The Model Plan of Hakone

by Editorial TeamAutumn, HakonePosted on Comments are Disabled

In this blog, I am going to tell you the model plans of Hakone for 1 day and 2 days.

Hakone is a resort area that you can access easily from Tokyo and you can enjoy hot springs, beautiful sightseeing, shopping, and historical places.

You can stay for just one day or two days to enjoy this resort spot by car and train, called Odakyu Line.

If you would like to know about Hakone more, Please access this link.

Odakyu Line offers an express line that allows you to go to Hakone from Shinjuku Station directly and faster. However, you can get there by ordinary train, which takes a long time.

In the winter, sometimes we can not climb the mountain by car because of snow. Therefore I will give you some model plans for using only trains and buses.

Model plan of Hakone for 1 day

You can access Hakone for just one and a half hours from Shinjuku station.

So you can enjoy Hakone for 1 day without staying at the hotel. However, you would rather stay at Hakone for two days so that you can relax at the hotel. Sometimes a person who has a tattoo is prohibited from using a hot spring.

Morning

Take a Romancecar – 8:00~9:30

The Romancecar is an express train that connects Shinjuku with Hakone, allowing you to reach Hakone in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. You can purchase tickets from here.

Reference

Owakudani and Ashino Lake – 9:45~11:30

9:45 AM Take the Hakone Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora Station.

10:15 AM At Gora Station, transfer to the cable car and head to Sounzan Station

10:45 AM From Sounzan Station, take the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani, which is a volcanic area where you can enjoy boiled eggs cooked in the hot springs and amazing view of Mount Fuji from ropeway.

Owakudani

11:30 AM Continue on the ropeway to Lake Ashi, where you can take a stroll by the lakeside or hop on a cruise boat.

Afternoon

Ashino Lake

12:30 PM Have lunch at a restaurant around Lake Ashi. Local specialties such as kamaboko(fish cake) or Hakone soba are recommended.

Ashinoko Chaya(Reference)

Hakone Open-Air Museum → Hakone Yumoto Onsen

1:30 PM Head to The Hakone Open-Air Museum to enjoy an afternoon of art and sculpture viewing.

3:00 PM Return to Hakone-Yumoto and relax at a day-use onsen facility such as Hakone Yuryo.

Hakone Yumoto → Shinjuku

5:30 PM Depart from Hakone-Yumoto Station on the Romancecar bound for Shinjuku.

7:00 PM Arrive at Shinjuku Station.

Model plan of Hakone for 2 days

Access

Before I am going to talk about the model plan of Hakone, I highly recommend purchasing the Hakone Freepass in planning a two-day trip to Hakone. Hakone offers numerous attractions, many of which are spread out, requiring the use of various modes of transportation.

This pass allows unlimited access to buses, trains, cable cars, and boats within the Hakone area. Additionally, it covers the cost of regular round-trip train fare from Shinjuku to Hakone (excluding the Romancecar express surcharge).

It’s a convenient and cost-effective way to explore Hakone, so be sure to consider it for your trip!

Click here to book the Freepass

Day 1

Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto → Gora

8:00 AM Depart from Shinjuku Station on the Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto (90 minutes).

9:30 AM Arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station.

10:00 AM Take the Hakone Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora (approximately 40 minutes).

11:00 AM Arrive at Gora Station. Check in at Gora Kansuiro (leave your luggage and head out for sightseeing).

Reference

Owakudani & Lake Ashi

12:00 PM Take the cable car and ropeway to Owakudani.

1:00 PM Enjoy hot spring eggs and the volcanic scenery at Owakudani.

2:00 PM Ride the ropeway to Lake Ashi, take a cruise on the lake, and enjoy the scenic views.

3:30 PM Visit Hakone Shrine and stroll through the cedar-lined path.

Ashino Lake

Gora Onsen

5:00 PM Return to Gora Kansuiro and relax in the onsen.

6:30 PM Enjoy a seasonal kaiseki dinner at the ryokan.

Day 2

9:00 AM After breakfast, enjoy the garden and onsen before checking out.

10:30 AM After checking out, Head to the Hakone Open-Air Museum (a 5-minute walk) for art viewing.

12:00 PM Stroll through Gora Park and enjoy a light meal or tea at a café in the park.

Hakone-Yumoto → Shinjuku

2:00 PM Travel from Gora to Hakone-Yumoto.

3:00 PM Relax at a final onsen in Hakone-Yumoto (if time allows).

4:00 PM Take the Romancecar back to Shinjuku.

5:30 PM Arrive in Shinjuku.

The Perfect Guide of Hakone

by Editorial TeamAll, Hakone, Kanto, PlacesPosted on Comments are Disabled

Hakone is a resort spot that you can access easily from Tokyo and you can enjoy hot springs, beautiful sightseeing, shopping, and historical places.

You can stay for just one day or two days to enjoy this resort spot.

If you would like to explore more about Shinjuku Station, click this link.

Access

Access to Hakone is available by car or by train, specifically the Odakyu Line. The Odakyu Line offers an express service that allows you to travel directly and quickly to Hakone from Shinjuku Station. And also they offer the free pass in Hakone area. However, you can also take a regular train, though it takes significantly more time.

I recommend renting a car to travel around Hakone, as it makes it easier to reach many tourist spots. These spots are often spread out, and traveling between them can take time.

Onsen

Many ryokan and hotels in the area have their own hot spring amenities, called Onsen in Japanese.

Hakone has long been regarded as a popular hot spring resort. Every locale offers a different experience when it comes to hot springs, including Hakone-Yumoto, Gora, and the areas surrounding Lake Ashi.

In Japan, it was common for yakuza, or gang members, to have tattoos, which led to a ban on people with tattoos in many hot springs.

However, with the increase in foreign tourists in recent years, this cultural practice is gradually fading, although it is still something to be mindful of.

My recommended Ryokan that you can enter Onsen with a tattoo

Gora Kansuiro

This hotel has the private hot springs in the several room and you can enjoy hot springs with tattoos and you can enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine made with local ingredients.

See the detail

Reference

Setsugetsuka

This hotel offers private baths in the guest rooms, as well as free access to reserved private baths.

Meals are prepared with seasonal ingredients, so those who wish to enjoy Japanese cuisine are highly encouraged to stay.

See the detail

Reference

Ashi Lake(Ashinoko) and Hakone Shrine

This lake is located in the center of Hakone, and you can see Mount Fuji from it.

There is a sightseeing boat that allows you to enjoy the views from the lake. Ashinoko is also close to Hakone Shrine, which has a beautiful torii gate next to the lake. The shrine is believed to bring blessings for traffic safety and good fortune, attracting many visitors.

Owakudani

This area features active volcanic vents that have produced a distinctive landscape replete with billowing steam and the stench of sulfur.

The “black eggs,” which have blackened shells after being boiled in sulfuric hot springs, are a specialty of the area. Eating one is said to make you live a longer life.

Gotemba Premium Outlets

Gotemba Premium Outlets is one of Japan’s largest outlet malls, located in Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Set against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, it features a wide array of stores from both domestic and international famous and luxury brands, allowing visitors to purchase products at discounted prices.

The mall offers a diverse range of items, including fashion, sports goods, and home decor, and it has a variety of restaurants and cafes. With good access from nearby tourist attractions, it is a popular spot for both shopping and sightseeing.

Museum

Numerous art museums in Hakone provide a singular experience by fusing art and environment. The following are a few of the top Hakone museums you should check out:

Hakone Open-Air Museum: With about 120 sculptures spread throughout a large landscape, this is Japan’s first outdoor sculpture museum. Families frequently visit because they may see art in a natural setting.

Pola Museum of Art : This museum features internationally recognized artwork, specializing in Impressionist pieces. Encircled by stunning natural landscapes, the museum offers a calm setting for appreciating art.

Hakone Glass no Mori Museum: With a focus on Venetian glass and glass art, this museum offers visitors interactive activities in addition to glass product exhibitions.

    Indulge in the captivating art and culture of Japan at these museums while taking in Hakone’s abundant natural surroundings.

    Pola Museum of Art