The best things to do in Hakone in 2026 are the Hakone Open-Air Museum, the volcanic valley of Owakudani and its black eggs, a sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine's lakeside torii and the Hakone Ropeway. Soaking in an onsen, walking the old Tokaido road and riding the Hakone Tozan Railway complete a classic visit.
Hakone is about 90 minutes from Shinjuku on the Odakyu Romancecar. Most visitors follow the Hakone loop: train, cable car, ropeway, boat and bus, covered by the Hakone Freepass.
Sculptures on hillside lawns, plus a Picasso pavilion.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum displays sculptures across landscaped grounds, with a Picasso pavilion and a hot-spring footbath.
It is great for families.
Good to know: Allow two hours; soak your feet in the footbath.
1121 Ninotaira, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0493
Steaming volcanic vents and black eggs.
Owakudani is a volcanic valley of sulfur vents reached by the Hakone Ropeway, famous for kuro-tamago, eggs boiled black in the springs.
Access can close when volcanic activity rises.
Good to know: Check the volcanic alert level before going.
1251 Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0631
Pirate-ship cruises across the crater lake.
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise runs pirate-ship-styled boats across Lake Ashi between Togendai, Hakone-machi and Moto-Hakone.
On clear days Fuji rises behind the lake.
Good to know: Covered by the Hakone Freepass.
Togendai, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0631
A forest shrine with a torii standing in the lake.
Hakone Shrine sits in cedar forest by Lake Ashi; its red Peace Torii stands in the water and is a famous photo spot.
Expect a queue for the torii photo.
Good to know: Go early to photograph the torii.
80-1 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522
A ropeway over the volcanic valley.
The Hakone Ropeway glides from Sounzan over Owakudani to Lake Ashi, with views of Fuji on clear days.
It is part of the Hakone loop.
Good to know: Sit facing west for Fuji views.
1-15-1 Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0631
A day-use onsen with private open-air baths.
Hakone Yuryo is a day-use hot spring with large indoor and outdoor baths and bookable private open-air baths, good for tattooed visitors who book a private bath.
A free shuttle runs from Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Good to know: Book a private bath ahead.
4 Tonosawa, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0315
Cobbled Edo-era highway and a 400-year-old teahouse.
A stretch of the old Tokaido road, paved with stones and lined with cedars, leads to Amazake-chaya, a thatched teahouse serving amazake since the Edo period.
It is a lovely short hike.
Good to know: Hike from Moto-Hakone to Amazake-chaya.
395-1 Hatajuku, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0314
A switchback mountain railway, famous for hydrangeas.
The Hakone Tozan Railway climbs from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora with switchbacks, through forests that bloom with hydrangeas in June and July.
It is the first leg of the loop.
Good to know: Ride at dusk in hydrangea season for lit-up blooms.
Hakone-Yumoto Station, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0311
A circuit by mountain train, cable car, ropeway over Owakudani, pirate ship across Lake Ashi and bus back, all covered by the Hakone Freepass.
It can be, but an overnight stay at a ryokan with an onsen is the real Hakone experience.
On clear days, from the ropeway, Lake Ashi and Owakudani. Clouds often hide it.
A pass from Odakyu covering the round trip from Shinjuku (with a Romancecar supplement) and the loop transport.
Yes, for fun. The eggs are boiled in Owakudani's hot springs, which turns the shells black.