Hakone Travel Guide: Hot Springs, Loop Route and Views

All Japan Areas & sights 9 min read Last checked: 2026-11-03

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

Contents

1Hakone at a glance: what to see
2Getting there and the Hakone Freepass
3How to ride the Hakone loop, step by step
4Owakudani and the Hakone Ropeway
5Lake Ashi pirate ship and Hakone Shrine
6Hot springs: where to soak
7Hakone Open-Air Museum and planning your days
8Mistakes first-timers make
9FAQ
10Related guides

Hakone is a hot spring area with 17 onsen (hot spring) areas, a volcanic valley and a big lake. Many visitors ride a loop of mountain train, cable car, ropeway and sightseeing boat. The Hakone Freepass covers most of this loop. From Shinjuku, a 2-day pass costs 7,100 yen for adults (Odakyu Hakone).

At a glance

Where

Hakone. The main gateway is Hakone-Yumoto Station, the last stop of the Romancecar train (Hakone Tourist Association).

Pass price

7,100 yen

Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku, adults 7,100 yen (2 days) or 7,500 yen (3 days). Prices since October 1, 2025 (Odakyu Hakone).

Yumoto to Owakudani

10 minutes

About 40 + 10 + 10 minutes by train, cable car and ropeway, plus transfers (Odakyu Hakone).

Ropeway hours

9:00–17:00

9:00–17:00 (February–November), 9:00–16:15 (December–January) (Odakyu Hakone).

Day-trip onsen

3 minutes

Hakone Yuryo, about 3 minutes by free shuttle from Hakone-Yumoto (Hakone Yuryo).

Booking

15:00

Private onsen rooms at Hakone Yuryo book online from 1 month before until 15:00 the day before (Hakone Yuryo).

Weather

The ropeway can stop for bad weather or volcanic gas. Boats can stop for fog or strong wind. Check the official site on the day.

1Hakone at a glance: what to see

Hakone has three big themes: hot springs, volcanic views and the lake. Many first-time visitors try to see all three.

Owakudani is a volcanic valley with steaming vents. Its famous black eggs get black shells from a chemical reaction with the heat and volcanic gas (Odakyu Hakone). Lake Ashi is a lake with sightseeing boats shaped like pirate ships.

One Instagram traveler couple shows the steaming sulfur vents, the black egg sculpture and Lake Ashi on one full day.

From the boat, you can see Mount Fuji and the red torii (shrine gate) of Hakone Shrine at the same time from some spots (Odakyu Hakone). The Hakone Open-Air Museum is an outdoor sculpture park near the loop.

2Getting there and the Hakone Freepass

Hakone-Yumoto Station is the last stop of the Romancecar, a limited express train. It is also where you change to the mountain train or buses ⓘ Hakone Tourist Association.

The Hakone Freepass gives free rides on many transport lines. It comes as a 2-day or 3-day pass. The price depends on your starting station (Odakyu Hakone).

Pass (from October 1, 2025)	Adult	Child
From Shinjuku, 2 days	7,100 yen	1,600 yen
From Shinjuku, 3 days	7,500 yen	1,850 yen
From Odawara, 2 days	6,000 yen	1,500 yen
From Odawara, 3 days	6,400 yen	1,750 yen

Source: Odakyu Hakone

What the pass covers: the Hakone Tozan Railway (mountain train), cable car, ropeway and pirate ship. Hakone Tozan Bus, Odakyu Highway Bus and Tokai Bus are free on set sections only (Odakyu Hakone).

What it does not cover: The Romancecar needs an extra fee. Izuhakone Bus is not included. The Odakyu train from your start station to Odawara is one round trip only. Travel outside the pass area costs extra (Odakyu Hakone).

The pass also gives discounts at about 70 sights (Odakyu Hakone).

3How to ride the Hakone loop, step by step

This is the route the official Owakudani page suggests from Hakone-Yumoto (Odakyu Hakone). Times are ride times only.

Hakone-Yumoto to Gora: Take the Hakone Tozan Railway. It takes about 40 minutes.
Gora to Sounzan: Change to the cable car. It takes about 10 minutes.
Sounzan to Owakudani: Ride the Hakone Ropeway, a cable gondola. It takes about 10 minutes.
Owakudani to Togendai: At Owakudani, use the boarding area for Togendai. The ropeway has four stations: Sounzan, Owakudani, Ubako and Togendai. Each section is about 10 minutes (Odakyu Hakone).
Togendai to the south of the lake: Board the pirate ship at Togendai. It goes to Hakone-machi Port or Moto-Hakone Port (Odakyu Hakone).
Onward: Togendai also connects to buses (Odakyu Hakone). Check the routes and which bus sections your pass covers on the official site.

A TikTok creator shows the same idea: start early to avoid crowds, then link the trains, ropeway and lake.

4Owakudani and the Hakone Ropeway

The ropeway runs about every minute. Between Sounzan and Owakudani, it passes about 130 meters above the valley floor. Toward Togendai, you can see Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji (Odakyu Hakone).

On Instagram, one reel shows a gondola sliding over green hills, then down into the sulfur-stained, steaming valley.

At Owakudani, you can see volcanic ground with steam rising. The black eggs are the famous local food here (Odakyu Hakone).

The whole ropeway can stop when gas levels are high. It can also stop for bad weather or checks (Odakyu Hakone). Always have a backup plan.

5Lake Ashi pirate ship and Hakone Shrine

The pirate ship links Togendai Port with Hakone-machi Port and Moto-Hakone Port (Odakyu Hakone). The official page gives about 25–40 minutes for the trip in one place and about 25–35 minutes one way in its FAQ. Check the timetable on the official site.

The special cabin costs extra. Freepass users also pay this extra fee each time (Odakyu Hakone).

A traveler's Instagram post shows her posing under the big red torii of Hakone Shrine. She also shows the gate from the boat deck.

6Hot springs: where to soak

Hakone has 17 hot spring areas, called the "Hakone 17 Yu." The tourist association lists about 20 water types, such as alkaline simple springs and sodium chloride springs ⓘ Hakone Tourist Association. Yumoto is the oldest. By legend, it opened in 738 ⓘ Hakone Tourist Association.

Hakone Yuryo is a day-trip onsen near Hakone-Yumoto. A free shuttle runs every day and takes about 3 minutes. The timetable can change with traffic or changes in opening hours (Hakone Yuryo).

Hakone Yuryo	Big public baths	Private open-air rooms
What's inside	Indoor bath, outdoor bath, Shigaraki pottery bath, view bath, sauna	19 rooms; use without the big baths
Price (checked 2026-11-03)	Junior high and up: weekdays 1,700–1,800 yen, weekends/holidays 2,000–2,200 yen; elementary: 1,000 yen	"Ichi-no-maki" room, up to 2 people, 120 min: weekdays 10,400 yen, weekends/holidays 11,400 yen
Hours	Weekdays 10:00–20:00 (last entry 19:00); weekends/holidays 10:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00)	Check when you book
Kids	No children under elementary school age	Not for groups only under 18; no diaper users
Booking	Check the official site	Online, 1 month ahead until 15:00 the day before; after that, call

Source: Hakone Yuryo

Hakone Yuryo is open every day, but it sometimes closes for maintenance (Hakone Yuryo). The big bath price changes by day since April 1, 2026 (Odakyu Hakone). A special page on the same site shows lower prices: big baths 1,600 yen (weekdays) or 1,900 yen (weekends/holidays), and the private room 9,400 or 10,400 yen. It does not say when these apply (Hakone Yuryo). Check the official site before you go.

A ryokan (traditional inn) with a private bath is another choice. One Instagram reel tours a ryokan room with its own balcony onsen, plus the mountain train and pirate ship.

7Hakone Open-Air Museum and planning your days

The Hakone Open-Air Museum is 2 minutes on foot from Chokoku-no-Mori Station on the mountain train. You can also take buses marked H, J or Z from Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto. Get off at Ninotaira Iriguchi and walk 6 minutes (Open-Air Museum).

It opens 9:00–17:00 all year. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Same-day tickets: adults 2,000 yen, high school and university students 1,600 yen, elementary and junior high 800 yen, preschool kids free. Online tickets are 1,800, 1,400 and 600 yen (Open-Air Museum). Free wheelchairs and strollers are available, but not always (Open-Air Museum).

A UK family on Instagram uses the Freepass for the sculpture park and foot bath. They do the loop on day two.

One day: Ride the loop and skip extra stops. Two days: Add the museum and a hot spring, and stay one night. The 3-day pass costs only 400 yen more than the 2-day one for adults (Odakyu Hakone).

8Mistakes first-timers make

Thinking the Freepass covers the Romancecar -> Budget the extra Romancecar fee separately (Odakyu Hakone).
Getting on any bus -> Izuhakone Bus is not covered. Check the bus company and section first (Odakyu Hakone).
Arriving at the ropeway late -> It closes at 17:00, or 16:15 in December and January (Odakyu Hakone). Start early.
Forgetting a towel -> Bring one, or buy one at Hakone Yuryo (Hakone Yuryo).
Riding the ropeway with asthma or heart problems -> You are not allowed between Sounzan and Ubako. Choose the lake and museum instead (Odakyu Hakone).

9FAQ

Is Hakone a good day trip from Tokyo? Yes. Many travelers do the loop in one day. Staying one night gives more time for hot springs.

How much is the Hakone Freepass? From Shinjuku, adults pay 7,100 yen (2 days) or 7,500 yen (3 days). From Odawara, adults pay 6,000 or 6,400 yen (Odakyu Hakone).

How long does it take to get from Hakone-Yumoto to Owakudani? About 60 minutes of ride time by train, cable car and ropeway, plus transfers (Odakyu Hakone).

Can I see Mount Fuji? It can be seen from the ropeway toward Togendai and from some spots on the pirate ship (Odakyu Hakone). It depends on the weather.

Can small kids use Hakone Yuryo? Not the big baths if under elementary school age. Families can book a private room, but not groups only under 18 or diaper users (Hakone Yuryo).

What if the ropeway is closed? It can stop for weather, checks or volcanic gas (Odakyu Hakone). Check the official site, and plan the lake or museum as backup.