Owakudani, Hakone: Black Eggs, Volcanic Gas Rules and Family Tips

What Is Owakudani?

Owakudani is an active volcanic valley in the middle of Hakone, where steam and sulphur gas pour out of a bare, yellow-grey hillside. It is the middle station of the Hakone Ropeway, just over 1,000 metres up, and the place where Hakone's black eggs are boiled in the hot spring water.

The valley formed in an eruption and pyroclastic flow almost 3,000 years ago, and it is still one of the fumarole areas of Hakone volcano. Its old name was Jigokudani, "Hell Valley", after the smell of sulphur that hangs over it.

On a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji from the station terrace.

For most visitors, Owakudani is a stop of 30 minutes to an hour on the Hakone loop, between the cable car and Lake Ashi. You look down into the valley from the viewing areas, eat a black egg, and ride on.

The walk into the vents themselves is possible only on a booked, guided tour.

Is Owakudani Open? Volcanic Gas and Closures

Owakudani is open as of October 2026, but it can close at short notice when the volcanic gas rises, and some groups of people are told not to go at all. The ropeway measures the gas all the time and stops the Sounzan to Ubako section, or the whole line, when the level gets too high.

The table shows what is open and closed, according to Kanagawa Prefecture and Hakone Ropeway.

Area	Status in October 2026
Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani	Running, but stops for high gas, wind and maintenance
Station, shops and viewing areas	Open while the ropeway runs
Owakudani Nature Study Path	Guided tours only, booked in advance
Hiking trail from Mt. Komagatake via Owakudani to Sounzan and Ubako	Closed
Road to the Owakudani car park	Open to cars from 9:00 to 17:00 only

The area around Owakudani is a designated warning zone, and the rules change with volcanic activity. Check the Hakone Navi operation status page on the morning you go, since the ropeway posts any closure there first.

Planned closures this winter. The ropeway closes in sections for maintenance, from Owakudani to Sounzan from 7 to 24 December 2026, and from Togendai to Ubako to Owakudani from 12 January to 26 February 2027.

Owakudani can still be reached on the section that is running. Details are in our Hakone Ropeway guide.

Who Should Not Visit (Babies, Asthma and Heart Conditions)

People with asthma, bronchial or lung disease, heart disease or a pacemaker cannot ride the ropeway between Sounzan and Ubako, which is the section that passes over Owakudani. This is the operator's rule, not advice, because volcanic gas can be life-threatening for them.

The ropeway asks a second group (pregnant women, newborns and infants, elderly passengers and people prone to allergies) to think carefully, including not going. Even a very small amount of gas can trigger an asthma attack.

Kanagawa Prefecture says the same for the Owakudani park area, and Japan's national tourism board advises the very young, the elderly and pregnant women to avoid the valley.

For a family, that means the following.

• With a baby or toddler, skip Owakudani. Ride the ropeway only between Ubako and Togendai, which still gives you the lake view, or take the bus from Hakone-Yumoto to Lake Ashi and do the loop from the water.
• If anyone has asthma, even mild or well controlled, do not ride the Sounzan to Ubako section.
• If someone feels unwell at the station, tell the staff and go back down. A cough, a sore throat or a headache can be the first sign.

The smell of sulphur is strong even on a normal day. Healthy older children usually find it funny rather than frightening, but it is worth warning them before you get off.

How to Get to Owakudani

The usual way is the Hakone Ropeway. It takes about 10 minutes from Sounzan, or about 20 minutes from Togendai on Lake Ashi, passing Ubako without a change.

From Hakone-Yumoto the whole trip is the mountain train to Gora (about 40 minutes), the cable car to Sounzan (about 10 minutes), then the ropeway.

From	Route	Approximate time
Hakone-Yumoto	Tozan Railway to Gora, cable car to Sounzan, ropeway	About 1 hr plus waits
Sounzan	Hakone Ropeway	About 10 min
Togendai (Lake Ashi)	Hakone Ropeway via Ubako	About 20 min
Shinjuku	Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto, then the route above	About 2.5 hrs

Fares. Since 1 October 2025 every one-way ride on the ropeway costs ¥2,000 for adults and ¥700 for children, whatever the distance. The Hakone Freepass covers the ropeway, the mountain train and the cable car, so most families use it.

By car. The road up to the Owakudani car park is open only from 9:00 to 17:00, and at weekends the car park fills. The shop operators themselves recommend coming by ropeway.

The ropeway itself, with its hours and the open Ropester gondola, is covered in our Hakone Ropeway guide, so I will not repeat it here.

What to See at Owakudani

Most of what there is to see is from the station and its terraces, including the steaming slopes, the yellow sulphur deposits, the black-egg monument and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji. You do not need a ticket beyond the ropeway.

1. The view over the vents

From the ropeway the gondola passes directly over the steaming valley, and from the station area you look straight into it. The best views are early in the day, before the crowds and while the light is low.

2. Mt. Fuji

On clear days, especially winter mornings, Mt. Fuji stands above the hills to the west. In summer it is often in cloud. Do not plan the visit around it.

3. The black egg monument

A giant stone black egg sits on the plaza by the station. It is the photo stop children ask for.

4. The Owakudani Geomuseum

On the ground floor of the Kurotamago-kan building by the station, a small museum explains Hakone's volcano and the steam vents. It is also where the guided Nature Study Path tours meet.

Black Eggs (Kuro-tamago)

Black eggs are ordinary chicken eggs boiled in the Owakudani hot spring water. The shells turn black from a reaction with the minerals and volcanic gas in the water.

Inside they are plain hard-boiled eggs. They cost ¥500 for a bag of four.

• Where to buy. They are sold at the shops by the ropeway station, including the Kurotama shop in the Kurotamago-kan building.
• When. Egg sales run from about 9:00 to 16:40, with seasonal changes, and they can sell out late in the day.
• The legend. Eating one black egg is said to add seven years to your life. It is a local saying.
• With kids. They are warm, easy to peel and salty. Bring a bag for the shells.

The shops also sell black-egg sweets and character goods sold only at Owakudani. The café in the Kurotamago-kan serves fast food only, so for a proper lunch, eat at Gora, Togendai or around Lake Ashi.

The Owakudani Nature Study Path (Guided Tour)

The only way to walk among the steam vents is the guided group entry to the Nature Study Path, a loop of about 700 metres that takes about 40 minutes. It reopened in March 2022 after being closed since 2015, and it runs only with two safety escorts and helmets.

	Details
Sessions	10:00, 11:30, 13:00 and 14:30, up to 30 people each
Fee	¥800 per person, cashless only (card or transport IC card)
Booking	Online in advance on the Hakone Tourism Association site
Who can join	Primary school age and up, able to run on their own in an emergency, no respiratory or heart conditions

Meet at the Owakudani Information Center at the entrance of the Geomuseum, at least 20 minutes before your session. The escorts are there for safety, and the explanations are in Japanese only.

Sessions after the first are confirmed 30 minutes before they start, and any session is cancelled when the gas or the weather is bad.

For most families with young children, the view from the station is enough. The tour suits older children who are curious about volcanoes.

Best Time to Visit Owakudani

Go early in the morning, when the ropeway opens at 9:00. The queues are short, the steam stands out in the cool air, and you have the best chance of seeing Mt. Fuji.

• Season. Winter (December to February) has the clearest skies, but check the maintenance closures above. Autumn colours in late October and November bring the longest queues.
• Days. Weekdays are quieter. On weekends and holidays the ropeway queue at Sounzan can be long by late morning.
• Weather. Strong wind stops the ropeway. Fog can hide the whole valley. If the morning is clear, go first and do the lake after.
• Time to allow. Spend 30 minutes to an hour at Owakudani itself, or about 1.5 hours with the guided path.

Owakudani on a Hakone Day with Kids

Owakudani is the highlight of the Hakone loop for most children, with the gondola over the steam, the smell, and an egg to eat. It fits between the cable car and the Lake Ashi pirate ship, with Hakone Shrine as the last stop.

For the whole loop with times and fares, see our Hakone day trip guide.

• Strollers. A baby carrier is easier through the gondola change and the crowds. If you bring a stroller, fold it for the gondola when it is busy.
• Layers. It is colder and windier than Hakone-Yumoto. Bring a jacket even in spring and autumn.
• Toilets. Go at Sounzan before you board. The station area at Owakudani is crowded at midday.
• Plan B. If the line is stopped for gas, take the bus to Lake Ashi and do the boat and the shrine instead.

With young children, keep Plan B ready and change plans on the spot if the line is stopped. You can also compare Hakone with a Mt. Fuji day trip.

Our private tours are on foot in Tokyo and Yokohama. Your guide rides the trains with you, and each of you pays your own fare with an IC card. See our Tokyo private tour with kids.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Owakudani open now?

Yes, as of October 2026, but it closes at short notice when volcanic gas rises, and the ropeway closes in sections for maintenance in December 2026 and from January to February 2027. Check Hakone Navi's operation status on the morning you go.

Is Owakudani safe for babies?

The ropeway asks parents of newborns and infants to think carefully, including not going, because even small amounts of volcanic gas can trigger a reaction. With a baby, skip Owakudani and see Lake Ashi instead.

Can people with asthma go to Owakudani?

No. People with asthma, bronchial or lung disease, heart disease or a pacemaker cannot ride the ropeway between Sounzan and Ubako, which passes over Owakudani.

How much are the black eggs at Owakudani?

They cost ¥500 for a bag of four, sold at the shops by the ropeway station from about 9:00 to 16:40. They can sell out late in the day.

Can you walk into the steam vents at Owakudani?

Only on the guided Nature Study Path tour, which takes about 40 minutes and costs ¥800. Book it online in advance. It is open to primary school age and up. Explanations are in Japanese.

How long should I spend at Owakudani?

Allow 30 minutes to an hour for the views and the black eggs, or about 1.5 hours if you join the guided Nature Study Path.

Sources

https://www.hakonenavi.jp/volcanic_gas_info/caution/
https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/area/owakudani
https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/transportation/hakone-ropeway
https://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/docs/j8g/cnt/f532566/index.html
https://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/docs/f4y/hakone/fujihakoneizu/oowakudani.html
https://www.hakone.or.jp/od-booking/
https://www.owakudani.com/
https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1566/