Overview
Hakone is a mountain resort town in western Kanagawa Prefecture, close enough to Tokyo for a side trip yet varied enough to reward an overnight stay. Visitors come for its hot springs, Lake Ashi, the volcanic scenery of Owakudani, art museums, and a transport network where railways, buses, ropeways, cable cars, and lake cruises become part of the journey.
What the city is known for
Hakone is one of Japan's long-established hot spring destinations, but it is also a sightseeing area shaped by its mountain terrain. Lake Ashi is the focus of the lakeside experience, with cruises, Hakone Shrine, Hakone Checkpoint, and possible Mount Fuji views from the Motohakone and Hakonemachi areas.
Owakudani brings out Hakone's volcanic character, with steam vents, sulfurous scenery, and ropeway access from both Sounzan and Togendai. Art is another major draw, especially around the Hakone Open-Air Museum and the museum areas near Gora and Sengokuhara.
Main areas
Hakone-Yumoto is the main arrival area, with hot spring inns, hotels, shops, restaurants, and direct Odakyu Romancecar service from Shinjuku. Farther along the mountain railway, Miyanoshita, Kowakidani, and Gora are useful bases for museums, hot spring stays, and onward travel by cable car and ropeway.
Sengokuhara, Owakudani, and Togendai make up the higher-elevation side of Hakone, known for museums, open scenery, volcanic sights, and access to Lake Ashi transport. Motohakone and Hakonemachi are the lakeside areas to compare when a trip centers on the cruise, the shrine, old highway history, and Mount Fuji viewpoints.
Getting around and onward travel
Hakone-Yumoto Station is the main rail gateway into Hakone. From Tokyo, travelers can take the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, or use the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara and continue by Hakone Tozan Railway. Odawara, rather than Hakone-Yumoto, is the key Shinkansen transfer point.
Sightseeing in Hakone often means linking several forms of transport rather than relying on a single rail line. The Hakone Freepass covers the Hakone Tozan Railway, buses, cable car, ropeway, sightseeing cruise, and selected highway or regional buses, making it practical for routes that combine Hakone-Yumoto, Gora, Owakudani, Togendai, and Lake Ashi.
Where to stay and where to go next
Stay around Hakone-Yumoto if rail access, luggage handling, shopping streets, and a smoother arrival or departure are priorities. Choose Gora, Kowakidani, Sengokuhara, or the Lake Ashi side if the focus is on hot spring inns, museums, ropeway access, lake views, or a slower resort-style stay.
Hakone works well as a side trip from Tokyo, but staying overnight makes it easier to enjoy the hot springs, lake cruise, Owakudani, and museum time without squeezing everything into one day. It also fits naturally into rail itineraries between Tokyo and western Japan, since Odawara connects the Hakone approach with the Tokaido Shinkansen.
Good to know
Hakone is spread across valleys, mountain slopes, and lakeside areas rather than arranged around one compact city center. Weather, volcanic conditions, and seasonal crowds can affect mountain routes and timing, so a route that looks short on a map may still require extra time.
