3 days in Hakone

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hakone Open-Air Museum and Gōra Park

   Hakone Open-Air Museum, Gōra Park and Ōwakudani, then Private outdoor bath in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hakone Open-Air Museum

      Opened in 1969, Japan's first open-air art museum spreads more than a hundred modern sculptures, by artists including Henry Moore and Rodin, across landscaped hillsides.

   2. Late morning

      Gōra Park

      Ride the cable car up to Kōen-kami station and walk down through the park to Gōra.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Black eggs

      Shops beside the volcanic vents at Ōwakudani, reached by the Hakone Ropeway.

   4. Afternoon

      Ōwakudani

      This volcanic valley, formed by an eruption around 3,000 years ago, hisses with sulphur vents and hot springs on the slopes of Mount Kami.

   5. Evening

      Private outdoor bath

      Book a room with its own rotenburo (outdoor bath) in Gōra or Sengokuhara and soak under the stars.

2. Day 2: Hakone Ropeway and Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise

   Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise and Hakone Shrine, then Dawn at Lake Ashi in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hakone Ropeway

      Ride in the morning, when visibility is usually better and queues at Sōunzan are shorter; the ropeway can suspend service in strong winds.

   2. Late morning

      Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise

      Mock pirate ships sail across Lake Ashi, a lake inside the Hakone caldera, between Tōgendai at the northern end and Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi in the south.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Yuba-don

      Restaurants in Hakone-Yumoto and around Gōra and Miyanoshita.

   4. Afternoon

      Hakone Shrine

      Arrive early in the morning, before the boats bring day trippers, to photograph the lakeside torii without a long queue.

   5. Evening

      Dawn at Lake Ashi

      Walk to the shrine's lakeside torii or Onshi Hakone Park early in the morning for mist on the water and Fuji views.

3. Day 3: Hakone Tozan Railway and Tenzan onsen

   Hakone Tozan Railway, Tenzan onsen and Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue, then Old Tōkaidō walk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hakone Tozan Railway

      Japan's best-known mountain railway climbs from Hakone-Yumoto to Gōra on steep gradients, reversing direction at three switchbacks as it zigzags up the forested valley.

   2. Late morning

      Tenzan onsen

      Bring your own towel to save on hire, and check the tattoo policy before you go.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hakone tofu

      Tofu shops and restaurants in Hakone-Yumoto, and ryokan kaiseki meals.

   4. Afternoon

      Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue

      Sections of the Edo-period highway between Edo and Kyoto survive as a stone-paved path through the forest between Hatajuku and Moto-Hakone.

   5. Evening

      Old Tōkaidō walk

      Walk the cedar avenue and stone road together, stopping for amazake at the thatched teahouse.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Pola Museum of Art (Sengokuhara): Walk the forest trail after the galleries; it is especially beautiful in autumn and needs only about 20 minutes.
• Swap in Okada Museum of Art (Kowakudani): Even without visiting the galleries, the footbath café in front of the mural is a pleasant stop.
• Swap in Lalique Museum Hakone (Sengokuhara): Reserve the Orient Express carriage tea when you arrive, as places are limited.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Hakone-Yumoto keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Tōnosawa ($$$) suits couples and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 9–13 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Hakone
• 2 days in Hakone

Questions travellers ask