Month guide · Hakone · Japan
Hakone in March
What March is really like in Hakone: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Σ64, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
March is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 11°C (52°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 11.9 hours of daylight. Warming slowly, with early blossoms in Yumoto; the Sengokuhara grassland is burned and bare.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 11°C (52°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in March
March is the 9th-warmest month in Hakone: days average 11°C (52°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with February (8°C (46°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 16°C (61°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 05:55
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 17:51
- Daylight
- About 11.9 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, March rates 3 for crowds (the peak is August at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in August). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in March
March has no major recurring festival in Hakone, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in March
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi
Hakone Shrine
Arrive early in the morning, before the boats bring day trippers, to photograph the lakeside torii without a long queue.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- History
Experience · Hakone-Yumoto
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.
- Time needed
- 40 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Historic site · Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi
Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue
Walk the stone section downhill from Moto-Hakone towards Amazake-chaya; the stones are slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Nature
Historic site · Old Tōkaidō
Amazake-chaya teahouse
A thatched-roof teahouse on the old Tōkaidō road that has served travellers for centuries and is run by the same family over many generations.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 11°C, lows near 1°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Hakone?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, April and October–December are better overall. Compare every month.
Hakone in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Hakone?
It is a shoulder-season month. Warming slowly, with early blossoms in Yumoto; the Sengokuhara grassland is burned and bare.
+How warm is Hakone in March?
Average highs are around 11°C (52°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Hakone in March?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.