Hakone Travel Guide: The Perfect Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo
- Apr 4, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 23, 2024
Located just an hour away from Tokyo, Hakone is an ideal destination for a day trip to visit traditional Japanese onsen and experience the breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. This travel guide to Hakone will highlight the key attractions, local cuisine, and transportation to help you make the most of your visit.
Hakone is a popular onsen destination and resort area located near Tokyo in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is famous for its numerous hot springs, where you can enjoy traditional Japanese bathing experiences. You can find stunning views of Mount Fuji, especially from Lake Ashi where you can sight Mount Fuji against the backdrop of the lake and surrounding landscapes.
The Perfect Hakone Day Trip:
Views of Mount Fuji from Lake Ashi
Bathe in Japanese Onsen (Hot Springs)
Lake Ashi
Lake Ashi, also known as Ashinoko, is a picturesque crater lake nestled in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, celebrated for its breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. The best days to view Mount Fuji are on clear days when the iconic peak reflects on the lake's surface. I recommend starting your day in Hakone by first going to Lake Ashi in the late morning when you are most likely to have clear skies. I recommend going to Hakone-Onshi Park for a direct view of Mount Fuji across the lake. Hakone-Onshi is easily accessible with a parking lot and bus stop. The view point is accessible from a paved walking trail and is suitable for all ages. You should account for at least 1 hour here to enjoy the scenery, before exploring more of Lake Ashi or moving on to an onsen.
Check out Komagatake Ropeway, a cable car system, for stunning aerial views of Mount Fuji. You will be able to take in scenic views of Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji as you ascend to the top of Mount Komagatake. You can also embark on boat cruise to enjoy the serene atmosphere while taking in the lush surroundings or explore the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine at the lake's edge.
Japanese Onsen
A Japanese onsen is a traditional hot spring bathing facility that is central to Japanese culture. Hakone's onsens utilize geothermally heated mineral-rich water, known for its therapeutic benefits. Onsen bathing has deep cultural significance, rooted in centuries-old traditions, and is considered a communal and cleansing experience. Onsen bathing is believed to have health benefits, contributing to improved circulation, muscle relief, and skin rejuvenation. Visitors follow specific bathing etiquette, including washing before entering communal baths. The practice is year-round, and different types of onsens, from ryokan to public bathhouses, cater to a variety of preferences. Hakone's onsens often feature both indoor and outdoor baths, allowing bathers to enjoy scenic views of the surrounding landscapes, including Mount Fuji.
Tenzan Onsen
Tenzan Onsen is a well known hot spring facility in Hakone that both indoor and outdoor baths, including various bathing options with different temperatures and mineral compositions. I recommend Tenzan Onsen to enjoy outdoor baths with picturesque views of the serene Hakone landscape. They also offer sauna facilities, relaxation areas, massages and a restaurant.
When you enter the onsen, you must purchase a ticket from the vending machines at the entrance. You will be asked to put your shoes in a locker by the door. The bathing facilities are separate for males and females, and you will be given a separate locker for your clothes in the bathing facilities. Once undressed, you should wash yourself with fresh water before entering the communal baths. In the female section, there are scenic outdoor baths of various temperatures that feature both a cave and waterfall. While there are no photos allowed in the onsen to preserve privacy, there are a few stock photos from the baths on their website.
Tenzan Onsen is one of the few onsens in Hakone that allow guests with tattoos. If you have a tattoo, I recommend entering the onsen by yourself and separate from your group for a greater chance of acceptance. The restriction on tattoos at onsens is rooted in cultural traditions and societal perceptions that associate tattoos with organized crime, specifically with groups of individuals that have tattoos potentially disrupting the tranquil environment and making other guests uncomfortable. Members of our group that had tattoos had no issues entering the onsen alone.
Local Cuisine in Hakone
Utsuki Soba Noddle Shop
Utsuki is a soba noodle shop located in Hakone, Japan. Soba are buckwheat noodles that originated in the Kanto region of Japan (present-day Tokyo) and have been a staple part of Japanese cuisine for centuries. Utsuki can be found at the top of the hill in the mountains between the onsens and Lake Ashi.
It is a scenic lunch spot to visit before or after your visits to the onsen or the lake.
The shop offers a preset menu of soba noodles and tempura options. There are panoramic windows with a view of the mountains and ocean. Between the soba and incredible views, this is a can't miss destination in Hakone
How to Get to Hakone
Hakone is a town located in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan, near Tokyo. Hakone is easily accessible by train from Tokyo, so it is easy to incorporate a day trip to Hakone into your Tokyo itinerary. The fastest way to get to Hakone from Tokyo is on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line. It is 33 minute express train ride from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station. From Odawara station, you can easily get a taxi to your end destination. Make sure to download the Go Taxi app to efficiently order a taxi in Hakone. There is also a network of local buses you can use to get around the Hakone area (route map).
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