After youve been in Japan for a while, its really easy to get shrined out and think about skipping this one. This Tokaido Road is not the one with the original stones. You can buy the Romance Car ticket from the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center at Shinjuku Station. You need to transfer multiple times, theres a lack of posted information, it will take you all day, and you get lots of conflicting answers from transportation employees. The bus to Gotemba left every hour (7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00). At the Hakone Museum of Art, youll find ceramics, gardens, and other works of art from the Edo Period (1603-1868). Click here for the latest prices. Its also a short walk to the museum. Pola Museum of Art - with collection of remarkable European and Japanese art. Hakone Ropeway: Connects Togendai and Sounzan. You should . My hostel was a 5-minute walk from the station. Getting to them is easy as theres an extensive and efficiently-run public transportation system connecting the towns, inns, and attractions. Please see this website'sDisclosure for more info. The trip from Fuji Five Lakes to Kyoto takes a bit longer, 4-5 hours in total. This traditional Shinto shrine is located on the shores of Lake Ashi and its one of the most famous Hakone attractions. It is not baby carriage friendly. Just tell the staff that you only want the pass to cover the portion from Odawara to Hakone. Hakone got its city status in 1880. Odakyu line express train + Hakone Tozan line. After ripping down the hot tub water slide you can kick back and relax in these outdoor baths in the buff. The first museum of its kind in Japan, its home to over a thousand sculptures and works of art. I just did a quick Google Map search from Mishima Skywalk to Tokyo, something like this (dont know your date, just added 6. In addition to the goofy pirate ships, your Hakone Free Pass also covers the scenic Hakone Tozan Railway. Think were decided to go for day trip which sounds doable from your article. There are a few hiking trails you can access from here instead. Whatever you do, dont arrive before check-in at 3:00 pm. But K buses from Hatajuku to Hakone-Yumoto run later until 20:48. If youre a solo traveler and you want to stay at a ryokan, going on the weekend might also be difficult. If you spend a night or more in Hakone, check out our section Other Things To Do In Hakone below. The Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus takes you directly from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Lake Ashi in the middle of Hakone (2 hours). Take the switchback train Hakone-Tozan Line from either of these two stations (Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto) to Gora Station, which is the starting point of Hakone Ropeway. The map above: Top Hakone attractions. This pass covers travel in Hakone, Kamakura, and Enoshima on Odakyu and Enodon transportation lines. Choanji Temple belongs to the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. Here you can enjoy over 1700 different alpine plants and flowers. Its an old switchback train that travels through the mountains and forests of Hakone. It snows in the city during this time. Fuji area, and around the Hakone area. Many of the outdoor onsen baths have lovely views of valleys, rivers, forests, and mountains, and a few even have a view of Mt Fuji. They cost more than your standard hotel, but its well worth it to splurge a bit. Bus: Get off at the Ninotaira-iriguchi stop. The checkpoint is located right on the edge of Lake Ashi. This bus ride takes 1,5 hours and can be booked online HERE (type in from: Kawaguchiko, to: Mishima). You can enter the sculpture and walk up a winding staircase to the top of a tower overlooking the whole park. If you are looking for a cheap place to stay, you can opt for the bunk bed in the mixed dormitory room. Hope this helps any of your readers. The Japanese believe that onsens can treat chronic illnesses, prevent diseases as well as reduce stress. The Hakone ropeway is great fun and one of the highlights of Hakone. When you get to Hakone, drop your luggage at the luggage storage place at the Hakone train station. It is a great deal and will save you a lot of money. You can check out our recommended itinerary and guide to Fuji Five Lakes and particularly Lake Kawaguchi here. During my first trip to Hakone, I found finding the train to Hakone to be a bit tricky. The castle is now a museum, but it's been a Hakone stronghold for centuries. In fact, Hakone is one of the best spots to see Mount Fuji. Owaku-dani Valley: Worth Visiting - See 2,206 traveler reviews, 2,215 candid photos, and great deals for Hakone-machi, Japan, at Tripadvisor. The pirate cruise takes about 40 min from Togendai Port to Moto-Hakone Port. On the 1st of August, it is time for the Hakone Shrien Reidai Festival. Opening hours: 9 am-5 pm ( entry until 4.30 pm) . But ask the ticket office and bus driver for confirmation on this. What if I told you there is a magical place in the mountains of Japan where you can relax in a hot spring full of red wine? Then take the ropeway to Owakudani. Just a short train ride away from Tokyo, it is a popular weekend escape from the big city for both the Japanese as well as international tourists. The only large international hotel chain with a hotel in Hakone is Hyatt Regency Hotel. Skip the breakfast. Theres enough to see and do in Hakone to keep you busy for a while. 15 Best Places to visit in Hakone Welcome to The Bamboo Traveler, a travel blog dedicated to helping those travelers who want to dig deeply into the history, heritage, and culture of a place. Fuji as your backdrop should definitely be on your list of what to do in Hakone! But sadly, no Yoda or baby Yoda/ Grogu is to be found. The Japanese seem to be very, very serious about making sure you follow all the steps and dont deviate from the protocol when bathing. In fact, Hakone is considered one of the five best hot spring areas in Japan. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Matsumoto Castle, also called Crow Castle, is also stunning. Hmm, thats strange. Apparently thats bad luck for some reason. I found that prices for accommodations on the weekend were significantly more expensive than on the weekday. You have a lovely view of the park surrounding the castle and the Gora city from the top floor. While the cost may seem high for a mid-range hotel, keep in mind that you are served a huge breakfast and dinner when staying in a ryokan. Hakone-machi-ko is closer to the next stop on your Hakone itinerary: the Hakone Checkpoint. Thank you so much! On the other side of the bridge, you are welcomed by an observation deck and a whole range of activities like a climbing wall, zip-line where you glide alongside the bridge, a tree park where you can climb along the top of trees along rope bridges, a childrens playground, segway guided tours and a dog run area. Purchase a ticket for the onsen at a vending machine outside the building. It is one of the hotels in Fuji Five Lakes with the best view of Mt Fuji. After getting off the bus from Kawaguchi-ko, I asked the people at the ticket office where to catch the bus to Hakone. This was in the mountainous village of Hakone. Hakone provides a variety of scenic views that change year-round, season by season. The bus costs 230 yen if you dont have the Hakone Freepass. Just grab a bucket of balls and hit the driving range. Visiting Hakone, Mt Fuji. It costs 500 yen to enter or 400 with your trusty free pass. Both areas you may consider on your trip to Japan, but out of Hakone vs Kyoto, which should you visit? So the total bus between Hakone and Fuji Five Lakes takes about 1,5 hours one way and costs about US$ 20. There are two ports: Hakone-machi-ko and Motohakone-ko. The upper section of Hakone Tozan Railway is where youll get to enjoy some incredible mountain views en route to Gora station. There are ryokans with onsens (traditional Japanese-style inns with hot springs) as well as hostels and other kinds of accommodations dotted all over the area. From the train, you can see Mt. It only takes a few hours to get from the bustling centre of Tokyo to the peaceful mountain vibe of Hakone. This train will take you nonstop from Tokyo Shinjuku Station to Hakone. Theyve got two private hot springs, a decent restaurant that serves amazing pizza, and a friendly staff. (Book your ticket online for the Little Prince Museum here!). Im sure we broke the rules by playing there. If you have a Japan Rail pass, option #1 is your best choice. Hakone also has another ropeway, Komagatake Ropeway (not to be confused with the Hakone Ropeway), taking you from Lake Ashi and up to the Komagatake peak (1357 meter high). Ive been search a lot all over internet about Hakone / Fuji Five Lakes, and your articles are the most useful so far. Thanks! 8 Hakone Srhine, you should take the pirate ship cruise to the second port Moto-Hakone Port, instead of the first end port of the cruise Hakone-Machi Port. Hakone is not exactly an individual town or city. Am I late in booking? This is what I did. But dont have more than two and a half of them. Lake Ashi/ Ashino-ko is the center point of Hakone and the ropeway trip up to the lake is an experience in itself, with a fantastic view of Mt Fuji and a stop at Hell Valley where steam from sulfur-rich hot water springs creates an alien-world like landscape. Its paved with the original stones and it can be a real adventure walking on them. The onsen public baths in Hakone are famous for their high-quality water that makes your skin super soft. This is the same itinerary as we did during our 2-day trip to Hakone in the first week of December before we headed on to visit Fuji Five Lakes. I am planning a 9 day rip to Japan in mid March. Why Hakone Is The Perfect Japanese Getaway - Visit Nagasaki The ride was covered under my Fuji Hakone Pass. 15 Best Places to visit in Hakone If you have a JR Pass, you can take the Komada trains on the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station in Hakone (35 min). The Hakone Tozan Line is an old switchback mountain railway from 1919 that takes you through the scenic landscape of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, up the mountain to Gora Station. It costs around 900 (US$6.28 | 6 | 7). Speaking of getting around here, your best bet is picking up the Hakone Free Pass. After visiting Yunessun, you can take a short walk to Chisuji Falls. While youre over here, you might as well check out the Hakone Shrine as well. If you have the Hakone Freepass, you only pay 1,200. It was relocated to Lake Ashi in 1667. Entrance fee: adults: 1.600 yen, university, and high school students: 1.200 yen, middle and elementary school: 800 yen. Whats more, you can still experience what it was like to travel along the Old Tokaido Road. The train goes directly from Shinjuku Station in central Tokyo to Hakone-Yumoto Station (a 1,5-hour train ride). The hotel is modern with lovely big rooms, comfortable beds, and private bathrooms. The cruise line has been crossing Lake Ashi since 1950. Or you can go all in and book a room with your own private onsen. 7 (Onshi Hakone Park), and head straight to no. From Odawara, you will have to use trains that are not JR (not covered by the JR Pass) and transfer to Hakone-Yumoto Station. It also includes transportation to Owakudani. If you do try to see all of Hakone within a day, you'll have to pick and choose between the many available things to do and see in the area. It leaves from Shinjuku Station. Yes, we did Hakone and Fuji Five Lakes as one trip from Tokyo (we spent two nights there, one in Hakone and one in Fuji Five Lakes). However, you dont necessarily have to stay in these two towns. How To Get Between Hakone And Fuji Five Lakes. Begin your trip to Hakone at the Hakone Open Air Museum. The water for one pool is a milky color, which always seemed very popular, and another bath is ice cold. From Mishima Station, take the direct Hikari train on the JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto Station (same as from Hakone). See our, Where To Stay In Tokyo Our Favourite Areas & Hotels In Tokyo, Japan Itinerary The Best Of Japan In Two Weeks, How Expensive Is Japan And How To Travel Japan Cheap, Dear Reader: We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this article, at no extra cost to you. When you get to Odawara, transfer to the Hakone Tozan Train line. The best way to get between Hakone and Fuji Five Lakes is to take the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus. And along the way, you get to enjoy the scenic mountain and landscape views where Mt Fuji is the crown jewel. These date back to the Edo period and are an important part of Japans travel culture. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. From the stunning Hakone Shrine, to the Hakone Open Air Museum and other art museums, to the Hakone Ropeway, the hot springs, and more, you can see there is so much to do here. So you just jump off at the last port Moto-Hakone Port. Ride the Hakone Tozan Railway and Hakone Ropeway, Best Accommodation Where to Stay in Hakone, Best Budget Accommodation for Couples Emblem Flow, Best Mid-Range Hotel in Hakone Art & Music, Best Luxury Hotel in Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu, Best Mid-Range Hotel in Hakone Art & Music Spa Resort Manatei. I had dinner at Tenzan. Fuji. Hakone - Wikitravel Ok, I must admit that this felt a bit touristy, but hey, it was great fun. I was. If the weather is really poor, then just spend the extra day in Tokyo instead. So if I were you, I would book one night in Hakone and two nights in Fuji Five Lakes. This helps us create more free travel guides, update our current guides, and keep the lights on. With them in Edo, the daimyo were less likely to rebel and try to overthrow the shogun. This hotel is the perfect spa getaway, very relaxing, and right in the middle of Hakone. Have you been to Hakone? Each route is given a letter (T, TP, H, L, G, etc.). RELATED POSTS: Tokyo Itinerary: How to Spend 4 Magical Days in Tokyo. Hakone Tozan Bus: One of the more popular modes of transportation in Hakone because it visits more stops included in this 2 day Hakone itinerary. Theyre just eggs that have been boiled in the hot spring. That about does it for this guide on the best things to do in Hakone. Popular things to do Bus Tours Private Sightseeing Tours Art Museums Nature and Wildlife Tours Rail Tours Specialty Museums Day Trips Cultural Tours Sacred & Religious Sites Walking Tours Top Picks Visitor Centers Likely to Sell Out Luxury & Special Occasions Mountains Ports of Call Tours Multi-day Tours Points of Interest & Landmarks This itinerary takes you to the best attractions in Hakone with all the best things to do and see in Hakone. Its good for three days. Click HERE to view this map in Google Maps. Its a nice and easy walk of about 15 minutes to Moto Hakone pier. While the rooms are nice, theres a lot more to love about staying in a ryokan. Just a short train ride away from Tokyo, it is a popular weekend escape from the big city for both the Japanese as well as international tourists. Rather, you get to enjoy being out in nature as you discover the various artworks. Look for the bus stop with the letter of your route. Little Prince Museum - honouring the 100 th anniversary of Little Prince book.