Comparison · Hakone vs Tokyo · Japan
Hakone vs Tokyo
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 Tokyo for Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Tokyo is generally less expensive, and the two are about 70 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 70 km
- Less expensive
- Tokyo
- Best time for Hakone
- April and October–December
- Best time for Tokyo
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Hakone | Tokyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Known for | Onsen and ryokan, Lake Ashi and Ōwakudani black eggs | Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and Temples and shrines |
| Best time to visit | April and October–December | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 2 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$380 | $150–$280 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 27°C (81°F) | August, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 7°C (45°F) | January, 10°C (50°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | Yuigahama, Kamakura |
| Airports | HND, NRT | HND, NRT |
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…
Choose Tokyo for…
Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Tokyo is less a single city than a cluster of distinct centres linked by an exceptionally efficient rail network: neon-lit Shinjuku and Shibuya, the department stores of Ginza, the temple quarter of Asakusa, the museums of Ueno and the anime shops of…
Top sights compared
| # | Hakone | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hakone Open-Air Museum | Senso-ji Temple |
| 2 | Ōwakudani | Meiji Jingu Shrine |
| 3 | Hakone Ropeway | Shibuya Crossing |
| 4 | Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise | Shibuya Sky |
| 5 | Hakone Shrine | Tokyo Skytree |
Food compared
| Hakone | Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Black eggs | Sushi |
| Yuba-don | Ramen |
| Hakone tofu | Tsukemen |
| Soba | Tempura |
Which is cheaper?
Tokyo 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). Tokyo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Hakone and Tokyo are about 70 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 2 days in Hakone and 6 in Tokyo.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hakone or Tokyo cheaper?
Tokyo is usually less expensive: about $150–$280 a day mid-range against $200–$380 (estimates).
+Is Hakone or Tokyo better for a first trip?
Pick Hakone for Onsen and ryokan, Lake Ashi and a short break, or Tokyo for Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen, lower day-to-day costs and beaches.
+How far is Hakone from Tokyo?
About 70 km in a straight line.