), hakone gora park: best japanese garden near hakone onsen area.

RakuRakuJP , is a website dedicated to sharing articles about in-depth travel experiences in Japan.

I believe that before you travel to Japan every time, you will hope to get the most comprehensive travel information, and then be able to successfully complete the entire travel itinerary.

And our goal is to gather all practical itinerary information, discounted accommodation, and tickets, so that you can plan the entire Japan travel itinerary in the most convenient way.

useful link

• About RakuRakuJP
• RakuRakuJP All Articles
• Privacy Policy
• Website Terms of Use
• Agoda booking offers
• Klook Booking Offer

Editor's Picks

Latest useful travel articles.

©2017- 2024 RakuRakuJP. All Right Reserved. 

• Contact us to advertise

Truly Tokyo

A Tokyo Travel Guide

Hakone Day Trip Itinerary

Make the most of a day out in the mountain town of Hakone, only 1.5 hours from Tokyo, with our Hakone Day Trip Itinerary. We’ve included a second day extension for those who want to stay overnight and explore the area further.

When it comes to day trips, Hakone is one of the top choices for most visitors to Japan. With its tranquil caldera lake, atmospheric shrines and temples, historical walking trails, and a concentration of great art museums, this mountainous hot spring town has a lot going for it. Our itinerary will help you make the most of your time here.

This itinerary contains the following sections:

• Notes Before You Go
• Overview of the 2-day Hakone Free Pass
• The Full Hakone Day Trip Itinerary
• Day 2 Extension for the Hakone Itinerary

Hakone Day Trip Map

• Recommended Accommodation in Hakone

Notes Before You Go To Hakone

• We suggest using the 2-day Hakone Free Pass to explore the Hakone area. See the following section for further details.
• We suggest leaving on a reasonably early train from Shinjuku and aiming to arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station between 8:45am – 9:30am. This will give you a full day there, with ample time to explore at leisurely pace.
• Our itinerary covers a day trip from Shinjuku. Day one includes the majority of the classic tourist highlights in Hakone.
• As there are many great hot spring resorts in Hakone and it makes sense for some to do overnight stays, we’ve included a second day extension for anyone wishing to do just that. It’s also a good alternative to the first day for those who prefer a leisurely, nature-filled day.
• If you are staying overnight, you may want to seriously consider a Japanese-style ryokan with a hot spring bath. See our accommodation recommendations at the end of this itinerary for more information.
• We strongly recommend visiting during off-peak seasons or at least on a weekday.
• Itinerary timings are approximate, particularly as train, bus, funicular, and boat times can vary with the season. Adjust the timings to suit your schedule. It’s an excellent idea to check train or bus times when changing mode of transport to make sure you won’t miss a connection.
• This itinerary is a guideline. Add or subtract places as you like.
• We’ve put in directions at the end of each section to minimise clutter.
• This is mostly a walking itinerary. Although this itinerary takes you on several modes of public transportation, there’s still some walking involved. Put on your most comfortable shoes and give it a shot.

Should you get the 2-day Hakone Free Pass?

In a word, yes. This is by far the most economical way to travel around the Hakone area. It provides you with a return trip from Shinjuku to Odawara Station, and then unlimited travel around the Hakone area on all modes of public transportation, including bus, boat, funicular, and train. Flashing the pass will also net you small discounts at many of the museums and attractions in the area.

Best of all, it minimises all the hassle of travel, saving you the headache of counting change on the bus to pay your fare each time you alight, or buying tickets for each train, funicular, bus, and boat ride.

You cannot purchase the Hakone Free Pass at most smaller stations along the Odakyu line; it’s also not available as an option at the ticket machines. You can buy the pass at the Odakyu Sightseeing Center at the West Ground Gate of Shinjuku Station. However, the queue can be lengthy at the counter, especially during peak season. Who wants to deal with that first thing in the morning when you’re itching to go?

We suggest minimising your time spent in ticket lines by purchasing the 2-day Hakone Free Pass online . After that, it’s a simple process of picking it up at the Odakyu Sightseeing Center. We strongly suggest popping by the day before your day trip to pick up your pass. If you’re still on the fence, consider this: purchasing it online is actually cheaper than buying it from the Odakyu counter. The catch is that you have to be a tourist, so this is not an option open to Japan residents.

Hakone Itinerary: Day 1

7:00am travel from shinjuku to hakone-yumoto station.

Begin bright and early at Shinjuku Station. You’ll need to find the entrance to the Odakyu Line. If you haven’t picked up your 2-day Hakone Free Pass yet, you can purchase this at the Odakyu Sightseeing Center or Odakyu Romance Car counter. Both are next to each other. Getting to Hakone-Yumoto Station means getting the rapid express bound for Odawara. From there, you’ll change to the Hakone-Tozan line and get off at the final stop.

However, if you’d like to travel on the Romance Car – which essentially is a reserved-seat train with very few stops that goes directly to Hakone-Yumoto Station – you’ll save about half an hour in travel time. Ask the counter staff for a ticket along with your Free Pass. This will cost an additional JPY1,090.

Is the Romance Car worth it? If you want to travel in a little extra comfort and be able to eat breakfast on the train, definitely.

The earliest direct Romance Car train to Hakone-Yumoto Station leaves at 7:00am. There’s also one available at 7:38am. But, you should always check train times before you go.

9:20am Hakone-Yumoto Station

If you’ve taken the later train, you’ll arrive around 9:20am. Head towards the exit. If you have luggage or extra bags to leave at the station, there’s a baggage counter that will take care of them for you – they are located outside the ticket barriers. Alternatively, you can use the coin lockers. They are available both inside and outside the ticket barriers.

For those staying overnight, they provide a rather nifty luggage delivery service, sending your suitcases directly to any inn or hotel in the Hakone area. If you’ve dropped off the luggage before 10:00am, they deliver the luggage by 3:00pm on the same day – how’s that for efficiency?

Showing them your Free Pass also nets you a JPY100 discount for this service.

10:15am Hakone Shrine and the Peace Shrine Gate

Hakone Shrine is rather beautiful and atmospheric, starting with its lantern-lined path through the forest and ending with the red ‘Peace’ torii gate floating in the water. The latter must be one of the most iconic sights in Hakone. Short of visiting its larger and more famous counterpart at Miyajima Island, this is as atmospheric a Shinto scene as you’re going to find anywhere near Tokyo. It is gorgeous all year, but especially in the rain or when shrouded in mist.

To get here, head over to buses bound for Hakone. Turn left at the ticket barriers and follow the signs to the bus stops. You need to head for Hakone Shrine – either the Moto-Hakone-ko or Hakone-jinja-iriguchi stop. Buses departing from Stop 4 go to these places. If you’re unsure, your best bet is to ask the bus station attendants hovering around the area. Buses leave frequently. You should aim to leave by 9:40am to arrive around 10:15am. Settle in for a scenic 40-minute bus ride through the mountains.

Alight at the bus stop. Turn and cross the road, walking anti-clockwise around Lake Ashinoko, towards the mountains with the lake on your left. You’ll pass an Italian restaurant on your right. Walk through the large red torii gate. The steps to Hakone Shrine are up ahead to your right after a little more walking.

After exploring the shrine, walk back down the steps towards the lake. Keep walking down, crossing the road. You’ll see the floating Peace Shrine Gate at the bottom of the steps – plus some people waiting to take photographs in front of it.

11:00am Old Tokaido Highway Cedar Avenue and Hakone Checkpoint

Hakone was once a major checkpoint along the old Tokaido road, one of five main highways linking Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo period. Not much remains of the original highway, but there is a pleasant hiking trail along which remains a section of original stone pavement. For this itinerary, you’ll walk along another original section of the Tokaido highway, a 500 metre-long cedar avenue.

This cedars flanking this forest passage are centuries old, some reaching up to 3 metres high and having a diameter of over 4 metres.

Those interested in Japanese history should consider a visit around the buildings of the Hakone Checkpoint, if not also the exhibition hall. It’s quite fascinating seeing the various facilities common at checkpoints along these feudal period highways, from foot soldier housing to a prison chamber. You can even climb all the way to the lookout tower. Security was tight during the Edo period!

Of course, passing through the checkpoint without going inside the buildings won’t cost you a thing.

If you wish, you can stop by Onshi Hakone Park en route – just before the Sekisho Museum – and check out some views of the lake.

To get here, walk back the way you came. Continue onwards, skirting clockwise along and around the lake. You’ll pass Moto-Hakone Port on the way. When you see a large red shrine gate ahead to your left, pass through and continue keeping left. You’ll see an avenue flanked by tall cedar trees ahead of you. This is approximately 500 metres long.

Once you’re through the avenue, you’ll see a parking lot to your right, a park, and glimpses of the lake beyond. Essentially, you want to continue skirting along the lake to visit the Hakone Sekisho Exhibition Hall and the Hakone Checkpoint. If you want to walk around more, you could explore Onshi Hakone Park en route. This is right where the parking lot is. The way to the barrier checkpoint and the small museum are clearly signposted.

12:15pm Lunch

It’s time to refuel after a busy morning of exploring. As there are limited options on the other side of the lake at Togendai, we suggest eating around the area just after the Hakone Checkpoint. There are a decent number of restaurants here. Take your pick from udon or soba noodles, curry, seafood rice bowls, and ramen. We’ve marked several of these on the accompanying Google Map towards the end of this post.

Daimasa, located a 3-minute walk from the Hakone Checkpoint, is a decent place for a fresh sashimi set lunch. Portions are generous and there are English-language menus.

To get here, walk straight from the Hakone Checkpoint to the main road. Cross the road and turn right. Walk down the hill. Daimasa will be on your left shortly.

1:00pm Pirate Ship Cruise from Hakone-machi to Togendai

En route, you will probably have seen colourful ships sailing across the caldera lake. These ‘pirate’ ships are modeled on English battleships of yore, and are operated by the Hakone Sightseeing Boat company. The Hakone Free Pass is valid for these ships. Sure, the pirate ships are a little cheesy, but it’s one way to cross the lake to the other side.

The white passenger ships, in contrast, are operated by Izuhakone Sightseeing Boats, and you can’t use the Free Pass on them.

It takes about half an hour in total to cross the lake on this ship, passing by Moto-Hakone port on the way. This is also a good time to photograph the floating red torii gate from the other side as the boat passes by.

To get here, keep walking along the lake, passing a huge concrete hotel on your right. You’ll see the port on your right after a while. The pirate ships leave twice an hour. We boarded the ship departing at 1:10pm; boarding time begins 10 minutes prior. Departure times can vary with the season, however, so it’s best to check them if you don’t want to be stuck waiting too long.

1:45pm Togendai Station to Gora Station

At this juncture, we would suggest riding a cable car along the Hakone Ropeway to enjoy stunning views of the volcano below, and exploring Owakudani. However, an increase in volcanic activity led to them suspending the cable car operations and closing off the general area for the time being. We’ll update this if there are any changes.

Nevertheless, the replacement shuttle bus running between Togendai and Sounzan stations is still the most efficient way to go across this mountain. Follow the signs for the shuttle bus. It’s a short 10+ minute ride to Sounzan Station.

From Sounzan Station, you’ll take the funicular down to Gora Station. The ride is slow but pleasant, with beautiful greenery on either side. It’s especially beautiful in autumn when they turn fiery reds and golds. This is, of course, covered by the Free Pass. After the short bus ride, you’ll alight at Sounzan Station and follow the signs to the cable car station.

If you’ve decided to stay overnight in Hakone, it is likely that your inn will be in the Gora area. Many of them are located on the slopes along this cable car route. There are also a number of attractions in the area. These include the Hakone Museum of Art, Gora Park, and a ninja cafe.

2:50pm Hakone Open Air Museum

If you visit just one museum in the Hakone area, it should be the Hakone Open Air Museum. This alone is worth a day trip out here – there’s nothing quite like it in Tokyo. Wander around the sprawling, verdant grounds of the Hakone Open Air Museum and take in a superb collection of sculptures.

The museum closes at 5:00pm, and we recommend spending the rest of your afternoon exploring the museum grounds. You could easily spend two to three hours just doing that. With works ranging from the delightful and powerful to the eccentric and surprising, there’s a great deal to see. There’s even an entire exhibition hall showcasing a good collection of Picasso’s paintings and drawings.

We’d rather not spoil the whole experience, so here are just a few highlights from the museum:

One of the more surreal but arresting works here is La Pleureuse by Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne. It means ‘the mourner,’ depicting a woman’s head in stone, shedding a tear into the water she lies in.

The aptly-named ‘Curved Space – Diamond Structure’ is a fantastic gemstone installation by Peter Pearce. Unfortunately, only children below 12 are allowed to climb in and around the structure, but you can still walk around and admire it.

Another great installation for children to interact with is Horiuchi MacAdam’s Knitted Wonder Space 2. Created using over 650kg of braided nylon, it’s a colourful and charming structure that’s sure to delight both children and adults alike.

To get here after riding the funicular, transfer at Gora Station to the train platform. Ride it one stop to Chokunomori Station. Exit the station and walk up the road about 100 metres to the museum. Enjoy.

4:45pm Head back to Shinjuku Station

After a full day out in Hakone, it’s time to head back to Tokyo. Hop back on the train and ride it to Hakone-Yumoto Station. From there, you can make your way back to Shinjuku either on the Romance Car, or via Odawara Station. For the latter, you’ll ride the Hakone-Tozan Line to Odawara Station, and change to the Odakyu Line and take the next rapid express or express train to Shinjuku Station. Your Free Pass includes this trip back.

If you’re staying overnight in Hakone, this is a good time to head to your inn to for check-in and a soak in the hot springs before dinner. Check out our list of recommended accommodations in the area at the end of this itinerary.

Hakone: Day 2 Extension

While the first day alone covers the tourist highlights of the Hakone area, it’s not a bad idea to stay overnight at a Japanese-style inn so that you can continue exploring all that this town has to offer. There’s plenty more in the way of museums, natural attractions, and hiking in the area. This is a good example of how you can do it.

9:15am Hakone Botanical Gardens of Wetlands

The Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is a large park showcasing over 1700 varieties of marsh and alpine plants. It’s far more interesting than it might sound at first. Not only will you walk through different types of marshland from fens to bogs, and see dozens of different flowers, a walk through this verdant plant wonderland is just such a great way to begin your morning.

We visited in early June when the Nikko Kisuge (day lilies) were in full bloom. At this time of the year, you’ll also see beautiful Japanese irises (ayame).

They also hold special exhibitions of flowers and plants native to other parts of the world. At the time of our visit, there were dozens of bewitching Himalayan blue poppies.

The best thing about botanical gardens is that each season brings different plants and flowers. Be warned that this garden is closed during winter.

You’ll want to spend at least an hour slowly soaking in the various plants and enjoying the scenery. Don’t forget to allocate some time to have coffee at the cafe after exploring the botanical gardens. They serve a delicious affogato that’s a great mid-morning pick-me-up. As a plus, the cafe itself is delightfully airy and plant-filled, with plenty of natural light streaming in through the windows.

A note about ticket prices here: at the Botanical Gardens, Lalique Museum, POLA Museum of Art, and other museums in this area, there are combination tickets available that net you a larger discount than if you show your free pass to purchase them separately. (They’re a little pricey if you purchase tickets for each attraction separately too.)

For example, asking for a combination ticket for the Lalique Museum and the POLA Museum of Art costs JPY2700 in total, but that is a discount of around JPY400 compared to purchasing both of them separately. Do note that you can’t use your Free Pass for a further discount in this case.

To get here, begin at Gora Station. Exit and walk straight ahead. The bus stops are clearly signposted – you will want bus stop No. 2, next to the train tracks with a large hotel on your right. Board the S bus headed for Shissei-Kaen-mae and and ride the bus to No. 450, which is the last stop – the botanical gardens. This will take approximately 22 minutes.

Bus times vary between weekdays and weekends and are subject to change, but the earliest departure is around 8:20am. We suggest being at the bus stop for an approximately 8:50am departure time to make it to the botanical gardens just after their opening time at 9:00am.

Incidentally, if you have any luggage and you can’t leave it at the inn, there are coin-operated lockers in Gora Station right next to the ticket barriers. This isn’t a bad option if you’ve stayed in the area and don’t necessarily want to head back to your inn – which might be a little out of the way – to pick up your luggage.

10:30am Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field

A short 15-minute walk takes you to the Sengokuhara pampas grass (susuki) field on the west slopes of Mount Hakone. Tall grasses blanket the hillside, and change colour across the seasons – from verdant greens in spring to browns in winter. It’s a pleasant and scenic path at any time of the year, but the pampas grass field is most striking during autumn, when the hillside is covered in rolling swathes of silver-gold pampas grass.

There is a single walking path through the field, leading up and along the hillside. While you can’t wander off the path – trampling the grasses is disallowed – for half an hour or so, the stunning views will make you feel like you’re walking through Eva Cassidy’s Fields of Gold. If you’re pressed for time or you’re visiting outside autumn, however, skip this and head straight to the Lalique Museum (see below).

To get here, exit the Botanical Gardens. Take the first left and head out to the main road. Turn left and keep walking until you reach a set of traffic lights. There will be a restaurant across the road and you’ll see the fields beyond. Turn right and walk down the road. You’ll see the entrance on the left near the next set of traffic lights. It’s not signposted, but it’ll be obvious where the path is. This is approximately 15 minutes on foot.

11:45am Lalique Museum

The Hakone area is home to a handful of museums, some more worth visiting than others. It can be tricky to decide which one to spend your time on. If you’re an Art Deco and/or Art Nouveau fan, however, visiting the Lalique Museum is a non-negotiable experience.

This museum has a remarkable collection of 1,500 pieces – ranging from perfume bottles to ashtrays – designed by René Jules Lalique, a renowned glassmaker and jeweller. The permanent exhibition features approximately 230 artworks, which are rotated twice a year. Many of these incorporate natural motifs into their design and are utterly exquisite. Think necklaces of gold and enamel in the shape of stylized, darting swallows, or a bracelet of women with translucent blue bat wings, adorned with baroque pearls, or a cut-glass perfume bottle covered in ferns.

There’s also a ‘Butterfly Forest’ just before the museum, which is basically a small section of greenery with a babbling brook running through it. It’s a quick and pleasant walk. If you’re very lucky, you might spot a wild boar bathing in the water, as we did. (Don’t worry – they are usually more frightened of humans than we are of them.)

To get here from the Botanical Gardens, exit and walk back towards the bus stop. Head to the main road and turn right. Keep walking until you see the Lalique Museum on your right, about 7–9 minutes or so.

To get here from the Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field, retrace your steps back the way you came, but keep walking past the Botanical Gardens until you reach the Lalique Museum.

1:00pm Lunch

The area surrounding the Little Prince Museum has a number of restaurants that serve lunch. We’ve marked some of these on the Google map for you.

Hanasai is a cheap and cheerful option. This family-run operation serves a variety of rice and noodle bowls for lunch. Think soba with vegetables, whitebait and grated mountain yam on rice, and udon noodles with pork and miso.

To get to Hanasai from the Lalique Museum, exit and turn right. Head out to the main road and keep walking straight. You’ll know you’re going the right way when you’ve crossed a river, several hotels, and a Lawson’s. Keep walking until you see the Little Prince Museum ahead on your left across the road. Continue walking along the road until you see a nondescript paved road on your right that looks like this. Walk along until you see the sign for Hanasai.

2:00pm POLA Museum of Art

Built in 2002 to showcase Suzuki Tsuneshi’s extensive private art collection, the POLA Museum of Art is relatively new. But if you have to visit just one more museum in the Hakone area, this is the one to visit. Set amidst a forest of beech trees, the glass and concrete structure is designed such that it barely looks out of place here. Plus, it has an impressive and eclectic collection of artworks spanning modern and contemporary paintings, ceramics, glassware, and sculptures.

Though the exhibits skew mainly towards European art, there’s a good selection of Japanese painting too, with major names like Leonard Foujita and Kuroda Seiki making an appearance.

The French Impressionists in particular are well-presented here. During our visit, they were showing several works by Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, and Renoir. There was even a beautiful Van Gogh painting depicting a vase of thistles.

Unlike many museums in Japan, photography is allowed in some of the exhibition spaces.

There’s also a room full of glassware mostly designed by Emile Galle, featuring some truly gorgeous floral motifs on each piece.

As you exit the museum, you’ll see a signpost for the nature trail. This is a short, contained route through the beech forest that takes you around and to the other side of the museum. Try not to skip this if you can. It’s just a few hundred metres long in total, and makes a very scenic and pleasant walk on a cool day.

To get to the POLA Museum of Art, head back to the main road. Walk across to the nearest bus stop. You’ll want to take the S bus headed back towards Gora Station. Alight at the stop for the museum – the whole ride is less than 10 minutes.

4:15pm Head back to Shinjuku Station

After two days of exploring Hakone, it’s time to head back to Tokyo. Hop back on the S bus to Gora Station, and from here, transfer to the train back to Hakone-Yumoto Station. You can then either take the Romance Car train back to Shinjuku, or the local Hakone-Tozan Line to Odawara Station, changing to the Odakyu Line for a rapid express train back into town.

View the full size version of our Hakone map which has each of the places discussed above marked on it.

Recommended Accommodation for Hakone

Although Hakone is an easy day trip from Tokyo, you might want to slow down and spend a night there. This will give you a break from the city and allow you to explore the area in more depth. Here are some recommended accommodations.

:: Check availability and pricing on Booking.com or Agoda.com If it’s luxury you’re looking for, Gora Kadan is by far the best in Hakone. In a former life, this Japanese-style inn was a summer villa for one of the Imperial family members. Rooms here fuse traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary design elements. Standard rooms are generously-sized, but the full-sized suites are practically sprawling – like having your own villa! With gorgeous outdoor hot spring baths, exquisite seasonal kaiseki cuisine at dinner and breakfast, and impeccable service, Gora Kadan is an experience of a lifetime. Just be prepared to pay for it.

Gora Hanougi Madoka no Mori

Ashinoko Hanaori

:: Check availability and pricing on Booking.com or Agoda.com Located right on the shores of Lake Ashinoko, this hotel is great if you want to enjoy lakeside views first thing in the morning. Many rooms here are in contemporary Japanese-Western styles, featuring traditional tatami floors and Western-style beds; most have stunning views of the lake. If you can, go all out and book one of the rooms with a private open-air bath.

Hakone Highlands Hotel

:: Check availability and pricing on Booking.com or Agoda.com With rooms set amid sprawling lawns, this is one of the older resorts in the area, but no worse for that! The rooms here are comfortable, and the food is a delicious and accessible fusion of French and Japanese cuisine. Some rooms have their own private hot spring bath attached. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to snag rooms for around $125 a night. Try booking this if you’re visiting during off-peak season. While it’s accessible by bus, it’s a little better if you’ve rented a car.

:: Check availability and pricing on Booking.com or Agoda.com Located near Kami-Gora Station on the cable car line between Sounzan and Gora stations, this homey inn is a very decent mid-priced option for the Hakone area. The Japanese-style rooms here are fairly basic, but as with many inns the highlight here is the hot spring bath and the food. Soak in the hot onsen before and after dinner. Breakfast and dinner here are a real treat. Alongside the usual melange of delicious small side dishes, rice, and soup, dinner features a giant platter of seafood, beef, and chicken, which you’ll grill to your liking in front of you.

Check Hotel Availability

Destination, check-in date, check-out date.

Tokyo Vacation Checklist

• For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
• Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
• Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
• You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto , Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
• You can buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
• See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
• Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals . Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport .
• If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
• A prepaid Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
• World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world

Tokyo District Map

• Imperial Palace Area
• Tokyo Station
• Shimbashi Shiodome Hamamatsucho Shinagawa
• Akihabara Kanda
• Roppongi Akasaka
• Harajuku Aoyama
• Ebisu Daikanyama Meguro

Disclosure: trulytokyo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. World Nomads provides travel insurance for travellers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Full Day Hakone & Kamakura Tour To-And-From Tokyo Area, up to 12

Set out on a journey akin to unwrapping a cultural treasure chest with the Full Day Hakone & Kamakura Tour.

As travelers set off from Tokyo, a day of exploration awaits, promising encounters with ancient shrines and iconic statues.

A blend of history and tranquility, this tour offers insights into Kamakura’s rich heritage.

But what makes this experience truly unique? Stay tuned to uncover the hidden gems and personalized touches that set this tour apart, ensuring a day filled with discovery and connection to Japan’s past and present.

• Private full-day tour from Tokyo to Hakone and Kamakura for up to 12 people
• Expert guide to explore ancient shrines, temples, and iconic landmarks
• Enjoy hassle-free transportation, entrance fees , and lunch included
• Immerse in the rich history, culture , and beauty of both destinations

Here's some more nearby experiences we've reviewed

• Yokohama: Half-Day Tour
• Yokohama Full Day Tour
• Haneda Airport: Private One-Way Transfer To/From Yokohama
• Haneda Airport To/From Yokohama Private Transfer

Tour Pricing and Booking Details

When booking the Full Day Tour to Hakone & Kamakura from the Tokyo area, travelers can secure their spot for an enriching experience that delves into the history and culture of Kamakura for a group of up to 8 people at a starting price of $878.56.

This tour offers a competitive pricing comparison for a full-day private tour accommodating up to 8 individuals. To secure the booking, travelers can easily select their preferred date and number of travelers, check availability , and enjoy the convenience of free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts.

Plus, the ‘reserve now and pay later’ option provides flexibility. These booking process tips ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience, allowing visitors to focus on exploring Kamakura’s ancient wonders.

Tour Highlights and Itinerary

Set out on a captivating journey through Kamakura’s historical treasures and cultural landmarks with a knowledgeable guide leading the way. This full-day tour offers a deep dive into the historical significance and culture of Kamakura.

Explore architectural marvels such as the Hokokuji Zen Buddhist Temple, the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and the iconic Kotoku-in Buddha statue. Enjoy spiritual exploration as you visit ancient Buddhist and Shinto shrines and temples.

Gain insight into the rich history and culture of Kamakura as you engage with the guide throughout the tour. Discover the beauty and tranquility of these sites while delving into the fascinating past of this enchanting city.

Inclusions and Services Provided

Included in this comprehensive tour package are all transportation expenses, admission fees to each institute, and a delicious lunch to ensure a hassle-free and immersive experience for all participants.

• Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:
• Transportation expenses covered
• Admission fees to each institute included
• Delicious lunch provided
• Exclusions : Personal expenses, souvenirs
• Professional guide throughout the tour

Additional Services Offered:

• Knowledgeable guide for insights into the locations
• Comfortable and air-conditioned transportation
• Convenient pickup and drop-off options
• Child seats available for young travelers
• Private tour for a personalized experience

Meeting and Pickup Information

For a seamless start to your day, convenient pickup points are available for the private tour to Kamakura from Yokohama, beginning promptly at 08:00 AM. Travel flexibility is ensured with the option for pickup and drop off at flexible locations. Child seats for ages 2-4 are also available for added convenience. This private tour/activity caters exclusively to your group, providing a personalized experience. Explore Kamakura’s ancient sites with an expert guide while enjoying the comfort of round-trip transportation from select points in Yokohama. Take advantage of the meeting and pickup logistics to kickstart your day of adventure.

Tour Cancellation Policy

The tour cancellation policy allows for a full refund if canceled at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. It’s important to note the following key points regarding the tour cancellation and refund policy :

• Full refund available for cancellations made 24 hours in advance
• No refund for cancellations less than 24 hours before the tour starts
• Changes to bookings within 24 hours of the start time aren’t accepted
• The tour is weather-dependent, with options for a refund or reschedule
• Refunds will be processed based on the cancellation policy guidelines

These guidelines ensure clarity and transparency for individuals considering booking the Hakone & Kamakura tour.

Overview of the Day Trip

Set out on a captivating journey through Kamakura’s ancient wonders and learn about the rich history and cultural tapestry of this historic city.

The full-day tour offers cultural insights into Kamakura’s heritage, showcasing its ancient Buddhist and Shinto shrines and temples. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore iconic sites such as the Hokokuji Zen Buddhist Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and the famous Kotoku-in Buddha statue.

Engage with a knowledgeable guide who’ll provide in-depth information about the historical significance of each location. Plus, sightseeing tips will be shared to enhance the overall experience, ensuring that travelers make the most of their time discovering Kamakura’s treasures.

Transportation and Duration Details

Navigating through the picturesque landscapes of Kamakura is a seamless experience with convenient round-trip transportation provided from select points in Yokohama, ensuring a stress-free journey for participants throughout the 9 to 10-hour adventure.

Travelers can choose between various transportation options , including comfortable vans or buses, to reach Kamakura efficiently. The travel time from Yokohama to Kamakura is approximately 30-40 minutes, allowing for a full day of exploration.

While in Kamakura, visitors can enjoy numerous sightseeing opportunities, such as exploring ancient shrines and temples, including the famous Kotoku-in Buddha statue. Plus, they can savor local cuisine at traditional eateries dotted throughout the town, seeing the culinary delights of the region.

Explore Kamakura’s Shrines and Temples

Enjoy the serene atmosphere of Kamakura as you wander through the ancient shrines and temples that hold centuries of history and cultural significance. These architectural wonders not only showcase exquisite craftsmanship but also embody spiritual significance for visitors.

Kamakura’s shrines and temples offer a glimpse into Japan’s rich heritage, with each site telling a unique story of the past. From the grandeur of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine to the tranquility of hidden gems like Jufukuji Temple, every corner exudes a sense of reverence and tranquility.

As you explore these sacred grounds, you’ll not only appreciate the stunning architecture but also feel a deep connection to the spiritual essence that permeates Kamakura’s religious sites.

Visit Hokokuji Zen Buddhist Temple

Nestled amidst the lush greenery of Kamakura, Hokokuji Zen Buddhist Temple beckons visitors with its tranquil ambiance and towering bamboo grove. The temple offers a serene escape from the bustling city, inviting guests to explore its peaceful grounds and enjoy Zen practices.

Here are some highlights of a visit to Hokokuji Zen Buddhist Temple:

• Zen Meditation Experience: Engage in a calming session of Zen meditation guided by experienced practitioners.
• Bamboo Grove Walk: Stroll through the majestic bamboo grove, enjoying the rustling of leaves and the peaceful atmosphere.
• Tea Ceremony: Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in a serene setting.
• Temple Architecture: Marvel at the intricate design and architecture of the temple buildings.
• Historical Insights: Learn about the rich history and significance of Hokokuji Temple from knowledgeable guides.

Discover Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Upon entering the sacred grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, visitors are enveloped in a world where ancient traditions and spiritual reverence converge amidst stunning architectural beauty.

The shrine, with its impressive architecture reflecting a blend of Shinto and Buddhist styles, holds immense cultural significance as one of Kamakura’s most important religious sites. The grand Romon Gate welcomes guests into the shrine complex, leading towards the magnificent Maiden Hall and the iconic Genpei Pond.

Each structure within the shrine area tells a story of Japan’s rich history and religious practices. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of spirituality and architectural mastery that continues to captivate visitors from around the world.

See the Kotoku-in Buddha Statue

Visitors to Kamakura’s Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine can marvel at the iconic Kotoku-in Buddha Statue, a symbol of spiritual reverence and cultural heritage in Japan. This monumental statue, dating back to the 13th century, stands at over 40 feet tall and represents the history of Buddhism in the region.

Here are some key points to know about the Kotoku-in Buddha Statue:

• Represents Buddha history dating back to the 13th century.
• Stands at over 40 feet tall, making it one of Japan’s iconic landmarks.
• Reflects the cultural heritage of Kamakura.
• Visitors can explore the surrounding area and learn about its historical significance.
• The statue’s serene presence offers a glimpse into Japan’s rich spiritual traditions.

Engage With Knowledgeable Tour Guide

Enjoy the rich history and cultural insights of Kamakura as you interact with a knowledgeable tour guide throughout your private day trip. Your guide will provide you with guided insights into the historical significance of Kamakura’s ancient shrines and temples, offering a deep dive into the captivating past of this traditional Japanese city.

As you explore Hokokuji Zen Buddhist Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and the iconic Kotoku-in Buddha statue, your guide will enhance your cultural exploration by sharing fascinating stories and facts about each site.

Engaging with a knowledgeable guide not only adds depth to your experience but also allows for a more comprehensive understanding of Kamakura’s heritage and significance in Japanese history.

Here's a few more nearby tours and experiences we think you'll like.

• Yokohama City: Transfer From/To Tokyo/Hnd Airport
• Narita Airport: Private One-Way Transfer To/From Yokohama
• ‘Feel Yokohama!’Private Tour in English
• Yokohama: Private Tour With a Local Expert
• Yokohama Port: Private Transfer From/To Haneda Airport
• The BEST Yokohama Walking Tours

Common questions

Are meals included in the tour package, or do participants need to bring their own food.

Meals are included in the tour package, catering to various dietary restrictions . Participants can enjoy a guided picnic experience at select locations. The tour ensures a hassle-free day exploring Kamakura, with food provided for convenience and enjoyment.

Is There a Minimum Age Requirement for Participants on the Tour?

For tour enjoyment , participants must meet the minimum age requirement specified. This ensures a safe and engaging experience throughout the tour. Age restriction details are crucial for participation rules and to cater to the group’s needs.

Are There Any Specific Dress Code Requirements for Visiting the Shrines and Temples in Kamakura?

Visitors to Kamakura’s shrines and temples are encouraged to dress respectfully, adhering to traditional attire to observe cultural etiquette . Modest clothing and removal of hats indoors show reverence in these sacred spaces.

Can Participants With Mobility Issues or Disabilities Still Join the Tour and Access All the Sites?

Accessibility accommodations are available for participants with mobility issues or disabilities. The tour can be modified to ensure access to all sites. The guide will assist in making necessary arrangements for a comfortable and inclusive experience.

Are There Any Optional Activities or Add-Ons Available for Participants to Customize Their Experience in Kamakura?

For participants seeking to enhance their Kamakura experience, there are opportunities to tailor itineraries with unique activities. These customized additions offer a chance to delve deeper into the cultural richness and historical significance of this captivating destination.

Not for you? Here's more of our most recent tour reviews happening neaby

• Private Transfer From Yokohama Cruise Port to Narita Airport NRT
• Sankeien Garden Audio Guide Tour
• Tokyo Full Day Tour With Licensed Guide and Vehicle From Yokohama
• Yokohama Custom Full Day Tour
• Local HAMA-WINE and Sushi Making Workshop　
• Private Transfer From Yokohama Port to Tokyo Haneda Airport (Hnd)
• A Day Tour in Yokohama Bay Area
• Japanese Dance Experience in Yokohama
• Private Yokohama Tour – History, Culture and Food
• Private Helicopter Tour to See Mt Fuji or Tokyo Tower
• Yokohama Custom Half Day Tour
• Vacation Photographer in Yokohama
• Private Luxury Transfer From Yokohama Cruise Port to Tokyo
• Night View Yokohama Private Tour Cherry Blossoms in a Hurry

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore the rich cultural heritage of Kamakura on the Full Day Hakone & Kamakura Tour. With a knowledgeable guide, seamless transportation , and a personalized experience, this excursion promises a day filled with enlightenment and discovery.

From ancient shrines to iconic Buddha statues, this tour offers a captivating journey through the historic wonders of Japan. Book your adventure today and learn about the beauty and history of Kamakura.

Similar Posts

Izmir/Kusadasi: 3-Day Trip to the 7 Churches of Revelation

Set out on a spiritual quest tracing the footsteps of the ancient world in Izmir and Kusadasi with a 3-day…

From Amsterdam: Day Trip to Bruges

Step back in time as you embark on a day trip from Amsterdam to the medieval marvel of Bruges. The…

4-Day Classical Greece Tour: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora

Begin on a journey to uncover the ancient marvels of Greece with the ‘4-Day Classical Greece Tour: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia,…

Buzz Buggy Tour – You Drive Well Lead!

Experience the thrill of navigating Rome’s historic streets with the Buzz Buggy Tour – a hands-on exploration that puts guests…

Boat Excursion to Ortigia With Typical Homemade Lunch

Imagine yourself gliding through the crystal-clear waters surrounding Ortigia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a boat excursion filled with…

Private Transfer From Kitzbuhel to Munich, English Speaking Driver

As the crisp Alpine air of Kitzbuhel fades into the distance, travelers are welcomed aboard a private transfer service bound…

Sign up on TourScanner

Don't know where to start, best places to visit in tokyo, tours and things to do in tokyo, best day trips from tokyo.

We use cookies to improve our contents. Check the detail and update your settings here

• Transportation Info

Plan Your Hakone Trip

Before Your Trip

Crowd Forecast

Accommodations

Seasonal Highlights

Trip Itineraries

Onsen (Hot Springs)

Sightseeing

Experiences

Destinations

Hakone-Yumoto

Miyanoshita, Kowakidani, Gora

Sengokuhara, Owakudani, Togendai

Motohakone, Hakonemachi, Old Tokaido road

Discount Passes

Transportation

Directions to Hakone

Getting Around Hakone

• Hakone-Yumoto Station
• Gora Station
• Sounzan Station
• Owakudani Station
• Togendai Station & Port
• Hakonemachi-ko
• Motohakone-ko
• Sengoku Bus Stop
• Odawara Station
• Gotemba Station
• Mishima Station

MY TICKET use

• # Hakone Freepass
• # Mount Fuji
• # Accommodations
• # Historic Spots
• # Transportation

Learn how to get to Hakone, sightseeing, gourmet food, seasonal events, and more! This official travel website offers the latest information on Hakone and is run by the Odakyu Hakone Group.

Hakone is close to Tokyo and Mount Fuji and is a popular travel destination. Hakone can be enjoyed year-round with its stunning seasonal landscape and many events. Located between Tokyo and western Japan, you can take the Shinkansen to Odawara and go to Osaka and Kyoto via Hakone.

How to Enjoy Hakone

Enjoy hakone’s cherry blossoms a recommended itinerary from lake ashi to gora, hakone fall foliage – 17 stunning spots and area guide, the best 6 views of mt fuji in hakone, your first hakone trip a one day travel plan with must-see spots, hakone area map.

Hakone-Yumoto is known for its many restaurants and gift shops. Sengokuhara is filled with art museums, and Lake Ashi offers views of Mount Fuji. Areas like Gotemba and Mishima are also fun. Check area information and enjoy the different sides of Hakone.

Search by Interest

Hot Springs (Onsen)

Discover trip itineraries that are great whether you are a first-time visitor to Hakone or are coming back again. With a variety of themes and routes, make the most out of your Hakone trip!

Route Search

Enter your location and destination to find out about public transportation and transfers. *Useable only for transfers in Hakone or to the Odakyu Line or the Odakyu Highway Bus

Find Timetable

Enter a train station or bus stop name to get the schedule. Useable only for transfers in Hakone or to the Odakyu Line or the Odakyu Highway Bus

• Togendai Station

Limited Express Romancecar Timetable

Check the official times for trains and buses in the Hakone area, provided by the Odakyu Hakone Group.

Hakone: Getting there and around

How to travel between hakone and tokyo, by odakyu railway.

Odakyu Railway operates between Tokyo 's Shinjuku Station and Hakone -Yumoto Station. The one way journey by the "Romance Car" limited express takes about 85 minutes and costs 2470 yen (or 2420 yen if using an e-ticket). By slower express trains ( kyuko ), the journey takes about two hours, requires one transfer at Odawara, but costs only 1270 yen.

Odakyu also offers the Hakone Free Pass , which includes the round trip from Tokyo to Hakone and unlimited use of selected trains, cablecars, ropeways, boats and buses in the Hakone area.

By JR (Japan Railways)

With JR trains you can only get as far as Odawara, from where you will have to use non-JR trains or buses into the Hakone area. The above mentioned Hakone Free Pass is also available for use from Odawara Station.

By JR Tokaido Shinkansen you can access Odawara in about half an hour from Tokyo or Shinagawa Station (about 3500 yen one way, fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass , but not covered by the JR Tokyo Wide Area Pass , JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass , JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass ). Note that only Kodama trains and selected Hikari trains stop at Odawara Station.

Alternatively, you can access Odawara from Tokyo in about 70-90 minutes by local or rapid trains on the JR Tokaido Main Line (stopping at Tokyo, Shimbashi and Shinagawa Stations) or the JR Shonan Shinjuku Line (stopping at Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya Stations) for about 1500 yen one way. These trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass , JR Tokyo Wide Pass , JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass , JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass .

By Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus

Direct highway buses operate every 30 minutes between Tokyo 's Shinjuku Station and the Lake Ashi area in Hakone (among other places the buses stop at Togendai and the Hakone Prince Hotel). The one way journey costs about 2000 yen and under good traffic conditions takes about two hours.

The same company also operates less frequent direct buses between Haneda Airport and Hakone , which stop at Yokohama Station along the way. The one way journey costs about 2300 yen and under good traffic conditions takes about 2.5 hours.

How to travel between Hakone and Kyoto

By shinkansen.

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Kyoto to Mishima (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2 hours), Atami (served by kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2-3 hours) or Odawara Station (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2-5 hours). The one way trip takes about two hours and costs about 11,000 yen. It is fully covered by Japan Rail Pass if taking Kodama and Hikari trains, but a supplement fee is required on Nozomi trains.

From Mishima Station you can access the Lake Ashi area by Numazu Tozan Tokai Bus. The one way journey from Mishima to Moto-Hakone takes 50 minutes and costs 1050 yen. There is one bus per hour. The Hakone Free Pass can be purchased at Mishima Station and used on the buses to Moto-Hakone.

From Atami Station you can access the Lake Ashi area by Izuhakone Bus. The one way journey from Atami to Moto-Hakone takes about one hour and costs 1290 yen. There are 1-2 buses per hour. The Hakone Free Pass is not valid on Izuhakone buses.

From Odawara Station you can access the Hakone area by Hakone Tozan Railway and various bus lines. The Hakone Free Pass can be purchased and used from Odawara. Odawara is the most convenient entry point for accessing Hakone-Yumoto and destinations along the Hakone Tozan Railway Line.

Despite being a detour, travel via Tokyo can be cheaper if using an overnight bus between Tokyo and Kyoto: - how to travel between Hakone and Tokyo - how to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto

How to travel between Hakone and Osaka

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Osaka to Mishima (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2 hours), Atami (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2-3 hours) or Odawara Station (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2-5 hours). The one way trip takes about 2.5 hours and costs about 12,000 yen. The Japan Rail Pass fully covers Kodama and Hikari trains, but a supplement fee is required on Nozomi trains.

Despite being a detour, travel via Tokyo can be cheaper if using an overnight bus between Tokyo and Osaka: - how to travel between Hakone and Tokyo - how to travel between Tokyo and Osaka

How to travel between Hakone and Fuji Five Lakes

Take the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus from Togendai or Sengoku in the Hakone area to Gotemba Station (25-35 minutes, 720-1040 yen, 2 buses per hour) and then the Fujikyu Bus from Gotemba Station to Kawaguchiko Station in the Fuji Five Lake area (1 hour, 1540 yen, 1-2 buses per hour, see timetable ).

The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on either bus, while the Hakone Free Pass is valid on the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus until Gotemba but not on the Fujikyu Bus. Only the Fuji Hakone Pass covers the entire trip.

To/From Tokyo To/From Kyoto To/From Osaka To/From Fuji Five Lakes

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates .

Getting around

The municipality of Hakone covers a mountainous region with several small towns, among which Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi at the shores of Lake Ashi and the hot spring town of Hakone-Yumoto down in the valley, are the region's main transportation hubs.

An efficient network of buses , trains , cablecars, ropeways and sightseeing boats, as well as some attractive, easy-to-use passes (see below ) make Hakone a great place to explore by public transportation. A popular way of seeing Hakone is by circling the region by five different means of transportation, also known as the Hakone Round Course .

Passes and Tickets

A variety of easy-to-use passes make access to and transportation around Hakone easy:

• Hakone Free Pass (from 5,000 yen) The Hakone Free Pass provides two or three days of unlimited use of all Odakyu affiliated trains, buses, boats, cablecars and ropeways in the Hakone area. It optionally, also includes a round trip between Tokyo and Hakone.
• Fuji Hakone Pass (10,100 yen) The Fuji Hakone Pass covers not only transportation around Hakone, but also transportation to and around the Fuji Five Lake region at the northern base of Mount Fuji on three days. It also includes a round trip between Tokyo and Hakone.
• Hakone Kamakura Pass (7,520 yen) The Hakone Kamakura Pass provides three days of unlimited use of trains on the entire Odakyu rail network, transportation around Hakone, as well as access to Kamakura .

Questions? Ask in our forum .

Links and Resources

Hakone route finder, odakyu electric railway, hakone tozan, hakone tozan bus, hakone sightseeing boat, hakone ropeway, odakyu highway bus, ashinoko sightseeing boats, hotels around hakone.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Shohei Ohtani’s Arrival Brings Hope and Nostalgia Home to Little Tokyo

For a Los Angeles community contending with gentrification in its historic center and an aging population of cultural standard-bearers, Ohtani’s accession with the Dodgers has been galvanizing.

By Jill Cowan

Jill Cowan reported from Los Angeles. Her Japanese American grandfather was a Dodgers fan.

Shohei Ohtani’s powerful arms and boyish face, looking up from under a Dodger blue helmet, loom 15 stories over Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo neighborhood from the side of the Miyako Hotel.

Unveiled in late March, it’s one of many tributes to baseball’s two-way supernova that have appeared across Los Angeles since he signed with the Dodgers in December. The record-breaking deal pushed Ohtani into the next stratosphere of celebrity, even among sportsmen and even in a town bursting with the rich and famous.

A player that good and that sought after tends to be claimed by most baseball fans , but none more than those with roots in his home country, Japan, where he has been called “a being above the clouds.” The Little Tokyo mural is larger than life, much like Ohtani’s monumental stature among Japanese Americans in Los Angeles.

Baseball has, for more than a century and a half, been a bridge between the United States and Japan, since an American educator from Maine introduced the sport to his students at an academy in Tokyo in 1872. And in Los Angeles, home to one of the nation’s biggest and oldest Japanese American enclaves, rooting for the Dodgers is a cherished tradition. And for a community contending with gentrification in its historic center and an aging population of cultural standard-bearers, Ohtani’s arrival was a galvanizing moment.

Now, though, as the Dodgers play their first home series of the season, an unfolding gambling scandal with Ohtani near its center has felt like a rainout.

“It’s definitely not the way I wanted to start with him coming to his new team,” said Rick Izumi, 63, a Japanese American Angeleno whose early memories include seeing Don Drysdale pitch for the Dodgers in the 1960s and his father falling asleep on the couch to Dodgers games on the radio. “It’s the talk of the family.”

Earlier in March, while the Dodgers were opening the regular season in Seoul , the team abruptly announced that Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and close friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the club following reports from ESPN and The Los Angeles Times that payments with Ohtani’s name on them had been made to an illegal bookmaker who was under federal investigation. Initially, Mizuhara said that Ohtani had made the payments willingly to help him out of at least $4.5 million worth of gambling debt. But then Ohtani’s representatives said he had been the victim of theft, and Mizuhara disavowed his prior account.

On Monday, Ohtani made a statement saying that he had never bet on sports and that Mizuhara “has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.” Investigations, by Major League Baseball and the I.R.S., are underway, and questions remain .

Naturally, group chats among the Dodgers faithful have shifted from the disappointing first outing by the rookie Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to other matters.

Mr. Izumi said he had been comparing theories with friends who are lawyers and asking his mother, who lives nearby, how the story has been covered on NHK, the Japanese broadcast network that is a favorite among Nisei, or older, second-generation Japanese Americans who are more likely to speak Japanese.

“I’m sure they’re following it every minute of the day,” he said.

Ohtani, 29, has been closely watched since he emerged as a high school baseball prodigy in Iwate, Japan. He jumped from the Japanese professional league to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2018, being named the American League rookie of the year and never looking back.

Ohtani entered free agency last November, setting off a weekslong frenzy among teams and fans before he signed a staggering $700 million , 10-year contract with the Dodgers, a glamour franchise in an A-list city with a vast, passionate and diverse fan base. (The Angels, while a Los Angeles team at least in name, play in Orange County, well outside the city proper, and lack the Dodgers’ storied history and larger fan base.)

Ohtani became the 11th Japanese player to wear a Dodgers uniform and Yamamoto the 12th. To Japanese American fans and baseball historians, Ohtani’s career marks the pinnacle of a long history. After baseball was introduced in Japan in 1872, tapping into a culture that prizes discipline and technique over raw strength and speed, its popularity exploded there.

So, by the time thousands of Americans of Japanese descent were imprisoned in remote concentration camps during World War II, baseball was already an integral part of many of their lives. In the camps, the sport was a literal pastime — and a way of performing Americanness for a government that had aimed suspicion at a group determined to prove its loyalty.

By 1964, parallel tracks of baseball in Japan and Japanese American baseball merged with the arrival of Masanori Murakami , a Japanese pitcher who played briefly for the San Francisco Giants. He had no interpreter and spoke little English at first; Japanese American farming families in Fresno, Calif., where he started on a minor league team, helped Murakami get by, said Kristen Hayashi, a curator at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, and a Dodgers fan.

That was the beginning of a lineage of Japanese major league stars: Hideo Nomo, a pitcher for the Dodgers in the 1990s, and then Ichiro Suzuki, a beloved Seattle Mariner. Kenta Maeda and Yu Darvish are popular players today. But Ohtani, hailed for both his hitting and his pitching, is on another level.

“To go from baseball being introduced to Japan 150 years ago, to segregated leagues to now the face of baseball is a Japanese player, I mean, that’s huge,” Ms. Hayashi said. “I can’t wait to see what he does over the next 10 years.”

Dan Kwong, 69, a multidisciplinary artist, has for over 50 years played for the Little Tokyo Giants, part of a Japanese American baseball league with roots in the concentration camps, including Manzanar, where his mother was incarcerated.

He recalled seeing Nomo on the big screen at a Dodgers game in 1995 as a “mind-boggling experience.”

“To hear this stadium of people cheering madly for an Asian man in a Dodgers uniform — that was my dream,” he said. “It just blew my mind.”

Mr. Kwong said that he had felt something similar as the “Shotime” (Ohtani’s nickname) phenomenon has swept over Los Angeles — pride, excitement.

Mr. Kwong is among the Angelenos who are holding out hope that Ohtani will make a small effort to join the community that has embraced him.

They hope the star will visit the Japanese American National Museum to learn about what baseball meant to Japanese Americans who were unfairly removed from their homes, stripped, in many cases, of property and businesses because of their ethnicity. They hope he will browse gift shops that have for generations sold sturdy Japanese paper goods and ceramics and grab sushi at restaurants where chefs have built decades-long relationships with fish vendors.

Maybe, they hope, Ohtani might even make time to greet fans at the Nisei Week parade, the highlight of an annual summer festival celebrating Japanese culture, which has been taking place for more than eight decades.

The community, they say, could benefit from a high-profile booster: While on the surface, Little Tokyo is thriving, with crowds thronging its plazas on weekends, many small legacy businesses have closed in recent years, replaced by chains or white-owned businesses selling Japanese-inspired accessories and treats. Many shopkeepers are retiring without employees to replace them.

Nationally, the Japanese American population is growing at a rate much slower than other Asian American groups; the number of people who identify as Japanese alone, as opposed to multiracial, actually decreased by 3 percent between 2010 and 2020 — the results of broad demographic trends and dwindling immigration from Japan.

“I would love to see him get involved with the community, but I don’t know if that’s too much to hope for, since he’s such a big superstar,” said Kristin Fukushima, 36, who is managing director of the Little Tokyo Community Council. “I can also understand now, with the public eye and maybe even some trust broken when it comes to letting new folks into his sphere — maybe that’s not on the horizon.”

Ms. Fukushima said she, like all Dodgers fans, had been talking and thinking nonstop about the gambling situation involving Ohtani’s former interpreter. But she is optimistic that the ordeal is a hiccup at the start of Ohtani’s long career as a Dodger.

“I think he’d find a lot of really warm, welcoming, open arms,” she said. “And support.”

An earlier version of this article misstated where Shohei Ohtani went to high school. It was in Iwate, Japan, not Hokkaido.

How we handle corrections

Jill Cowan is a Times reporter based in Los Angeles, covering the forces shaping life in Southern California and throughout the state. More about Jill Cowan