Month guide · Hakone · Japan
Hakone in April
What April is really like in Hakone: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
April is one of the best months to visit Hakone. Expect average highs of 16°C (61°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 13 hours of daylight. Cherry blossoms open in lower areas first and higher areas later in the month; busy weekends.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 16°C (61°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in April
April is the 7th-warmest month in Hakone: days average 16°C (61°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 30 days. Compared with March (11°C (52°F)), April is warmer; by May highs climb to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 05:11
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 18:16
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
Spring (March–May). Cherry blossoms from the lower valley upwards through April, azaleas and green forests in May, with very crowded Golden Week holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 4 for crowds (the peak is August at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in August). Book accommodation early: April is one of the pricier months.
Events in April
- Cherry blossom in Miyanoshita and around Lake Ashi (usually early to late April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in April
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Park · Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi
Onshi Hakone Park
Built on the site of a former imperial villa on a small peninsula in Lake Ashi, this park has walking paths through the woods and a lakeside observation building with views of Mount Fuji across the water on clear days.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Couples
Nature · Sengokuhara
Sengokuhara susuki grassland
Come in late afternoon in October or early November, when low sun lights the grass; the grassland is burned in early spring and looks bare until summer.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Sengokuhara
Mount Kintoki hike
Mount Kintoki (1,212 m), on the northern rim of the Hakone caldera, is a steep half-day hike from the Sengokuhara side with one of the best views of Mount Fuji in the area.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Gallery · Sengokuhara
Pola Museum of Art
Walk the forest trail after the galleries; it is especially beautiful in autumn and needs only about 20 minutes.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 16°C, lows near 6°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Hakone?
One of the best months to visit Hakone, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are October–December. Compare every month.
Hakone in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Hakone?
It is one of the best months to visit Hakone. Cherry blossoms open in lower areas first and higher areas later in the month; busy weekends.
+How warm is Hakone in April?
Average highs are around 16°C (61°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Hakone in April?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.