Sight guide · Hakone · Japan
Visiting Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue
Sections of the Edo-period highway between Edo and Kyoto survive as a stone-paved path through the forest between Hatajuku and Moto-Hakone.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quercus acuta, CC0
Quick answer
Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue is a historic site in Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, Hakone. Allow 1–3 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Historic site
- Area
- Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, history, outdoors and nature
- Best months
- May and November–December
About Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue
Sections of the Edo-period highway between Edo and Kyoto survive as a stone-paved path through the forest between Hatajuku and Moto-Hakone. By the lake, an avenue of tall cedars planted in the 17th century runs between Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi.
Tip: Walk the stone section downhill from Moto-Hakone towards Amazake-chaya; the stones are slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- 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 Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue
Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- May: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- November: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, very busy 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
Our 3-day Hakone itinerary visits Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue on day 3, together with Hakone Tozan Railway and Tenzan onsen.
- No. 7 of the 18 sights in our Hakone things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Hakone.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Hakone.
Near Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue
Also in Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, so you can walk between them:
- Hakone Shrine — 1 hour, free
- Hakone Checkpoint — 45 minutes, low cost
- Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise — 40 minutes, mid-priced
If you like Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue
- Amazake-chaya teahouse — Old Tōkaidō, 30–45 minutes
- Sengokuhara susuki grassland — Sengokuhara, 1 hour
- Mount Kintoki hike — Sengokuhara, 3–4 hours return
Staying near Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue
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 Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue?
Plan 1–3 hours. With Hakone Shrine nearby, it fits a half-day in Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi.
+Is Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue?
May and November–December for the most comfortable weather. Walk the stone section downhill from Moto-Hakone towards Amazake-chaya; the stones are slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip.
+Do I need to book Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.