Best Hakone Day Trips from Tokyo

Hakone is 100 km west of Tokyo in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, about 90 minutes by train (Odakyu Line from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, the gateway town). It's a volcanic mountainside area known for hot springs, the Hakone Ropeway (with views of Mt Fuji on clear days), and the Open-Air Museum. The Hakone Free Pass covers all local transport and is the standard way to visit independently.

Hakone is designed for independent visitors. The Hakone Free Pass (¥5,500–6,700 depending on starting station) covers the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku, all local buses, the Hakone Tozan Railway, the Ropeway, and the pirate cruise boat on Lake Ashi. You buy it at Shinjuku station before you go. Tours make sense only for travellers who want a guide to explain the history and geology, or who want the Mt Fuji + Hakone combination without navigating Japan Rail. Browse tours →

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Hakone is not primarily about Mt Fuji, it's about the volcanic landscape. Owakudani (the volcanic valley you reach by ropeway) has active sulphur vents and the black eggs boiled in the hot springs (said to add 7 years to your life, according to local legend). The Open-Air Museum has 120 sculptures by artists including Henry Moore and Bourdelle set against the mountain backdrop.