Comparison · Hakone vs Kyoto · Japan
Hakone vs Kyoto
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quercus acuta, CC0
Quick answer
Choose Hakone for Onsen and ryokan, Lake Ashi and a short break; choose Kyoto for Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Kyoto is generally less expensive, and the two are about 305 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 305 km
- Less expensive
- Kyoto
- Best time for Hakone
- April and October–December
- Best time for Kyoto
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Hakone | Kyoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Known for | Onsen and ryokan, Lake Ashi and Ōwakudani black eggs | Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates and Geisha district of Gion |
| Best time to visit | April and October–December | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 2 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$380 | $150–$280 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 27°C (81°F) | August, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 7°C (45°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | HND, NRT | KIX, ITM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Hakone for…
Onsen and ryokan, Lake Ashi and a short break. Hakone is a mountain hot-spring area about 80 km south-west of Tokyo, set inside the caldera of an old volcano in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. A classic loop by mountain railway, cable car, ropeway and sightseeing boat links the onsen town of…
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Choose Kyoto for…
Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Japan's imperial capital for more than a thousand years, Kyoto holds most of the 17 temples, shrines and castles of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, among them Kinkaku-ji's golden pavilion, Kiyomizu-dera's wooden stage and the thousands…
Top sights compared
| # | Hakone | Kyoto |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hakone Open-Air Museum | Fushimi Inari Taisha |
| 2 | Ōwakudani | Kiyomizu-dera |
| 3 | Hakone Ropeway | Kinkaku-ji |
| 4 | Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji |
| 5 | Hakone Shrine | Gion and Hanamikoji Street |
Food compared
| Hakone | Kyoto |
|---|---|
| Black eggs | Kaiseki |
| Yuba-don | Yudofu |
| Hakone tofu | Yuba |
| Soba | Shojin ryori |
Which is cheaper?
Kyoto is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$280 per person there, against $200–$380 in Hakone (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kyoto on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Hakone and Kyoto are about 305 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 2 days in Hakone and 4 in Kyoto.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hakone or Kyoto cheaper?
Kyoto is usually less expensive: about $150–$280 a day mid-range against $200–$380 (estimates).
+Is Hakone or Kyoto better for a first trip?
Pick Hakone for Onsen and ryokan, Lake Ashi and a short break, or Kyoto for Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife.
+How far is Hakone from Kyoto?
About 305 km in a straight line.