Hakone 2-Day Itinerary For First Time Visitors

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Are you visiting Hakone for the first time? If so, this Hakone 2-day itinerary will help you to make the most of your visit!

Hakone, located just a short journey from Tokyo, is a breathtaking destination known for its hot springs, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural experiences. It’s also the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo!

Hakone is perfect if you’re seeking relaxation, adventure, or a blend of both, and we share how you can spend 2 days in Hakone, with insider tips to help you make the most of your visit!

view of hakone from ropeway station.

Planning Your Visit To Hakone

Hakone is a popular day trip from Tokyo, and you can certainly see many of the highlights in a single day, but it’s a rushed experience and a huge day, especially when visiting Hakone with kids.

That’s why we decided to take our time and enjoy a couple of days away from the big cities of Japan, by spending 2 nights in Hakone. It turned out to be one of our favourite parts of our entire Japan itinerary!

But planning our visit wasn’t the easiest – getting around Hakone can be a little daunting as their public transport system is quite unique. Also, the fact that Hakone isn’t a single town, but instead multiple towns within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

That’s why we suggest you get a Hakone Free Pass!

The Hakone Free Pass

The Hakone Free Pass is a must-have for anyone visiting Hakone from Tokyo! This special pass, available through Odakyu Railways, offers great value and convenience by covering round-trip transportation from Shinjuku in Tokyo to Hakone, plus unlimited rides on various modes of transportation within Hakone itself.

woman holding 4 hakone free pass tickets.

Here’s why the Hakone Free Pass is worth considering:

  • Transportation Coverage: The pass includes unlimited use of transportation in the Hakone area, covering the Hakone Tozan Railway, cable car, ropeway, Lake Ashi pirate ship cruise, and local buses. It’s perfect for the popular Hakone Loop route, which lets you explore Hakone’s top sights.
  • Flexible Options: You can purchase either a 2-day or 3-day pass depending on the length of your stay, so you’re not locked into a single schedule. Both passes include the journey to and from Shinjuku, making it a hassle-free option when visiting from Tokyo.
  • Discounts on Attractions: The pass also offers discounts at over 70 attractions, shops, and hot spring facilities, so you can save on entry fees and experiences.
  • Convenience: Instead of purchasing individual tickets for each mode of transport, you simply show your pass, saving both time and money. We love easy when travelling!

In short, the Hakone Free Pass is designed to make your visit to Hakone smoother and more affordable, giving you the flexibility to enjoy Hakone’s best sights without worrying about individual tickets or transport costs. We are so glad we purchased these passes!

Purchase your Hakone Free Pass from Klook

Insider Tip: For a small additional fee, you can upgrade to the Limited Express Romancecar from Shinjuku, which offers a direct, scenic ride to Hakone-Yumoto with reserved seating.

Accommdation In Hakone

Hakone is known for hot spring onsens and as such, you will find a variety of budget, mid-range and luxurious accommodation options in the area. They do book out early though, especially if you do want to stay somewhere with an onsen.

One of the best areas to stay in Hakone is in Gora, which is located right near some of the top attractions and near the Hakone Tozan Railway and cable car stops at Gora Station.

We stayed at Guesthouse Onsen Hakone Tent, since we left it a little late to book and most of the other options at the time were in the luxury budget or far from transport points.

Hakone Tent is a hostel with traditional style ryokan (Japanese-style inn) – with futon mattresses on the floor. It’s a fun experience to have while in Japan, but certainly not my favourite stay. It was also a short walk to Gora Station, has 2 private onsens and a bar and restaurant area.

Find other Hakone accommodation options here

Our Family Friendly 2-Day Hakone Itinerary

This is our 2-day Hakone itinerary, which is kid-friendly, in case you are visiting Hakone with kids during your time in Japan! This itinerary isn’t perfect for everyone, but it is a great starting point for how to spend your 2 days.

For reference, it was hot – really really hot! We visited in September, which turned out to be less than ideal, weather-wise. Next time we visit Japan, we are avoiding Summer and the months that follow!

Day 1: Tokyo To Hakone

Morning: Travel to Hakone via the Limited Express Romancecar

Begin your journey by picking up your Hakone Free Pass from the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center at Shinjuku West Station. We arrived early to give ourselves as much of the day as possible in Hakone.

Upgrade to the Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar when picking up your passes in Tokyo.

This more comfortable train ride takes approximately 85 minutes and has reserved seats, making it a nicer trip with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. It also travels to Hakone-Yumoto Station, instead of just stopping at Odawara Station,

The Romance Car train can fill up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays.

After arriving at Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora Station

Insider Tip: The Hakone Tozan Train travels up the steep mountain. To do this, there are 3 switchbacks along the track, where you switch tracks. This is a quick process but an interesting little fact for your trip up to Gora.

Afternoon: Visit Hakone Open-Air Museum

Upon arrival at Gora Station, we dropped off our bags at our accommodation (Guesthouse Onsen Hakone Tent) and then visited the Hakone Open-Air Museum.

This unique museum combines stunning outdoor sculptures with beautiful natural surroundings, featuring works by both Japanese and international artists.

There is a Picasso Pavilion, which showcases a collection of his works and provides fascinating insights into the artist’s life. There is also a children’s play area with nets and swings. Our kids loved it.

foot onsen at hakone open air museum.

The museum has a foot onsen where you can relax while soaking your feet—with an incredible view over the valley. After the gazillion steps we did during our Tokyo Disney trip, this was very soothing.

The Hakone Open Air Museum is open daily between 9am and 5pm. There is also a cafe here if you’re looking for some lunch.

Insider Tip: If you have a Hakone Free Pass, you get discounted entry into Hakone Open Air Museum.

  • OPTIONAL ITINERARY: If you have extra time, consider visiting one of the many public hot spring baths in Hakone in the afternoon.

Evening: Dinner at Gora Brewery & Grill

After a day of exploring, enjoy dinner at Gora Brewery & Grill, known for its craft beer brewed on-site and a menu that highlights local flavours. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, perfect for unwinding after a busy day.

This was actually one of the best meals we had during our entire Japan trip. The food was amazing and the grill is set up in the restaurant area so you can watch the chefs work their magic while you dine!

The restaurant is relatively small, so it might be worth booking ahead if you are visiting during the weekend. And try to arrive before the sun sets because it’s a beautiful view over the mountains.

Insider Tip: Pair your meal with a flight of craft beers to sample different brews on offer. Simon did this, of course!

Day 2: The Hakone Loop Adventure

Morning: Hakone Loop – Cable Car and Ropeway

hakone ropeway carriage.

Start your second day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel or a konbini before getting an early start on the Hakone Loop. If you purchased a Hakone Free Pass, it covers transportation on the loop.

  1. Take the Hakone Tozan Cable Car from Gora to Sounzan Station.
  2. Transfer to the Hakone Ropeway, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji.

We lucked out on seeing views of Mt. Fuji as there was a bit too much cloud cover unfortunately, otherwise, the ropeway ride can be one of the best places to see Mount Fuji on a clear day.

Insider Tip: Try to start early to beat the crowds and enjoy the scenic views without feeling rushed. We had short waits in the morning, but much longer as the day progressed.

Mid Morning: Black Eggs at Owakudani

Continue your adventure by getting off the ropeway at Owakudani Staton.

Owakadani is volcanic valley known for its sulpher vents and hot springs. Here, you can try the famous Kuro-tamago (black eggs), which are boiled in the hot springs of the active volcano and said to add seven years to your life if consumed!

The eggs are somewhat the theme of Owakadani and you will find photo opportunities and souvenirs galore related to them. There’s even black ice cream, if you’re game!

simon holding a black volcanic egg in owakudani.

Quite a few people asked us if they are like century eggs, but no. Nothing like that at all! They are normal, hard-boiled chicken eggs that have black shells. They might be a little more stinky than usual, with the smell of sulfer from the volcanic activity.

You can get 4 eggs for ¥500 inside the store near Owakudani Station. They can sell out!

We spent the most time at this stop as there is quite a bit to see. There are observation areas to see over the volcanic valley, as well as cafes and restaurants and shops. We found some great souvenirs here!

There is also the Hakone Geo Museum. It’s only 100 yen for entry and it’s an interesting place to learn about the Hakone volcano.

Insider Tip: Make sure you also try the black curry bread! This was delicious (and was pretty much our breakfast). You will find it at the restaurant inside Owakudani Station.

Afternoon: Lake Ashi Cruise

lake ashi scenic pirate ship cruise ship.

After Owakudani, head to Togendai by ropeway to Lake Ashi for a scenic cruise. The lake offers stunning views of Mt. Fuji on sunny days (again, we lucked out on that view) and is a relaxing way to take in the natural beauty of Hakone.

The best part of the cruise is that the Hakone Free Pass includes the pirate ship Hakone sightseeing cruise. It’s a fun way to see the area by water and it’s certainly a relaxing option.

We did the full cruise loop, not getting off at Motohakone-ko. It is in the Motohakone-ko area that you can walk to the Hakone Shrine.

hakone shrine on edge of lake ashi.

This torii gate in the water is one of the most scenic in Japan and as such, it’s one of the most popular attractions in Hakone.

You can see it from the Lake Ashi cruise, and even from there, we could see the line for photos was enormous. Being that it was an extremely hot day, we opted to skip the close-up, mostly because the kids were already wearing out a week into our Japan itinerary.

On a cooler day, I definitely would have done the walk and explored this area during our ‘loop’. Instead, we made our way back to Gora, with another quick stop at Owakudani for souvenirs.

Insider Tip: If you want a different close-up view of the Hakone Shrine, there are little swan paddle boats you can hire to paddle around the lake and there were lots of people paddling over to the shrine. They would have been ruining everyone’s photos from land, but it looked fun!

Late Afternoon: Visit Gora Park

fountain at gora park.

Conclude your Hakone adventure with a visit to Gora Park in the late afternoon. This beautifully landscaped park features a traditional Japanese garden, seasonal flowers, and even a tea house where you can enjoy matcha tea.

There is an entry cost to visit Gora Park of 550 yen for adults, but with the Hakone Free Pass, it was free. We are thankful too because while it was beautiful and it would be a lovely spot to go visit the cafe, it wasn’t overly exciting otherwise so we didn’t spend much time here.

If you love gardens and flowers, it’s worth visiting!

Private Onsen

In the early evening, we had a private onsen at our ryokan. They have 2 at Hakone Tent although we found one of them was so extremely hot that we switched to the smaller, lower-temperature hot bath.

As we both have tattoos, we weren’t too fussed about doing the onsen experience, knowing that most public onsens do not allow it. There are some exceptions within the Hakone area, but we preferred the idea of a private onsen at our accommodation anyway.

Dinner At The Hotel

One thing worth noting is that there is not a lot of food options in Gora, outside of the main attractions. Across the train station are a couple of stores with some food, but they shut early.

The nearest konbini was a Lawson that was around a 10-minute walk from Gora Station.

Thankfully, dinner at our accommodation was quite good and very convenient. We spent some of the evening chatting to a local and sharing travel stories from her time living in Sydney for a year.

The Next Day

The next morning, we made our way back to Odawara Station and caught the bullet train to Kyoto. We opted for the 3-day Hakone Pass, which meant getting back to Odawara on our last morning was included in our pass.

We pre-booked our Shinkansen tickets online via Klook to make our way to Kyoto.


A 2-day trip to Hakone offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and culinary delights. Hakone is somewhere we would gladly visit again, especially since there were some attractions we did not have the chance to visit while there. It would also be divine to visit Hakone when the cherry blossoms are blooming.

If you can do the 2 nights in this beautiful region, absolutely do it! If you can stay even longer, even better!

Additional Tips for Your Hakone Trip:

  • Dress in Layers: The weather in Hakone can change quickly, especially in the mountains, so it’s best to be prepared for different conditions.
  • Cash is King: While some places accept credit cards, many local shops and restaurants are cash-only, so be sure to have yen on hand.
  • Plan for Crowds: Hakone is a popular destination, particularly during weekends and holidays. Arrive early at attractions to avoid long lines.
  • Get the Hakone Free Pass: You can read our full Hakone Free Pass review to see if it’s worth it for your visit!