Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo

Is Hakone Worth a Day Trip from Tokyo?

Yes. Hakone is the easiest mountain day out from Tokyo, about 80 minutes from Shinjuku on the Romancecar, with a volcano, a lake, hot springs and a chain of mountain railways in one compact loop.

The trade-off is that a day trip is busy. You change between five kinds of transport, and there is little time left for a long soak or a museum.

For families, the transport is the attraction. Children who would be bored by a temple are usually happy on a switchback train, a gondola over steaming vents and a pirate ship.

The fares below are the ones in force since the October 2025 fare change.

How to Get from Tokyo to Hakone

The Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku is the simplest way. It is one train with reserved seats and no change, straight to Hakone-Yumoto, where the loop begins.

Way	From	Time to Hakone-Yumoto	Good to know
Romancecar	Shinjuku	About 80 min	Limited express fee ¥1,200 (child ¥600) on top of a ticket or the Freepass
Odakyu regular trains	Shinjuku	Longer, change at Odawara	Covered by the Freepass from Shinjuku with no extra fee
Shinkansen	Tokyo or Shinagawa	Fast to Odawara, then change	Not covered by the Freepass, buy the Odawara version
Private car	Your hotel	Depends on traffic	No changes

Romancecar seats go on sale at 10:00 one month before travel, and buying online through Odakyu's EMot site is ¥50 cheaper. Children under six who sit on a parent's lap need no ticket.

If you hold a Japan Rail Pass, the Shinkansen to Odawara is covered, but nothing beyond Odawara is. Pair it with the Hakone Freepass bought at Odawara.

The Hakone Loop, Step by Step

The loop is a circle of transport that starts and ends at Hakone-Yumoto. Most people ride it anticlockwise, up the mountain by train first, because the queues for the cable car and ropeway are shorter in the morning.

1. Hakone Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora

This small red mountain train climbs the valley with switchbacks, where the train stops and reverses to gain height. Get off at Chokoku-no-Mori for the Hakone Open-Air Museum, or ride to Gora.

Hydrangeas line the track from mid-June to mid-July. Hakone-Yumoto to Gora is ¥460 for adults and ¥230 for children. Read more in our Hakone Tozan Railway guide.

2. Hakone Tozan Cable Car from Gora to Sounzan

This steep funicular has intermediate stops and costs ¥430 for adults and ¥220 for children from Gora to Sounzan. It is a short ride. At Sounzan you walk straight across to the ropeway.

3. Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan via Owakudani to Togendai

The gondola line runs about 4 km, with the valley around 130 metres below between Sounzan and Owakudani, then gives views towards Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi on the way down to Togendai. Since October 2025 a one-way ride is ¥2,000 for adults and ¥700 for children.

Our Hakone Ropeway guide covers the open Ropester gondola and what happens when the line stops for volcanic gas.

4. Owakudani

The volcanic valley at the middle station, with steam vents and the black eggs boiled in the hot spring water. See our Owakudani guide, and read the safety note for children below.

5. Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise ("pirate ship")

From Togendai the ships cross Lake Ashi to Hakone-machi and Moto-Hakone in about 25 to 40 minutes. One way is ¥1,700 for adults and ¥850 for children.

On a clear day Mt. Fuji rises behind the lake. Our pirate ship guide compares the ships and the upgraded cabins.

6. Hakone Shrine and the Old Tokaido

From Moto-Hakone it is a lakeside walk to Hakone Shrine and the red torii gate standing in the water. There is often a queue for the photo at the gate.

From Hakone-machi you can visit the rebuilt Hakone Checkpoint, where travellers on the Edo-period highway were inspected. More in our Hakone Shrine guide.

7. Bus back to Hakone-Yumoto

Hakone Tozan buses run from Moto-Hakone down to Hakone-Yumoto and are covered by the Freepass.

Sample One-Day Itinerary with Times

This timing assumes an 8:00 Romancecar from Shinjuku and an unhurried pace with children. Check the day's departures, because these times are only a guide.

Time	Stop
08:00	Romancecar from Shinjuku
09:30	Hakone-Yumoto, Tozan Railway up the valley
10:15	Hakone Open-Air Museum (Chokoku-no-Mori)
12:00	Lunch in Gora, then cable car to Sounzan
13:00	Ropeway to Owakudani, short stop, on to Togendai
14:30	Pirate ship to Moto-Hakone
15:15	Hakone Shrine and the lakeside
16:30	Bus to Hakone-Yumoto
17:30	Romancecar back to Shinjuku

If the children are small, drop the museum and start the loop at 9:30. The transport alone fills a good day.

Is the Hakone Freepass Worth It for One Day?

Usually yes, even though it is sold only as a 2-day or 3-day pass. From Shinjuku the 2-day pass is ¥7,100 for adults and ¥1,600 for children aged 6 to 11, and it includes the round trip on the Odakyu Line.

The ropeway and the cruise alone come to ¥3,700 one way per adult, before the mountain train, cable car, bus and the train from Tokyo.

The pass does not cover the Romancecar fee or the Shinkansen. Children under six travel free. Prices, where to buy and the digital version are in our full Hakone Freepass guide.

What Works and What to Skip in Hakone with Kids

For most children the highlight is the transport, from the switchbacks to the gondola and the pirate ship. The Open-Air Museum also works well, because the sculptures stand outdoors on open lawns with room to run between them.

Owakudani with babies. Japan's national tourism board advises newborns and infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone with asthma, bronchitis, heart disease or a pacemaker not to visit Owakudani because of volcanic gas.

The area also closes at short notice. The ropeway's own guidance goes further. People with asthma or heart conditions cannot ride, and it asks families with babies and young children to consider not riding at all.

With a baby, the bus from Hakone-Yumoto to Lake Ashi is the safer way round.

Strollers. A folding stroller is manageable, but every leg of the loop means getting on and off, and the cable car and ropeway can be crowded at weekends. A baby carrier is easier.

Weather. Ropeway and boats stop in strong wind, and the ropeway stops when volcanic gas rises. Check the Hakone Freepass transit status page on the morning you travel.

Hot Springs, Day Trip or Overnight?

You can soak in Hakone without staying the night. Day-use spas near Hakone-Yumoto, such as Hakone Yuryo, rent private open-air baths by the room for 120 minutes, so the whole family bathes together and nobody has to manage the rules of a public bath.

Rooms start at ¥10,400 on weekdays and book out a month ahead at weekends.

Note the age rules. Many public baths do not admit children who are not yet toilet-trained, and some day spas do not admit preschool children to the public baths at all.

Our guide to Hakone ryokan with private onsen explains how private baths work for families.

When to Visit Hakone

Hakone works all year, and each season changes what you see.

• Spring. Cherry blossom opens in late March and April, and weekends are busy.
• Early summer. Hydrangeas bloom along the mountain railway from mid-June to mid-July, in the rainy season.
• Autumn. Red leaves and the pampas grass at Sengokuhara make this the busiest season.
• Winter. It is cold but often clear, which gives the best chance of seeing Mt. Fuji from the lake and the ropeway.

Avoid weekends and Japanese holidays if you can. The queues for the ropeway and the bus back to Hakone-Yumoto grow through the afternoon.

A day trip covers the loop. Stay the night if you want a proper onsen, a kaiseki dinner at a ryokan and a morning on the lake before the day-trippers arrive.

With young children, a night in Hakone also turns a long day into two easy halves.

If you are deciding between Hakone and Mt. Fuji for your one day out of Tokyo, see our Mt. Fuji day trip guide. Hakone has more to ride.

The Fuji Five Lakes have the closer view of the mountain.

Hakone with Young Children

The hard part of the loop with children is carrying bags and strollers through five changes and queueing for each one. Leave large bags in a coin locker at Hakone-Yumoto, and ride only the parts the children will enjoy, such as the ropeway or the pirate ship.

We also go to Hakone with you by train, from US$890 per group for up to four guests. Your guide rides the whole loop with you, and each of you buys your own tickets.

See our Hakone private tour from Tokyo, or our Tokyo private tour with kids for a day in the city.

More Hakone Guides

Each of these guides covers one part of the trip in detail.

• Hakone Checkpoint (Hakone Sekisho): Tickets, Hours, Access
• Hakone Free Pass 2026: ¥7,100 Price, Coverage, Where to Buy
• Hakone Pirate Ship 2026: Price, Freepass and Timetable
• Hakone Ropeway 2026: Fares, Hours, Owakudani and Closures
• Hakone Ryokan with Private Onsen: A Family Guide (2026)
• Hakone Shrine: Torii Gate, Hours, Access and Tips (2026)
• Hakone Tozan Railway 2026: Fares, Switchbacks and Kids Tips
• Lake Ashi, Hakone: Boats, Fuji Views and Things to Do (2026)
• Owakudani Hakone 2026: Black Eggs, Gas Rules, Access, Kids

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a day trip to Hakone from Tokyo worth it?

Yes, if you start early. The loop of train, cable car, ropeway and pirate ship takes most of a day and is the highlight for children. Stay overnight if you also want a long onsen soak.

How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Hakone?

About 80 minutes from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto on the Romancecar. Regular Odakyu trains take longer with a change at Odawara.

How much does a Hakone day trip cost?

From Shinjuku, the 2-day Hakone Freepass is ¥7,100 per adult and ¥1,600 per child, plus ¥1,200 each way per adult for Romancecar seats. Add lunch and any entry fees.

Can you see Mt. Fuji from Hakone?

Yes, on clear days, from the ropeway, Owakudani and the Lake Ashi cruise. Winter mornings give the best chance. In summer it is often hidden by cloud.

Is Hakone good for kids?

Yes. The mountain train, gondola and pirate ship are the parts children remember. Take a baby carrier rather than a stroller, and skip the walk at Owakudani with infants.

Do I need the Hakone Freepass for one day?

It usually pays for itself on one full loop, and it includes the round trip from Shinjuku. It does not cover the Romancecar fee or the Shinkansen.

Sources

https://www.hakonenavi.jp/volcanic_gas_info/caution/
https://odakyu-global.com/passes/hakone-freepass/
https://odakyu-global.com/passes/romancecar/
https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/discount_passes/free_pass
https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/re_price202510.pdf
https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/around
https://www.hakonenavi.jp/transportation/ticket_info/fee/
https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1566/
https://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/english/spa/hotspring/