Sight guide · Hakone · Japan
Visiting Hakone Checkpoint
The Tokugawa shogunate controlled traffic on the Tōkaidō at this checkpoint on the shore of Lake Ashi.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quercus acuta, CC0
Quick answer
Hakone Checkpoint is a historic site in Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, Hakone. Allow 45 minutes; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Historic site
- Area
- Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, kids and architecture
- Best months
- December–February
About Hakone Checkpoint
The Tokugawa shogunate controlled traffic on the Tōkaidō at this checkpoint on the shore of Lake Ashi. The guardhouses and gates have been reconstructed using traditional techniques, with mannequins of officials and a small museum on the strict controls on weapons and travellers.
Tip: Climb the small lookout tower inside the compound for a view across Lake Ashi.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 45 minutes.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, lakeside villages at the southern end of Lake Ashi.
Best time to visit Hakone Checkpoint
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- February: 8°C (46°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- January: 7°C (45°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- December: 9°C (48°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Hakone has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Hakone Checkpoint is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Hakone Open-Air Museum and Ōwakudani.
- No. 9 of the 18 sights in our Hakone things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- A family favourite in Hakone with kids.
Near Hakone Checkpoint
Also in Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, so you can walk between them:
- Onshi Hakone Park — 45 minutes, free
- Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue — 1–3 hours, free
- Hakone Shrine — 1 hour, free
If you like Hakone Checkpoint
- Amazake-chaya teahouse — Old Tōkaidō, 30–45 minutes
- Fujiya Hotel — Miyanoshita, 1 hour
Staying near Hakone Checkpoint
Stay in Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi ($$$) to walk here: lakeside villages at the southern end of Lake Ashi. All areas to stay in Hakone.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Hakone Checkpoint?
Plan 45 minutes. With Onshi Hakone Park nearby, it fits a half-day in Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi.
+Is Hakone Checkpoint free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Hakone Checkpoint?
December–February, the quietest of the good months. Climb the small lookout tower inside the compound for a view across Lake Ashi.
+Do I need to book Hakone Checkpoint in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Hakone Checkpoint good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Hakone. Hakone is a fun day out for children because the journey itself is the attraction: a zigzagging train, a cable car, a gondola over steaming volcanic vents and a pirate ship across the lake.