Hakone 1 Day Itinerary

This itinerary covers Hakones highlights in a single day. It answers: “How to spend 1 day in Hakone?”

Quick Facts

Best for: Day trippers from Tokyo
Transport: Hakone Free Pass recommended (¥6,100 from Shinjuku)
Start: Shinjuku Station by 8:30am

The Classic Loop

Morning (8:30-12:00)

Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto (85 min) – Take Romancecar for comfort
Hakone Tozan Railway – Switchback mountain train to Gora
Open-Air Museum (optional) – Stop at Chokoku-no-Mori if interested

Outdoor sculpture at Hakone Open-Air Museum with mountains in background — Hakone Open-Air Museum — Photo by Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Hakone Tozan Railway train on a switchback section ascending a mountain — Hakone Tozan Railway — Photo by Joli Rumi / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Midday (12:00-15:00)

Cable car – Gora to Sounzan
Ropeway – To Owakudani, try black eggs, see volcanic valley
Continue ropeway – To Togendai on Lake Ashi

Hakone Tozan Cable Car ascending a steep track between Gora and Sounzan — Hakone Tozan Cable Car — Photo by Maksym Kozlenko / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Black eggs (kuro tamago) sold at Owakudani volcanic valley — Owakudani Black Eggs — Photo by Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Afternoon (15:00-17:00)

Pirate ship cruise – Across Lake Ashi to Moto-Hakone
Hakone Shrine – Walk to see torii gate in lake
Bus – Return to Hakone-Yumoto

The iconic red torii gate of Hakone Shrine partially submerged in Lake Ashi — Hakone Shrine Torii Gate — Photo by そらみみ / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

A Hakone pirate ship cruising on Lake Ashi with Mount Fuji in the background — Lake Ashi Pirate Ship — Photo by Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, The Netherlands / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Evening

Optional onsen stop in Hakone-Yumoto, then Romancecar back to Tokyo.

Outdoor hot spring bath (onsen) in Hakone-Yumoto surrounded by nature — Hakone-Yumoto Onsen — Photo by Abasaa / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Tips

Hakone Free Pass: Covers all transport. Buy at Shinjuku.
Direction: Go clockwise (Yumoto → Gora → Owakudani → Lake → bus back).

Getting There

Starting Point

This itinerary begins at Hakone-Yumoto Station, the gateway to the Hakone region.

From Shinjuku Station: Recommended (Premium): Take the Odakyu “Romancecar” 🔵 directly to Hakone-Yumoto Station in approximately 75–85 minutes. This requires a reservation and surcharge but offers the most comfortable journey. Budget: Take the regular Odakyu Odawara Line 🔵 Express or Rapid Express to Odawara Station, then transfer to the Hakone Tozan Line. This takes approximately 95–115 minutes.
From Tokyo Station: Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen (Blue/White) to Odawara Station in approximately 35 minutes, then transfer to the Hakone Tozan Line 🔴 to reach Hakone-Yumoto in approximately 15 minutes.

From Narita Airport (NRT)

Recommended (Premium): Take the Narita Express (N’EX) (Red & White) from Terminal 1, 2, or 3 (via shuttle) directly to Shinjuku Station in approximately 85 minutes. From there, transfer to the Odakyu Line for Hakone. Budget: Take the Keisei Main Line 🔵 to Nippori Station, transfer to the JR Yamanote Line 🟢 to Shinjuku, and then proceed to Hakone.

From Haneda Airport (HND)

Recommended (Mid-range): Take the Keikyu Line 🔴 from any terminal (T1, T2, T3) to Shinagawa Station. From Shinagawa, take the JR Tokaido Line (Orange/Green) or Shinkansen to Odawara Station, then transfer to the Hakone Tozan Line. The total journey takes approximately 90–110 minutes. Bus: Direct highway buses operate from Haneda Airport terminals to Hakone-Yumoto Station, taking approximately 140 minutes depending on traffic.

Useful Passes

Hakone Freepass: This pass is essential for a 1-day itinerary. It covers unlimited rides on the Hakone Tozan Train, Cable Car, Ropeway, Sightseeing Cruise, and local buses. It can be purchased to include the round-trip train fare from Shinjuku Station (Odakyu Line). While IC cards (Suica/PASMO) are accepted for transit, the Freepass offers significant savings for the full Hakone loop.

Sources

Tourism board: Hakone Navi

Last updated: 2026-02-03