Season guide · Hakone · Japan
Hakone in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Rainy season and hydrangeas in June and July, then humid, often cloudy weather; cooler than Tokyo but Fuji is rarely visible. Expect highs up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 42 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 15°C (59°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 42
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 22°C (72°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 15 | 14.5 h | 3/5 |
| July | 26°C (79°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 15 | 14.3 h | 4/5 |
| August | 27°C (81°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 | 13.5 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 25°C (77°F) against a yearly 17°C (63°F), and 42 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 summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Hydrangea season on the Hakone Tozan Railway (usually mid-June to mid-July)
- July: Lake Ashi lake festival with torii-yaki fires (usually late July)
- August: Gōra Daimonji-yaki bonfire on Mount Myōjō (usually 16 August)
Good choices for summer
Gallery · Kowakudani
Okada Museum of Art
Even without visiting the galleries, the footbath café in front of the mural is a pleasant stop.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
Garden · Gōra
Gōra Park
Opened in 1914, this French-style formal garden on the slope above Gōra station has fountains, rose beds and a tropical greenhouse, plus craft workshops where visitors can try glass-blowing or pottery.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
Museum · Sengokuhara
Lalique Museum Hakone
Reserve the Orient Express carriage tea when you arrive, as places are limited.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
Experience · Hakone-Yumoto
Tenzan onsen
A large day-use hot-spring complex in Okuyumoto, a short bus ride from Hakone-Yumoto station, with outdoor baths built from rocks and wood along a forested riverside slope.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Rainy day
- Nature
Architecture · Miyanoshita
Fujiya Hotel
Stop for curry or pie in the café while waiting for the Tozan Railway at Miyanoshita station, about ten minutes' walk away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Food
- Rainy day
Day trips in summer
- 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.
- Lake Kawaguchi and Fuji Five Lakes (About 1.5–2 hours by bus) — The lakes on the northern side of Mount Fuji give close-up views of the volcano, with lakeside walks, the Chūreitō Pagoda viewpoint and ropeways.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Hakone?
It is a trade-off: Rainy season and hydrangeas in June and July, then humid, often cloudy weather; cooler than Tokyo but Fuji is rarely visible. The best months overall are April and October–December.
+What is the weather like in Hakone in summer?
Highs of up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 42 rainy days over the season.