Best Things To Do in Hakone, Japan

Are you looking for what to do in Hakone?

THINGS TO SEE

Hakone is a place where nature, art and history, all come together in perfect harmony. So, there will be no lack of choices with things to see in Hakone. Lake Ashi is absolutely breathtaking with the majestic Mount Fuji in its backdrop. There are boat rides, hot springs, historical sites and cozy ryokans, all for you to make this an enjoyable experience. For those seeking spirituality, the Hakone Shrine at the foot of Mount Hakone is the place to visit. Known for fulfilling wishes of those who desire power, this Japanese Shinto Shrine is quite popular. The museums here too are examples of how important the role of nature is in Hakone. While the Hakone Open-Air Museum shows how art and nature come together to make a masterpiece, the Pola Museum of Art, pays respect to nature by not disrupting it with modernization and makes its place amidst the lush Senghokura Forest.

THINGS TO DO

Hakone has a list of activities for you, in case you are wondering about what to do in Hakone. A ride on the Hakone Ropeway provides you a spectacular aerial view Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi and Owakudani. And if you are visiting the Great Boiling Valley of Owakudani, there is absolutely no way you should miss the renowned black eggs. led in the sulphurous water, these eggs look odd from outside, but they are absolutely delicious from inside. And what's more, each egg is said to add seven years to your life. Now that's incentive enough to be adventurous and try out this unique delicacy! For travelers, Hakone not only provides different means for travelling, but also scenic routes. Be it the 400-year-old stone pavement shaded by beautiful cedar trees, at the Old Tokaido Road; or a train journey with Hakone Tozan Railway, Japan's only mountain rail line with a scenery outside that changes with the different seasons.

Below we have a list of things to do in Hakone and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Hakone getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Hakone with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Hakone

Here is the list of things to do in Hakone and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Hakone Open Air Museum

    4.4 (1414 Votes)
    Hakone Open Air Museum

    Art Museum, Outdoors

    Japan's first outdoor art museum against the backdrop of the picturesque Hakone mountains, is indeed a treat for your eyes. Spread over 70,000 square metres of lushness, this museum believes in promotion of sculpture as an environmental art. There are 120 permanent art installations from modern and contemporary sculptors and artists from all over the world, that are displayed here. The sculptur...Read more
  2. Pola Museum Of Art

    Art Museum

    Amidst thickets of beech trees in Senghokura Forest, lies this beautiful art museum displaying works of famous Japanese and European artists. In order to not disrupt the natural beauty of the surroundings, the museum is mainly underground. Illuminated by an advanced fiber optic technology, the works on display are from the private collection of over 40 years of Tsuneshi Suzuki, the son of the f...Read more
  3. Hakone Ropeway

    4.1 (1100 Votes)
    Hakone Ropeway

    View Point, Ropeways

    Starting from Sounzan station, all the way to Togendai, with Mount Fuji in the backdrop, this ride is nothing short of spectacular. The view from the top has a sheet of sparkling water in Lake Ashi and the formidable beauty of the steaming Owakudani, showing you two very different sides on nature staying in complete harmony. The panoramic view of Mount Fuji is just the cherry of this very stunn...Read more
  4. Lake Ashi

    4.3 (1273 Votes)
    Lake Ashi

    Outdoors, Lake, Boating

    A popular tourist spot, Lake Ashi is a picturesque crater lake, formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone. With the backdrop of Mount Fuji, this lake is a symbol of the city of Hakone. There are ferries and pleasure boats available for visitors, to experience the scenic beauty of the lake, as well as, its surrounding areas. Apart from the view, Lake Ashi is also popular for its hot springs, histori...Read more
  5. Hakone Shrine

    4.4 (1321 Votes)
    Hakone Shrine

    Outdoors, Historical Site

    Along the shores of Lake Ashi, at the foot of Mount Hakone is the serene Hakone Shrine. Legend says that the Priest Mangan, who is responsible for establising this shrine, calmed down the nine-headed dragon god that lived in the bottom of Lake Ashi. . The Kuzuryu Shrine is a sub-shrine of the Hakone Shrine, dedicated to the nine-headed dragon god. The Japanese Shinto Shrine was known for good l...Read more
  6. Hakone Tozan Railway

    Train Ride

    The only mountain railway in Japan, the Hakone Tozan Railway ride will definitely be one you won't forget in a lifetime. At 108 metres above sea level, the scenic ride is 40 minutes long, starting from Hakono-Yumoto station to Gora Station. The beauty of the train ride is the stunning scenery which is different for each season, that will forever be etched in your mind. Spring will decorate the ...Read more
  7. Venetian Glass Museum

    4.1 (921 Votes)
    Venetian Glass Museum

    Specialty Museum

    You will be welcomed to this museum that looks like a European villa, by a forest of glass trees. And if that did not leave you awestruck yet, the inside of the museum will surely have the desired effect on you. There are 500 antique pieces of Venetian Glass, out of which 100 are always on display. Along with vintage pieces from the 15th -18th centuries, there are modern pieces that use the ant...Read more
  8. The Museum Of The Little Prince

    Museum, Statue

    Dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's acclaimed book 'The Little Prince', this museum is a wonderful place to visit with family. Designed to look like a small village in France, this museum gives visitors an insight into the famous author's world. Spread over 10000 square meters, visitors are welcomed by an gate which is an exact replica of the great gate of Chateau of Saint-Maurice-de...Read more
  9. Sengokuhara

    Museum, Outdoors, Botanical Garden, Golf Course

    One of the most popular spots for natural beauty in the whole of Hakone, Senghokura Onsen is a hot springs resort area. The plains are about 700 meters above sea level and are covered by lush green grasslands. The hot springs in the area have been drawing visitors for bathing since 1736, when it began. Senghokura was converted into a Western-style resort area during the 20th century, and every ...Read more
  10. Hakone Tozan Cable Car

    4.1 (1421 Votes)
    Hakone Tozan Cable Car

    Cable Car

    Climbing up a distance of 1.2 kilometres from Gora station to Sounzan station, is the Hakone Cable Car. The climb is almost a straight line and you can actually see the degree of inclination from your seat, if you look to the back of the cable car. The view from the windows during this ride will leave you absolutely awestruck at the natural beauty. As the car goes through the different stops of...Read more
  11. Lalique Museum Hakone

    4.1 (842 Votes)
    Lalique Museum Hakone

    Art Museum, Architecture

    Exhibiting selected 230 artworks out of the 1500 marvellous creations by renowned French artist René Jules Lalique, the Lalique Museum pays homage to the extraordinary craftsmaship of the artist. Lalique started his career designing jewellery and glass art, and later went on to design interiors and architectural ornamentation. The museum displays some of the most stunning jewellery and g...Read more
  12. Gora Park

    4 (1129 Votes)
    Gora Park

    Garden

    Japan's first French-style garden, Gora Park dates all the way back to 1914. The design of the garden mainly centers on symmetry and geometric patterns. The garden is divided into seven main areas: Rose Garden, Tropical Flora House and Bougainvillea House, will make you feel like you are in beautiful flower palaces; Haku-undo Tea Garden, where you can experience a real Japanese tea ceremony; Te...Read more
  13. Hakone Museum Of Art

    4.1 (874 Votes)
    Hakone Museum Of Art

    Art And Culture, Art Museum, Garden

    Founded by Okada Mokichi is 1952, the Hakone Museum of Art displays Japanese ceramics all the way from pre-historic times to the Edo Period. There are many earthernware and ceramic vessels depicting the historic significance of each time period. There is also a gorgeous moss garden which has stone pathways bending across it, shaded by maple tress. During autumn, the garden displays fall colors ...Read more
  14. Narukawa Art Museum

    4.2 (618 Votes)
    Narukawa Art Museum

    Art Museum

    At the shores of Lake Ashi, lies the beautiful Narukawa Art Museum, which specialises in displaying artworks of modern nihonga, or Japanese-style paintings of our age. The museum showcases the private collection of Minoru Narukawa from 20 years, which includes 200 creations of Kyujin Yamamoto, recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit. The form of artwork displayed at this museum is nihonga, whi...Read more
  15. Hakone Sekisho

    Outdoors

    During Edo Period, Hakone used to be an important checkpoint along the highway connecting Tokyo and Kyoto. The Hakone Sekisho or Hakone Checkpoint is now a reflection of that feudal era and the beautiful pathntaken during that time. The path is surrounded by cedar trees on both sides and there is a stone paved path too that has been restored in its original form. The Sekisho also has the housin...Read more