How many days · Hakone · Japan
How many days do you need in Hakone?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
2 days is the sweet spot for Hakone, and 1 day is the minimum to see the main sights. A long day trip from Tokyo can cover the main loop, but one or two nights in a ryokan is the real point of Hakone. Two days lets you split the loop, add a museum or two and soak without rushing; a third adds the old Tōkaidō walk or the Sengokuhara museums.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 2 days
- Minimum
- 1 day
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.8 h (Dec) to 14.5 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Good | Hakone Open-Air Museum, Ōwakudani, Hakone Ropeway and Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise |
| 2 days | Ideal | Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise, Hakone Shrine and Hakone Tozan Railway |
| 3 days | Relaxed | Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue, Amazake-chaya teahouse and Hakone Checkpoint |
| 5 days | Plenty | The highlights plus a day trip to Odawara Castle |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Odawara Castle and Kamakura |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Hakone add up to roughly 12–16 hours of visiting time — about 2 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Hakone Open-Air Museum (2–3 hours), Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue (1–3 hours) and Pola Museum of Art (2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Hakone Open-Air Museum | 2–3 hours | Gōra |
| Ōwakudani | 1 hour | Ōwakudani |
| Hakone Ropeway | 30–40 minutes | Ōwakudani |
| Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise | 40 minutes | Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi |
| Hakone Shrine | 1 hour | Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi |
| Hakone Tozan Railway | 40 minutes | Hakone-Yumoto |
| Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue | 1–3 hours | Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi |
| Amazake-chaya teahouse | 30–45 minutes | Old Tōkaidō |
| Hakone Checkpoint | 45 minutes | Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi |
| Onshi Hakone Park | 45 minutes | Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi |
| Pola Museum of Art | 2 hours | Sengokuhara |
| Okada Museum of Art | 1.5–2 hours | Kowakudani |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 2 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 1 day | Focus on Hakone Open-Air Museum and Ōwakudani |
| With children | 3 days | Slower days and time for Hakone Open-Air Museum |
| With day trips | 4 days | Add Odawara Castle and Kamakura |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.8 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.5 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Hakone with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 1 day enough in Hakone?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 2 days is more comfortable. A long day trip from Tokyo can cover the main loop, but one or two nights in a ryokan is the real point of Hakone. Two days lets you split the loop, add a museum or two and soak without rushing; a third adds the old Tōkaidō walk or the Sengokuhara museums.
+Is a week too long in Hakone?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Odawara Castle and Kamakura.