hakone in 2 days, 1 night
A side trip from Tokyo: up the mountain railway to the Open-Air Museum and a night at a ryokan, then the ropeway over Owakudani, a boat across Lake Ashi and Hakone Shrine before heading back.
Day 1 Up the mountain
- Morning
- Take the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, about 1.5 hours. Leave big bags at your Tokyo hotel and bring an overnight bag.
- Lunch
- Soba in Hakone-Yumoto, or tofu and yuba made with the local spring water.
- Afternoon
- Ride the Hakone Tozan Railway up the switchbacks and get off at Chokoku-no-Mori for the Hakone Open-Air Museum, with big sculptures on the lawns and a Picasso collection.
- Evening
- Check in at your ryokan for an onsen soak and dinner. Wash before you get in, and no swimwear.
Day 2 Owakudani and Lake Ashi
- Morning
- From Gora, take the cable car up to Sounzan and the ropeway over Owakudani's steaming vents. Eat a kuro-tamago, an egg boiled black in the hot springs, said to add years to your life.
- Lunch
- Ride the ropeway down to Lake Ashi and cross on the pirate ship, with Fuji behind on clear days. Lunch by the lake at Moto-Hakone.
- Afternoon
- Walk along the shore to Hakone Shrine and its red torii gate standing in the lake, then take the bus back down to Hakone-Yumoto.
- Evening
- Romancecar back to Shinjuku, about 1.5 hours.
Good to know
- The Hakone Free Pass covers most of the loop's trains, buses, ropeway and boats.
- Owakudani and the ropeway sometimes close because of volcanic activity. Check the latest status before you go.
- Tattoos may not be allowed in shared onsen baths. A ryokan with a private bath is the easy option.