Visiting Ōwakudani

About Ōwakudani

This volcanic valley, formed by an eruption around 3,000 years ago, hisses with sulphur vents and hot springs on the slopes of Mount Kami. Eggs boiled in the hot springs turn black (kuro-tamago) and are said to add years to your life, and on clear days Mount Fuji appears beyond the steam.

Tip: Visitors with asthma or heart conditions should take care, as volcanic gas levels can be high; access is sometimes restricted when the volcanic alert level rises, so check before travelling.

Plan your visit

• Time needed: 1 hour.
• Cost: Low cost.
• Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
• Where: Ōwakudani, the hub at the top of the Tozan line, with the cable car, Gōra Park and many ryokan.

Best time to visit Ōwakudani

Ōwakudani 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.

For the view at golden hour: in mid-May the sun sets at about 18:40 local time (calculated for Hakone).

When to visit Hakone has the full month-by-month picture.

Fit it into your trip

Our 3-day Hakone itinerary visits Ōwakudani on day 1, together with Hakone Open-Air Museum and Gōra Park.

• No. 2 of the 18 sights in our Hakone things-to-do list.
• Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
• Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
• One of the picks in outdoors in Hakone.

Near Ōwakudani

Also in Ōwakudani, so you can walk between them:

• Hakone Ropeway — 30–40 minutes, mid-priced

If you like Ōwakudani

• Onshi Hakone Park — Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, 45 minutes
• Sengokuhara susuki grassland — Sengokuhara, 1 hour
• Mount Kintoki hike — Sengokuhara, 3–4 hours return

Staying near Ōwakudani

Stay in Gōra ($$$) to walk here: the hub at the top of the Tozan line, with the cable car, Gōra Park and many ryokan. All areas to stay in Hakone.

Questions travellers ask