Hakone itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Hakone, day by day: Hakone Shrine, Lake Ashi, Ōwakudani, the Hakone Ropeway and the Pola Museum of Art first, then the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway, Odawara Castle and the Hakone Open-Air Museum as you add a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Hakone in 1 day
Day 1
Hakone Shrine
Shinto shrine among cedars on the shore of Lake Ashi, known for its red torii gate standing in the water.
Lake Ashi
Crater lake in Hakone with sightseeing boats shaped like pirate ships and views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
Ōwakudani
Volcanic valley with sulphur vents and steaming ground, famous for eggs boiled black in the hot springs; reached by ropeway.
Hakone Ropeway
Cable car running from Sounzan over the Owakudani volcanic valley to Lake Ashi, with steam vents and Fuji views.
Pola Museum of Art
Art museum in the forest at Sengokuhara, with a collection of Impressionist paintings and modern Japanese works.
Hakone in 2 days
Day 1
Hakone Ropeway
Cable car running from Sounzan over the Owakudani volcanic valley to Lake Ashi, with steam vents and Fuji views.
Ōwakudani
Volcanic valley with sulphur vents and steaming ground, famous for eggs boiled black in the hot springs; reached by ropeway.
Hakone Komagatake Ropeway
Cable car from Lake Ashi up Mount Komagatake, with views of the lake and of Mount Fuji on clear days.
Lake Ashi
Crater lake in Hakone with sightseeing boats shaped like pirate ships and views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
Hakone Shrine
Shinto shrine among cedars on the shore of Lake Ashi, known for its red torii gate standing in the water.
Odawara Castle
Reconstructed castle of the Hojo clan in Odawara, with a keep museum and views over the town from the top.
Day 2
Hakone Open-Air Museum
Sculpture park opened in 1969 with works by Henry Moore, a Picasso pavilion and a foot bath for visitors.
Pola Museum of Art
Art museum in the forest at Sengokuhara, with a collection of Impressionist paintings and modern Japanese works.
Watch: Hakone
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Hakone
Spring brings cherry blossom in early April, and autumn leaves in November are very popular. Summers are warm and humid with haze that hides Mount Fuji, and the June to July rainy season brings cloud and rain. Winter is cold and clear, giving the best views of Mount Fuji, though some mountain roads can be icy. Weekends and holidays are crowded.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Hakone on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Hakone on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Hakone on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Hakone with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Japan from Airalo
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Tips for Hakone
- The Hakone Freepass covers trains, buses, ropeways and the lake boats within the region and is worth buying for a two-day visit.
- The Hakone Ropeway can stop running because of volcanic gas, strong wind or fog; check its status in the morning and keep a backup plan.
- Mount Fuji views from Lake Ashi are clearest on cold, dry mornings, so go early and expect clouds in summer.
- The Pola Museum of Art and the Hakone Open-Air Museum are both indoors and outdoors, so they work in light rain.
- Odawara Castle stands by Odawara station, the usual gateway to Hakone by train from Tokyo, so it fits the start or end of a trip.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Hakone Komagatake Ropeway: Σ64, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hakone Open-Air Museum: leon&mae, CC BY 2.0
- Hakone Ropeway: っ, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hakone Shrine: Aimaimyi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Ashi: Kentagon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Odawara Castle: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Pola Museum of Art: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Ōwakudani: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
