Snow-capped Mount Fuji beyond Lake Ashi, with the red Hakone Shrine torii at the water's edge

National park · Hakone, Kanagawa

Hakone & Mount Fuji

Hot-spring resort, volcanic valley and lake cruises with views of Mount Fuji

Ambient sound · similar settingHwamei song in hillside forest at morning

Photo: Snowscat (@snowscat) / Unsplash

Discover Hakone & Mount Fuji

Hakone has long been Tokyo's favourite mountain escape. Within a couple of hours of the capital, the town's river valleys give way to steaming volcanic vents, cedar forests and the calm waters of Lake Ashi, with the snow-capped cone of Mount Fuji appearing above the ridges on clear days. A red torii gate standing in the lake has become one of Japan's most photographed scenes.

Part of the appeal is the journey itself. A classic circuit strings together a switchback mountain railway, a cable car, a ropeway gliding over the sulphurous Owakudani valley and a cruise across the lake on ornate sightseeing boats. Along the way are open-air art, historic checkpoints and traditional inns with hot-spring baths, making Hakone equally suited to a full day trip or a relaxed overnight stay.

Don’t miss

01Owakudani, a volcanic valley of sulphur vents where eggs boiled in the hot springs turn black
02Lake Ashi sightseeing cruises, with the Togendai to Hakone-machi crossing taking about 25 minutes
03The red torii of Hakone Shrine standing in Lake Ashi, approached through cedars said to be over 800 years old
04The Hakone Ropeway, gliding over Owakudani on the way down to Lake Ashi
05The Hakone Open-Air Museum in Gora, with outdoor sculpture and a hall devoted to Picasso
06Clear-day views of Mount Fuji across the lake and from hot-spring baths

History & culture

The story of Hakone & Mount Fuji

Hakone lies within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, established on 1 February 1936. Its landscape is volcanic: the Owakudani valley, with its active sulphur vents and hot springs, is the result of an eruption more than 3,000 years ago.

In the Edo period Hakone-juku was a post town on the Tokaido, the great road between Edo and Kyoto, and the Hakone Checkpoint controlled travellers entering and leaving the Kanto region, checking permits and baggage and restricting the movement of women and weapons. Hakone Shrine on the lakeshore has a history stretching back more than twelve centuries; it is associated with Minamoto no Yoritomo, who prayed here during the Genpei War, and with a local legend of a dragon in the lake tamed by a priest.

Local life & traditions

Hakone's identity is bound up with hot springs and hospitality. Families who run ryokan here have welcomed travellers since the days of the Tokaido road, and bathing in an onsen remains a social and relaxing ritual: guests wash thoroughly before entering the shared bath, and swimwear is not normally worn. Black eggs from Owakudani are a local tradition, and eating one is said to add seven years to your life. Hakone Shrine continues to draw worshippers, especially at New Year, alongside visitors who come for its lakeside setting.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

The classic Hakone loop starts at Hakone-Yumoto: ride the Hakone Tozan Railway up to Gora, take the cable car to Sounzan and the ropeway over Owakudani, then descend to Lake Ashi for a boat across to Hakone-machi or Moto-Hakone. From there walk to Hakone Shrine and its lakeside torii, or visit the Hakone Checkpoint Museum near the Hakone-machi pier.

Art lovers can spend half a day at the Hakone Open-Air Museum, and others may prefer a hot-spring theme park or simply an overnight stay at a ryokan in areas such as Hakone-Yumoto or Tonosawa. Hakone also works as a gentle warm-up before or after a Mount Fuji trip, with easy walking trails around the lake.

When to go

Spring and autumn bring mild weather, fresh greenery or autumn colour, and comfortable conditions for the ropeway and lake cruise; exact leaf and blossom timings vary by year. Winter is cold but often clear, which improves the odds of seeing Mount Fuji. Summer is green and cooler than Tokyo but can be humid and cloudy, and Fuji is frequently hidden by haze. Weekends and Japanese holidays are busy on the loop, so weekdays are calmer.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Getting there from Tokyo: Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto takes about 1 hour 35 minutes using Odakyu services (Romance Car to Odawara, then onward to Hakone-Yumoto). Alternatively, take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara (about 35 minutes) and the Odakyu line to Hakone-Yumoto (about 15 minutes). Source: japan.travel ↗
Hakone Free Pass: Available as 2-day and 3-day passes, covering unlimited rides on Odakyu-group trains, buses, ropeways and boats in the area, with discounts at some attractions Source: japan.travel ↗
Owakudani safety: The area is sometimes closed because of volcanic activity and gases. JNTO advises people with asthma, bronchitis, heart or lung conditions, pacemakers, pregnant women, the elderly and infants to avoid visiting. Source: japan.travel ↗
Owakudani access: Hakone Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora, cable car to Sounzan, then the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani Station (about 10 minutes); the main volcanic zone is about a 10-minute walk from the station Source: japan.travel ↗
Hakone Shrine: Grounds open year-round and free to enter; the treasure house is open 9:00 to 16:30 (last entry 16:00). Admission (as published, Oct 2026): treasure house 500 yen for adults and middle school students and above, 300 yen for elementary pupils. Source: japan.travel ↗
National park: Hakone is part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, established on 1 February 1936 Source: japan.travel ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Check the Hakone Ropeway and Owakudani status on the morning of your visit, as volcanic gas levels can close sections at short notice.
Mount Fuji is most often visible early in the morning and in the colder months; clouds tend to build by midday.
Send large luggage ahead or use station lockers, as the loop involves several transfers on crowded mountain transport.
Shinto etiquette applies at Hakone Shrine: bow at the torii, purify your hands at the water basin and keep queues orderly at the lakeside torii photo spot.
Halal options in Hakone are limited, so Muslim travellers may wish to bring snacks or ask ryokan in advance about meals.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Hakone & Mount Fuji: food, markets & places to stay

Hakone-Yumoto, at the start of the loop, has shops selling local snacks and souvenirs, and the town's ryokan and hot-spring hotels range from simple inns to historic properties. Gora is the base for the Open-Air Museum, with other museums a short bus ride away. Odawara, on the Shinkansen line, is the main rail gateway. For Muslim travellers, JNTO notes that Gotemba Premium Outlets, on the Fuji side of the mountains, has a prayer room and some Muslim-friendly menu items.