Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo: My 1-Day Itinerary, Experience & Recommendations

This Japan itinerary offers travelers an easy day trip from Tokyo to Hakone.

I’ve always wanted to visit Hakone and was curious whether a day trip from Tokyo was possible to do without rushing. In this guide, you’ll get my full itinerary, including details on the places I visited and the route I took, along with travel tips based on my personal experience at each site.

Hakone is a very popular place to visit in Japan due to its proximity to Mount Fuji, natural beauty, and charming qualities. Because of this, you will experience some crowds, especially on public transport.

However, my visit to Hakone was still very enjoyable, and I’d recommend the day trip to anyone wanting to explore outside of Tokyo or looking for a quick peek at Mount Fuji.

My favorite part about this itinerary in particular? All the different modes of transportation you get to experience! You’ll ride a special Romance Car, a retro mountain train line, cable car, ropeway, and even a cruise line.

This guide shares my exact Hakone day itinerary, as shown in the vlog below.

Inside this guide, you’ll find:

A step-by-step 1-day itinerary for Hakone
Solo travel tips for Hakone (safety, pacing, and planning)
My personal experience at each stop (what to expect + why it’s worth visiting)
Cafes, shops, and cultural spots that are easy and welcoming to visit alone
Optional add-ons if you want to linger longer or shorten your day

If you’re looking for a quick 1-pager of this route (with timestamps!), grab a free downloadable of this itinerary below.

I hope this guide helps you plan and explore Hakone with more confidence and ease.

Now, let’s dive into how to spend a day in Karuizawa!

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Table of Contents

How to Get to Hakone from Tokyo

You can get to Hakone in about an hour and a half from Tokyo, depending on where you’re coming from.

For this itinerary, you’ll start your journey by riding the special Romance Car Limited Express from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station.

I chose to ride the Odakyu Line Romance Car because all the seats are designed for optimal comfort, letting you sit back and enjoy the scenery as it passes by.

A couple of things to note about the Romance Car:

It’s a Limited Express train, which means you’ll need to pay a separate express fare in addition to the base fare (even if using the Hakone Free Pass). 🎫
Sit on the right side of the train when departing from Tokyo to avoid direct sunlight shining through the window and for a better view of Fuji-san. 🗻
If you want the front car seats, aim to book as early as possible.

How to Purchase Odakyu Romance Car Tickets:

You can purchase your Romance Car tickets either through Klook, the Odakyu official website, or in person at an Odakyu Line Service Center/vending machine.

Hakone Free Pass

I highly recommend grabbing the Hakone Free Pass for this itinerary. All modes of transportation used in it (excluding the Limited Express fee) are covered by the pass.

✨ You’re going to ride so many different forms of transportation in this itinerary. I found it super convenient not to have to stand in line at each boarding area.

You can purchase the Hakone Free Pass online or at an Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center (I went to the one in Shinjuku Station!).

Tips for using the Hakone Free Pass:

Grab your Hakone pass at least a week in advance so that you can use it to reserve your train seats (especially if riding the Romance Car).
You can purchase a pass up to a month in advance.
The pass also offers discounts at select stores, museums, restaurants, and more.

What I Did & Do I Recommend It

For this trip, I purchased the Hakone Free Pass, rode the Romance Car to Hakone, and rode regular Odakyu Express/Rapid Express Trains back to Tokyo.

I did this because, at the time, I figured the main purpose of the Romance Car was the view, so it didn’t seem worth it for the ride back when it’d be dark.

However, looking back, it would’ve been nice to ride in nice plushy seats back to Tokyo, especially after a long day hopping around everywhere.

My 1-Day Hakone Itinerary

Now, time for my full-day trip itinerary from Tokyo to Hakone. Again, I highly recommend grabbing the Hakone Free Pass for this itinerary since you’ll be hopping on and off different modes of transportation all day. The pass makes each stop less of a hassle.

If you’re looking for a quick 1-pager of this route (with timestamps!), you can grab a free downloadable itinerary here.

Morning Departure from Tokyo

Travel Time: 1.5 hrs

I ended up taking the 7:30 am Romance Car from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station (the last stop).

Note that the Romance Car is a limited express train. This means that if you use the Hakone Free Pass, you will need to pay a separate express fee to ride.

Ride the Hakone Tozan Train

From Hakone-Yumoto Station, you’ll hop on the Hakone Tozan Train to the Hakone Open-Air Museum.

This train is covered by the Hakone Free Pass. It’s about a 460 yen ride to the museum.

This train is unique because of the switchback mechanism it uses, given the steep slopes along its route.

Hakone Tozan Line tips & notes (based on my experience)

Need to go through the gate to end your romance car ride / original base fare. Then go back through the gate to platform 3, where you’ll hop on the Tozan Train.
Try to sit towards the front of the train so you can get photos and videos of the view out the front window.
The switchback is crazy. One minute you’re facing forward, and the next, backward.
From mid-May to June, hydrangeas are in bloom, and they line the track. This is why the train is nicknamed the hydrangea train.
I would sit on the left side facing backward when you get on the train at Hakone-Yumoto. You’ll be facing forward the longest with the best view of the mountainside towns.

To get to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, you’ll want to get off at Chokoku-no-mori Station. The museum is about a 10-minute walk from there.

Hakone Open Air Museum

The Hakone Open-Air Museum was one of my favorite stops of the day. The museum was way larger than I expected, with its extensive collection of art pieces scattered across the expansive grounds.

The artwork against the backdrop of Hakone’s natural beauty was something else.

Tips for visiting the Hakone Open-Air Museum:

Use your Hakone Free Pass for an entrance fee discount.
There’s a free foot bath available on the grounds.
Leave about an hour and a half to two hours in your schedule for the museum.

Optional: Eat Lunch at the Museum

I ended up eating curry for lunch at Chokoku-no-mori Dining located at the museum. I chose this place for its convenience and the beautiful view of Hakone. The iced coffee here was also a nice (much-needed) midday pick-me-up.

To get to our next stop, Owakudani, you’ll get to ride a series of different modes of transportation.

Hakone Tozan Cable Car

First, you’ll head back to the Chokoku-no-mori Station and hop on the Hakone Tozan Train to Gora Station.

From Gora Station, you’ll transfer to the Hakone Tozan Cable Car.

The line for the cable car can get really backed up and look crazy — but surprisingly, everyone fits. Just be prepared to squeeze in (lol).

Once on the cable car, ride it to the last stop: Sounzan Station.

Hakone Ropeway

From Sounzan Station, transfer to the Hakone Ropeway towards Owakudani.

You’ll be greeted with yet another line to wait in; however, there are places to eat and shop for souvenirs at this stop if you’d like to take a break from traveling.

The cars on the ropeway also depart every minute, so the line moves pretty steadily.

✨ This is also an example of how the Hakone Free Pass comes in handy! You can get in line right away, instead of having to line up to buy tickets and then join another line to ride.

Once in the car, you’ll ride through beautiful mountain passes, and on clear days, you may even see Mount Fuji in the distance.

Travel time to Owakudani Station is about 10 minutes.

How to Purchase Hakone Ropeway Tickets:

Ticket kiosks at the station
Buy Online via EMoT Website
Use your Hakone Free Pass — no separate ticket required.

Note that advanced reservations are not required for the Hakone Ropeway.

Owakudani

Owakudani, a volcanic valley, is a famous sightseeing spot in Hakone. Many of the onsen hot springs in Hakone get their water from Owakudani. Note: You’ll smell sulfur the minute you step off the ropeway.

Notable things to do at Owakudani:

Try a kurotamago (black egg) — a local specialty that can only be found here. Supposedly, eating one of the eggs will prolong your life by 7 years.
Try the Owakudani specialty black curry, and mix in the hot spring egg for extra flavor.
Hakone GeoMuseum — located next to Owakudani station, you can learn more about Hakone’s history, volcanoes, and Owakudani.

After exploring Owakudani, you’ll make your way to Lake Ashi to ride the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise.

From Owakudani Station, take the Hakone Ropeway to Togendai Station, then board the cruise from Togendai Port.

This route is popular, so you’ll find clear signs at both stations telling you where to go.

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise

The Hakone Sightseeing Cruise was another highlight for me. I loved sailing across Lake Ashi, with views of the beautiful Hakone landscape sweeping by.

The design of the cruise itself is inspired by European battleships. There are lots of places to walk around and sit.

✨ If you’re worried about getting the perfect photo on board, there are also First Class Upgrade tickets available if you want access to a less crowded front view of the boat.

On clear days, you’ll be able to see Mount Fuji hovering behind the mountains surrounding the lake.

How to Purchase Hakone Sightseeing Cruise Tickets

Use your Hakone Free Pass — no separate ticket required.
Buy in-person at the ticket kiosk or vending machine at the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise ports.
Buy online in advance through Klook.

There will be lots of signs at Togendai Port telling you where to line up if you pre-purchased tickets/using the Hakone Pass, or if you need to buy tickets. Plus, there are friendly staff who can point you in the right direction.

The cruise stops at two different ports. For this itinerary, you’ll get off at the second stop, Motohakone-ko.

Hakone-Jinja Shrine

From the Motohakone-ko port, you’ll walk about 10 minutes to the Hakone-jinja shrine.

The walk is not bad, but you will be heading uphill, and there are lots of stairs when you get to the shrine itself.

Many go to the Hakone-Jinja Shrine to pray for luck in competitions and financial success. It’s built near Lake Ashi and is home to the iconic Torii Gates of Peace.

Note that there will likely be a line to take a photo with the torii gates unless you go early.

Head Back to Tokyo

After the shrine, I ended up grabbing a quick snack and spent some time enjoying the view of the water.

Then I walked back to the port and took the Hakone Tozan bus to Hakone-Yumoto Station.

From Hakone-Yumoto, I hopped on a train to Odawara Station, where I caught an Odakyu Odawara Line Rapid Express to Shinjuku.

Only the base fare is needed for this trip back to Tokyo and is covered by the Hakone Free Pass.

How to Find a Route That’s Covered by the Hakone Free Pass:

Go to this Odakyu transport guide.
Use this to input the time you want to leave + the route.
Then click the options for “No Romance Car Limited Express.”
- Hakone-Yumote —> Odawara —> Odakyu Rapid Express or Express Line (only need base fare covered)

If you plan to take the Romance Car back to Tokyo…

Note that the base fare is covered by the Hakone Free Pass.
You need to pay the extra Limited Express fare separately.
Reserve your seats ahead of time. This is a very popular route, so the sooner the better.

If you’re looking for a quick 1-pager of this route (with timestamps!), grab a free downloadable of this itinerary below.

What I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Hakone

Make sure to pack a warm jacket for the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise.
I sound like a broken record, but the Hakone Free Pass is clutch! So time-saving and easy to use.
Hakone is a popular tourist destination, so expect crowds, especially on public transit (Ropeway, Cable Car, Tozan Train, etc.).
The crowds were worth it, though, and this itinerary packed in so many unique experiences all into one day!
Expect to climb lots of stairs (some very steep) at Hakone-Jinja Shrine.
The Torii Gates of Peace at Hakone-Jinja Shrine will have long lines for the iconic photo. Plan to stay overnight and go early if you want fewer crowds? Maybe?
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is way bigger than I expected. You can easily spend a couple of hours or more there.

Final Thoughts: Is Hakone Worth Visiting?

I’ve always wanted to visit Hakone and was curious whether a day trip from Tokyo was possible without rushing — and now I can confirm it’s totally doable!

This entire itinerary feels jam-packed, but I didn’t feel rushed at all.

Yes, I had to keep an eye on the clock to make sure I didn’t spend toooo much time in one place. But overall, I felt like I spent enough time at each place.

I definitely feel like Hakone is worth visiting, even if just for a day.

However, if your big goal is to see Mount Fuji while in Japan, I suggest pairing this with a trip to Lake Kawaguchiko and the Fuji Five Lakes. Maybe stay overnight there, where it’s closer to Mount Fuji. 🗻 (This area is featured in this YouTube Short)