Hakone Two Day Itinerary: First-Hand Advice & Tips

I have to admit, whilst we were excited about getting out of Tokyo and spending two days in Hakone, we were also a little confused, as it wasn’t immediately clear how to navigate the network of transport options around Hakone.

In this Hakone two day itinerary, we use our first-hand knowledge of travelling through Hakone to help you plan out your own trip.

ABOUT THIS 2 DAY HAKONE ITINERARY

This Hakone two day itinerary is designed to give you one day of relaxation, and one day of exploring the popular sights of Hakone.

On the first day you’ll arrive in Hakone, and recover in one of the world-leading hotsprings.

On the second, a day of adventuring, including some unique types of transport, eating eggs cooked in the mountain and visiting an iconic shrine.

You can leave Hakone either on the second evening, or stay a second night and get the Shinkansen on to major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto of Osaka the next morning.

Top Hakone Tips – Read This First

There are a few things we wished we’d known before planning our two days in Hakone:

• When searching for how to get to Hakone by rail, don’t search ‘Hakone’ as it is a big place, search instead for ‘Gora Station’, this is the station you’re most likely to need.
• The area around Gora is incredibly hilly, even if somewhere looks like it’s within walking distance, it might be a very taxing walk.
• Don’t get the bus from Odawara Station to Gora unless you have to, as the mountain railway route is fantastic.
• Chances of seeing Mount Fuji are varied. We missed it, but a day later it was clear skies and a perfect view.

Hakone Two Day Itinerary: Highlights

1. Relaxing in an onsen.
2. Eating hot spring boiled black eggs, which are said to extend your life by seven years.
3. Taking the cablecar over the steamy sulphur mountain.
4. Voyaging across Lake Ashi on a Pirate Ship.
5. Getting photos of the famous red torii gate on the banks of Lake Ashi.
6. Seeing Hakone Shrine.

Hakone Itinerary, Day 1: Get to Hakone & Relax at the Onsen

Arriving in Hakone

The journey from Tokyo should take between 1hr 30mins and 1hr 45mins depending on your timings, so you should be in Hakone by midday if you leave after the morning rush hour.

Getting to Hakone is a little confusing, as there are so many options, and it’s quite a sprawling town, but refer to the grey box above for hints and tips.

There are a couple of important things to stress:

• Try and stay close to Gora Station or at a hotel which has transfers.
• Get the local Hakonetozan Railway. Whilst this is technically two trains, they are often on exactly the same platform, so layovers are short. The local rail journey is incredible, and one of the steepest in the world, and much more enjoyable that the bus.

Afternoon of Relaxation

On the afternoon of day one, we recommend taking the time and just relaxing ahead of a busy itinerary on day two.

Hakone is world-famous for its hot springs (onsens), and this was the most relaxing part of our entire trip to Japan.

We have not spent extensive time in Hakone, so cannot offer a comprehensive review of multiple onsens, so it you are looking for one, we would defer you to this piece – the best hot springs in Hakone for all budgets.

Asante Inn

What we can recommend, however, is a fantastic guesthouse – The Asante Inn – which is a very steep walk down from Gora Station, or the friendly owners will do pick up and drop off from the station.

They have two private onsens which can be used throughout the day, and booked in 40 minute slots post 4pm for free. Because they are private, it means that if you have tattoos like me, you will be allowed to use them.

#1 RATED STAY IN HAKONE

Asante Inn

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Stunning guest house, with manicured Japanese gardens, traditional rooms and on site onsen which can be used for free.

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Hakone Itinerary, Day 2: Cable Car, Ropeway and Pirate Ship on Lake Ashi

Navigating From Gora to Lake Ashi

Just to reiterate, the navigation around Hakone is a little complex.

I’ve put the main details above, but to put it simply:

• Everything starts from Gora Station
• To get over the mountain you take:
  • The Tozan Cable Car (which is actually a mountain railway)
  • The Hakone Ropeway (which is actually a cable car)
  • The Hakone Ropeway is split in two, so everyone has to get off and transfer at Owakudani
• At the bottom of the mountain, you then take a ship (which is actually a pirate ship, yes really) to the other side of Lake Ashi

See, I told you this was confusing!

This map should help you to understand the area, Gora Station is just above centre, and then you go west towards the northern shores of Lake Ashinoko, before getting the boat down to the southern shores.

From here can can get a bus back to Gora Station, or just retrace your steps.

Tozen Cablecar (Mountain Railway)

The first leg from Gora Station on the Tozen Cablecar takes just over twenty minutes.

It is an impressive railway, going up the mountain at a steep angle.

Hakone Ropeway Leg 1

The first stop is at Sounzan, where you’ll get off of the cablecar and on to the ropeway. I know I’ve said this before, but it’s definitely a cablecar right? Just look at the photos!!

This leg caught us a bit by surprise, as once we crested the mountain, this was the view below us.

This is the reason for all those hot springs around Hakone, the volcanic activity which sends clouds of sulphur gas into the air, and makes the whole place smell like scrambled eggs after 30 minutes in the microwave!

Owakudani & Eating Black Eggs

At the top, there is a transfer to another ropeway at a place called Owakudani.

This is more than just a transfer station, there is a lot to do around Owakudani (as long as you can put up with the smell!).

There is a gift shop, a number of restaurants, some great views out of the steamy mountains and – mostly interestingly – a chance to try the famous black eggs of Hakone.

The black eggs are slowly boiled for sixty minutes in one of the local hot springs. The eggs shells react with the high levels of hydrogen sulphide, which turns the shell black.

The eggs are not just safe to eat, it’s said that eating them extends your like by seven years (I had two to be safe).

It is no longer possible to hike to the location they boil the eggs due to volcanic activity, but the eggs are available (and still warm) from the main black egg shop for ¥500 for four (it’s not possible to buy them singly).

Make sure you get them from this store, not from the gift shop by the cablecars, as here they’re still nice and warm.

Hakone Ropeway Leg 2

The second stage down to the lakeside would have been beautiful on a clear day, with views to Mount Fuji, but we were in a big cloud, so we had to settle for some photos, which taunted us from the window as we hopped onto the second cablecar.

Pirate Ship

Of the list of things we expected to do in Japan, taking a trip on a pirate ship wasn’t on there, but this country always has another trick up it sleeve.

The boats left about every forty minutes, and the queue got pretty big. There are some cafés at the waiting area, but not a lot else to do here, so we joined the queue early, and were thankful we did as it meant we got seats for the 45 minute trip across the lake.

There are two stops for the boat, one at Hakonemachi-Ko and one at Motohakone-Ko.

We opted for the second one as we wanted to go to Hakone Shrine.

Motohakone-Ko

Motohakone-Ko is a small town on the southern shore of Lake Ashi.

It felt very busy with the tour buses around, but it was easy enough to get a seat at one of the little cafes for some lunch.

The views from here to Mount Fuji would be amazing on a clear day, but it was cold and alittle gloomy, so we set off on the short walk to Hakone Shrine.

Keep an eye out for the small stall crafting hand-made confectionary near the path to get to the torii gate. This guy was an absolute artist!

Hakone Shrine Torii Gate

One of the most iconic views in the Hakone area, is the torii gate on the shore of Lake Ashinoko.

Most people get a photo of themself under the gate with the lake behind them.

But I’ve got bad news for you…

…this is what it looks like in reality!

A huge queue of people waiting to take the perfect #hakoneshrine Insta shot.

We gave it a pass and headed up the hill to the main shrine. Take my advice, get a decent lens and grab a shot from the boat!

Hakone Shrine

Hakone Shrine was well worth the effort of scaling the hill, and reminded me of a small version of Nikko near Tokyo, with it setting in a damp, mossy forest.

Founded over 1,200 years ago, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to the deity Hakone-no-Mikoto, revered for protection against natural disasters and ensuring safe travels. The shrine’s history is deeply intertwined with the region’s cultural heritage, serving as a spiritual haven for emperors, samurais, and travellers seeking blessings for their journeys.

It was busy, but the shrine somehow managed to still be peaceful in a way only sacred buildings can.

The walk back towards Motohakone-Ko down the cedar-lined avenues was a great finish to the day.

Getting back to Gora Station

You can either get back to Gora Station by retracing your steps over the mountain (which is what we chose) or get a bus back.