Best Hakone Day Trips & Things to Do

Hakone is a mountainous resort town in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, renowned for its hot springs (onsens), art museums, and views of Mount Fuji. It is a popular escape from Tokyo, easily accessible via the Odakyu Romancecar or a combination of Shinkansen and local trains. The quintessential Hakone experience is the Hakone Loop, a scenic journey that utilizes multiple forms of transport to tour the area's main sights. The loop includes the Hakone Tozan Railway, a winding mountain train, the Hakone Ropeway, which offers aerial views of the volcanic valley Owakudani and Mount Fuji on clear days, and a pirate-ship cruise across Lake Ashi. Along the loop, visitors can see the iconic red torii gate of Hakone Shrine emerging from the lake and sample black eggs cooked in the sulfur springs of Owakudani, which are said to extend one's life. Beyond the loop, Hakone boasts a vibrant arts scene, with institutions like the Hakone Open-Air Museum, featuring sculptures against a natural backdrop, and the Pola Museum of Art, which houses impressionist works. The town is also a premier destination for relaxation, with numerous traditional inns (ryokans) and hot springs.