A popular and attractive way of visiting Hakone is by circling the region with five different means of transport (train, cablecar, ropeway, boat and bus), using the Hakone Free Pass.
The round course outlined below starts and ends in Hakone-Yumoto and circles the Hakone region in the counter-clockwise direction. Of course, it is also possible to follow the course in the opposite direction or to start and end somewhere different.
If you leave early in the morning, it is possible to completed the Hakone round course in a one day trip from Tokyo. However, we recommend allocating two days and one night to your visit, preferably with a stay at a ryokan with hot spring baths.
Sounzan to Togendai
Nice views of
Mount Fuji and the national park can be enjoyed from the
Hakone Ropeway when visibility is good. A transfer of ropeways is required at
Owakudani, where travelers can observe volcanic activities.
Togendai to Hakone-machi
Nice views of
Lake Ashi, the surrounding wooded mountains and
Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from the pirate ship shaped boats when visibility is good. Most ships operate from Togendai to Hakone-machi and then continue to Moto-Hakone.
Hakone-machi to Moto-Hakone
Hakone Tozan Bus (line H or K)
Moto-Hakone to Hakone-Yumoto
Visit
Hakone Shrine in Moto-Hakone and then return by bus to Yumoto, possibly with a stop at
Yunessun along the way (by bus line H). Alternatively, you could walk a section of the
Old Tokaido and catch a bus from the Amazake Chaya or Hatajuku back to Yumoto (by bus line K).
