Things to Do in Hakone (箱根町), Kanagawa: Sights, Train Access & Travel Guide

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview & City Profile

Hakone (箱根町) in Kanagawa Prefecture (Kanto, Japan) is anchored by local sights including Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖) & Sightseeing Pirate Ships, Hakone Shrine & Peace Torii (箱根神社), Ōwakudani Volcanic Valley (大涌谷) and served by Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) via the regional hub at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station. Set at 734 m elevation (35.1894°N, 139.0247°E), Hakone offers travelers a base for sampling regional Yokohama Chinatown steamed buns & shumai, Yokohama Iekei tonkotsu-shoyu ramen, Shonan shirasu (whitebait bowls) cuisine and exploring neighboring Yugawara (湯河原町) (5.6 km), Kannami (函南町) (8.8 km), Manazuru (真鶴町) (10.2 km), Susono (裾野市) (10.9 km).

Hakone is a notable spa town and a popular tourist destination due to its many hot springs being within view of nearby Mount Fuji, the most visited mountain in Japan. Hakone is located in the mountains in the far west of the prefecture, on the eastern side of Hakone Pass. Most of the town is within the borders of the volcanically active Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, centered on Lake Ashi. Hakone is the location of the Hakone Gongen, a noted Shinto shrine which is mentioned in Heian period literature. During the Genpei War, after his defeat at the Battle of Ishibashiyama in neighboring Manuzuru, Minamoto no Yoritomo prayed at this shrine for victory over his enemies. Within Kanagawa Prefecture, Hakone (箱根町) serves as a resort & onsen town in Kanagawa Prefecture (municipal incorporation: 1956-09-30) and pairs naturally with wider prefectural highlights such as Yokohama Minato Mirai & Chinatown, ancient temples and Great Buddha of Kamakura, Enoshima Island, Odawara Castle, and Hakone hot springs overlooking Mt. Fuji.

What to See & Do in Hakone (箱根町): Landmarks & Sights

Visitors exploring Hakone (箱根町) from Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) at 734 m elevation (35.1894°N, 139.0247°E) can visit these nearby shrines, temples, parks, and geographic landmarks (with straight-line distances from central Hakone):

• Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖) & Sightseeing Pirate Ships — local sightseeing landmark near Hakone (箱根町).
• Hakone Shrine & Peace Torii (箱根神社) — local sightseeing landmark near Hakone (箱根町).
• Ōwakudani Volcanic Valley (大涌谷) — local sightseeing landmark near Hakone (箱根町).
• Hakone Open-Air Museum (彫刻の森美術館) — local sightseeing landmark near Hakone (箱根町).
• Pola Museum of Art — local sightseeing landmark near Hakone (箱根町).
• Primary Rail Gateway for Hakone: Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) (connecting to Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station).

Closest Neighboring Municipalities to Hakone

When planning a regional rail or driving loop around Hakone (箱根町) and Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen), consider pairing your stop with the 5 closest neighboring municipalities across Kanagawa Prefecture and Kanto:

• Yugawara (湯河原町) — 5.6 km from Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Kannami (函南町) — 8.8 km from Hakone (Shizuoka Prefecture)
• Manazuru (真鶴町) — 10.2 km from Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Susono (裾野市) — 10.9 km from Hakone (Shizuoka Prefecture)
• Atami (熱海市) — 11.2 km from Hakone (Shizuoka Prefecture)

Getting to Hakone & Getting Around

Train & hub access to Hakone (箱根町) via Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen): 25–30m from Tokyo Station to Yokohama or Kawasaki on JR lines; 35m to Odawara on the Tokaido Shinkansen; 55m to Kamakura on the JR Yokosuka Line. From Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station, transfer to local JR or private rail lines serving Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) to reach central Hakone (35.1894°N, 139.0247°E).

• Local rail & IC cards at Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen): JR regional trains and private commuter lines link Yokohama with Hakone (箱根町) and neighboring Yugawara, Kannami, Manazuru. Nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) work at major urban gates; for rural branch stations or local buses around Hakone, carry ¥1,000 bills and ¥100 coins for the onboard fare box.
• Luggage & station coin lockers: Travelers exploring Hakone and continuing toward Yugawara can store bags at major transfer stations or check suitcase dimensions in our Luggage & Locker Checker and ship large bags ahead via Takkyubin.
• Driving & car rental around Hakone: While Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) anchors public transit for Hakone, picking up a rental car at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station makes it easy to link Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖) & Sightseeing Pirate Ships and Hakone Shrine & Peace Torii (箱根神社) with nearby Yugawara (湯河原町) (5.6 km), Kannami (函南町) (8.8 km), Manazuru (真鶴町) (10.2 km), Susono (裾野市) (10.9 km). See our Renting a Car in Japan Guide.

What to Eat in Hakone (箱根町) & Kanagawa

Dining near Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) and across Hakone (箱根町) highlights the regional food culture of Kanagawa Prefecture and Kanto. Look for these local specialties at station restaurants, family-run shokudo, and markets in Hakone:

• Local specialty & terroir of Hakone (箱根町): geothermal hot-spring (onsen) ryokan hospitality and mountain tourism alongside sweet cherry (sakuranbo) orchards and highland fruit farming.
• Yokohama Chinatown steamed buns & shumai — regional specialty enjoyed across Hakone (箱根町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Yokohama Iekei tonkotsu-shoyu ramen — regional specialty enjoyed across Hakone (箱根町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Shonan shirasu (whitebait bowls) — regional specialty enjoyed across Hakone (箱根町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Odawara kamaboko fish cakes — regional specialty enjoyed across Hakone (箱根町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Yokosuka Kaigun curry — regional specialty enjoyed across Hakone (箱根町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.

If you are dining in Hakone (箱根町) with food allergies or dietary restrictions, use our Japanese Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards at restaurants around Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen).

Where to Stay in Hakone (箱根町)

Visitors staying overnight in Hakone (箱根町) can look for business hotels, traditional ryokan, or family-run minshuku near Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen), or base at major rail hubs in Yokohama (Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station) or neighboring Yugawara, Kannami, Manazuru for quick train access into Hakone. Compare hotel tiers and ryokan etiquette in our Japan Accommodation Guide.

Best Time to Visit Hakone & Seasonal Highlights

Seasonal guide for Hakone (箱根町, 734 m elevation at 35.1894°N, 139.0247°E): Late March–April for cherry blossoms in Kamakura & Yokohama Sankeien; June for Kamakura hydrangeas; October–December for crisp Mt. Fuji views from Hakone & Enoshima.

Wider sightseeing across Kanagawa Prefecture that pairs well with visiting Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖) & Sightseeing Pirate Ships in Hakone (箱根町) includes: Yokohama Minato Mirai & Chinatown, ancient temples and Great Buddha of Kamakura, Enoshima Island, Odawara Castle, and Hakone hot springs overlooking Mt. Fuji.

Practical Travel Tips for Hakone (箱根町)

• Tourist information (観光案内所) for Hakone: Stop by the Kankō Annaijo desk at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station or Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) for local bus schedules to Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖) & Sightseeing Pirate Ships and walking maps of Hakone (箱根町).
• Cash & ATMs in Hakone: Convenience stores and major hotels around Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) accept international cards, while smaller eateries and shrines near Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖) & Sightseeing Pirate Ships often prefer yen cash; 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post ATMs in Hakone accept foreign debit cards.
• Local dining hours in Hakone: Around Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) (Odakyu Romancecar 85 min from Shinjuku) & Odawara Station (東海道新幹線 Tokaido Shinkansen) and neighboring Yugawara, Kannami, Manazuru, lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and dinner spots open around 5:30 PM with last orders between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.