Day trips · Hakone · Japan
6 best day trips from Hakone
Where to go when you want a day away from Hakone, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
The classic day trip from Hakone is Odawara Castle (About 20 minutes by train). The closest option is Odawara Castle, about 15 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Odawara Castle (15 km)
- Most popular
- Odawara Castle
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odawara Castle | 15 km | About 20 minutes by train | Hakone Tozan Line or Odakyu Line to Odawara | Families, Culture |
| Kamakura | 55 km | About 1–1.5 hours by train | JR Tōkaidō Line from Odawara to Ōfuna or Fujisawa, then local trains | First-timers, Culture, Couples |
| Lake Kawaguchi and Fuji Five Lakes | 60 km | About 1.5–2 hours by bus | Bus via Gotemba, or car | Couples, First-timers, Families |
| Gotemba Premium Outlets | 20 km | About 30–45 minutes by bus | Bus from Sengokuhara or Tōgendai | Shopping, Families |
| Atami | 30 km | About 40–60 minutes by train | Train from Odawara on the JR Tōkaidō Line or shinkansen | Couples, Beach, Culture |
| Enoshima | 50 km | About 1–1.5 hours by train | Odakyu Line from Odawara via Fujisawa | Families, Couples |
The day trips
15 km · About 20 minutes by train
1.Odawara Castle
The reconstructed keep of the Hōjō clan's castle has a museum and a top-floor view to the sea, set in a park with cherry trees and moats. Odawara is also known for kamaboko fish cake and fresh seafood.
- Getting there
- Hakone Tozan Line or Odakyu Line to Odawara
- Best for
- Families, Culture
55 km · About 1–1.5 hours by train
2.Kamakura
Japan's medieval capital has the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in, Tsurugaoka Hachimangū shrine and dozens of Zen temples in wooded hills near the sea.
- Getting there
- JR Tōkaidō Line from Odawara to Ōfuna or Fujisawa, then local trains
- Best for
- First-timers, Culture, Couples
60 km · About 1.5–2 hours by bus
3.Lake Kawaguchi and Fuji Five Lakes
The lakes on the northern side of Mount Fuji give close-up views of the volcano, with lakeside walks, the Chūreitō Pagoda viewpoint and ropeways. Combining it with Hakone works best with an overnight stay.
- Getting there
- Bus via Gotemba, or car
- Best for
- Couples, First-timers, Families
20 km · About 30–45 minutes by bus
4.Gotemba Premium Outlets
A large outlet mall at the foot of Mount Fuji with Japanese and international brands, and Fuji views from the walkways on clear days.
- Getting there
- Bus from Sengokuhara or Tōgendai
- Best for
- Shopping, Families
30 km · About 40–60 minutes by train
5.Atami
A seaside onsen resort at the top of the Izu Peninsula with a sandy beach, the MOA Museum of Art on the hillside and summer fireworks over the bay.
- Getting there
- Train from Odawara on the JR Tōkaidō Line or shinkansen
- Best for
- Couples, Beach, Culture
50 km · About 1–1.5 hours by train
6.Enoshima
A small island connected to the mainland by a bridge, with shrines, caves, a lighthouse observation tower and seafood stalls selling shirasu (whitebait).
- Getting there
- Odakyu Line from Odawara via Fujisawa
- Best for
- Families, Couples
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- The Hakone Tozan Railway climbs from Hakone-Yumoto to Gōra in about 40 minutes, stopping at Tōnosawa, Miyanoshita and Chōkoku-no-Mori for the Open-Air Museum.
- Buses fill up on weekend afternoons; board at the first stop or travel the loop in reverse.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Hakone?
Odawara Castle. The reconstructed keep of the Hōjō clan's castle has a museum and a top-floor view to the sea, set in a park with cherry trees and moats.
+How long does it take to get from Hakone to Odawara Castle?
About 20 minutes by train — Hakone Tozan Line or Odakyu Line to Odawara, about 15 km.
+How long does it take to get from Hakone to Kamakura?
About 1–1.5 hours by train — JR Tōkaidō Line from Odawara to Ōfuna or Fujisawa, then local trains, about 55 km.