Season guide · Hakone · Japan
Hakone in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Σ64, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cherry blossoms from the lower valley upwards through April, azaleas and green forests in May, with very crowded Golden Week holidays. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 33 rainy days across March–May. April is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 33
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 11°C (52°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 11 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| April | 16°C (61°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 11 | 13 h | 4/5 |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 11 | 14 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 16°C (61°F) against a yearly 17°C (63°F), and 33 of the year's roughly 128 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Cherry blossom in Miyanoshita and around Lake Ashi (usually early to late April)
- May: Golden Week holidays (late April to early May)
Good choices for spring
Museum · Gōra
Hakone Open-Air Museum
Opened in 1969, Japan's first open-air art museum spreads more than a hundred modern sculptures, by artists including Henry Moore and Rodin, across landscaped hillsides.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Kids
- Outdoors
Gallery · Sengokuhara
Pola Museum of Art
Walk the forest trail after the galleries; it is especially beautiful in autumn and needs only about 20 minutes.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Nature
Gallery · Kowakudani
Okada Museum of Art
This museum displays Japanese, Chinese and Korean art, from ceramics to folding screens, across several floors.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
Garden · Gōra
Gōra Park
Ride the cable car up to Kōen-kami station and walk down through the park to Gōra.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
Museum · Sengokuhara
Lalique Museum Hakone
This museum shows the glass and jewellery of René Lalique, including car mascots and perfume bottles.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
Day trips in spring
- Odawara Castle (About 20 minutes by train) — The reconstructed keep of the Hōjō clan's castle has a museum and a top-floor view to the sea, set in a park with cherry trees and moats.
- Kamakura (About 1–1.5 hours by train) — Japan's medieval capital has the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in, Tsurugaoka Hachimangū shrine and dozens of Zen temples in wooded hills near the sea.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Hakone?
Yes: April is among the best months. Cherry blossoms from the lower valley upwards through April, azaleas and green forests in May, with very crowded Golden Week holidays.
+What is the weather like in Hakone in spring?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 33 rainy days over the season.