There is no airport located in Hakone, the nearest airports are in Tokyo. Narita and Haneda Airport are both at least a 2-hour journey by train to Hakone.

If you have not booked a private transfer through us there are a few options to reach the airport, such as trains, taxis, buses, and rental cars.

The easiest and most popular way to reach Hakone from the airports in Tokyo is by train, it takes 2 ½ to 3 hours from Narita Airport and 1 ½ to 2 hours from Haneda Airport. The fastest and most expensive method is the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Odawara with a transfer to the Hakone-Tozan Line, the journey takes about an hour and costs around ¥3430.

The Odakyu Railways `Romance Car` from Shinjuku Station takes passengers directly to Hakone-Yumoto Station in the heart of the city on a scenic 90-minute train ride. If you purchase the Hakone Rail Pass the Romance Car fare is only around ¥870.

There are regular (futsuu) trains from the JR Tokyo station that takes about 90 minutes to reach Odawara on the Tokaido line, these trains depart every 15-30 minutes and cost around ¥1500.

There are direct highway buses that travel from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to the Lake Ashi area in Hakone. Buses depart every 30 minutes and a journey from Tokyo to Hakone costs around ¥2000, the journey takes about 2 hours.

There are seven train stations located in the town of Hakone including Gora, Miyanoshita, and Yumoto. All the stations are on the Hakone Tozan Line mountain train. The main station is the Hakone-Yumoto Station located on the eastern edge of Hakone. The station is served by the Hakone Tozan Line from Odawara to Gora, all Hakone Tozan Line trains start from this station. There are shops, an information center and a bus terminal in front of the station. There are taxi stands outside the station.

Renting a car when visiting Hakone is not necessary with all the forms of public transportation including multiple trains that connect visitors to the surrounding region including Tokyo.

The city of Hakone offers an efficient network of trains, buses, cable cars, ropeways and boats for visitors to explore the city and its sights. The Hakone Round Course are five different types of transport used in the city and include the Hakone-Tozan Line, the Hakone-Tozan Cablecar, the Hakone Ropeway, the Hakone Sightseeing Ships, and the Hakone Tozan Bus.

Visitors are urged to purchase the Odakyu Hakone Free Pass which includes a return trip from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and allows unlimited use of all the above forms of transportation in the city. There are also additional discounts for pass holders at museums, hot springs, and restaurants. A 2-day pass costs approximately ¥5000, a 3-day pass is about ¥5,500.

Taxi stands in Hakone can mostly be found outside the main train stations. Taxi prices are authorized by the government and fares are generally calculated by distance.

There is an abundance of stunning outdoor scenic walks to take in Hakone. Visitors can stroll around the beautiful Lake Ashi and visit the many sights and attractions the lake has to offer. Hiking in the surrounding mountains is a wonderful way to spend time with nature. Hakone-Izu National Park offers many hiking opportunities with different levels of difficulty and breathtaking views. There are several popular hiking spots in the region including Mount Kintoki and Mount Kamiyama with views of the stunning Mount Fuji.

It is possible to ride a bike around many of the beautiful idyllic settings found in and around Hakone. Mountain biking can be a popular activity through the trails found in Hakone-Izu National Park. Taking a bicycle ride along the shores of Lake Ashi is the perfect pastime. Several beautiful locations around Hakone are great for a bike ride and there are several locations where bikes can be rented including many locations around the lake. The beautiful natural Sengokuhara Forest of Hakone is a great location for a mountain bike ride.

Hakone is one of Japan`s most popular hot springs resorts with many places where visitors can enjoy the relaxing and rejuvenating warm waters. There are places available to visit on day trips as well as hotels and ryokans for overnight stays. Some of the popular hot spring locations in the city of Hakone include Tenzan, Yuryo, Yunnesan, Kappa Tengoku, and Hakone no Yu.

Yumoto is found at the entrance to Hakone near Odawara, this is the city`s most famous hot spring with a lengthy history and high-quality water with numerous baths and inns available. There are hot springs found along the shores of the beautiful Lake Ashi and nestled in the hills and valleys surrounding the city.

Tenzan Onsen is a traditional onsen and one of the best in the region, the onsen offers options for day visitors and boasts a natural secluded environment with a traditional vibe. Visitors can relax and soak in the hot spring waters and enjoy lunch at a traditional Japanese restaurant.

Yunessun is a family-friendly onsen comprised of play zones and unique baths including a wine bath.

Hakone is remarkably safe and Japan has long been known as one of the world`s most crime-free countries. Crimes against visitors are practically unheard of and lost belongings are generally turned into local police. Keep your wits about you and practice street smarts when out sightseeing.

Hakone Yumoto offers visitors a wide range of great souvenirs to take home including traditional Japanese sweets, fresh seafood, handicrafts, and other mementos. There are several great areas for shopping in Hakone including shotengai shopping one of the busiest and most popular is in front of the Hakone Yumoto Station. This bustling street is lined by shops selling souvenirs and food with unique items such as hot springs products, famous confectionary, and wooden accessories distinctive to Hakone.

The Hakone Market (Hakone no Ichi) is another souvenir shop situated close to Yumoto Station selling a variety of goods. Gotemba Outlet is a premier shopping location situated at the base of Mt Fuji where a great selection of shops is available to browse selling international brands such as Coach, North Face, Nike, and Puma.

Some popular items that are unique to Hakone include Yosegi Zaiku wooden crafts that have been around for centuries. Yosegi zaiku is a local craft that has been registered as a piece of cultural importance to the Japanese, many shops in the city sell this and some even offer the opportunity to see local craftsmen at work.

Hakone is an area known for its special foods and sweets, onsen Manju are sweet red bean-filled pastries that are one of the areas famous local products. Sagamiya is a western-style dessert shop found near Yumoto station selling a variety of sweet snacks like nuts and caramel. Nuts Vessel is one of the store`s specialties, a sweet chocolate bar filled with nuts. Yumochi is a classic Hakone confectionary wrapped in bamboo leaves, a soft glutinous rice cake with a citron scent.

Hakone is a year-round destination that offers spectacular stunning scenery and landscapes no matter what the season. The city is nestled in the mountains with a high altitude, it can still be cold and dark even in the summertime, but the scenery changes elegantly with each season. Weather in the mountains can change rapidly and the cold and rain can be apparent any time of year, bringing a jacket and a good pair of walking shoes is a great idea. The fall is a great season to visit Hakone, the region is beautiful at this time of year with landscapes blanketed in rich evergreen foliage and the changing colors of the dense trees with vibrant reds, yellows and oranges make it a picture-perfect destination.

Japanese is the language spoken in Hakone, but English is widely spoken throughout the country with announcements on public transportation frequently made in Japanese and English, most signs include roman characters or an English explanation. Most Japanese people study English in junior high and high school so you are best seeking out younger people who may be able to help and translate for you.

It is best to have your destination written down in Japanese so you are able to show this to your taxi driver or people on the street. People are always willing to help whether they can speak English or not.

We recommend that you get a good English - Japanese guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1 - 10.

The currency in Japan is the yen symbolized by ¥. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand and be prepared to exchange your dollars to yen upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and bank locations throughout the city, ATM`s are widespread. ATM`s are located at Post office`s all over the city, look for a symbol that indicates `International ATM Service` or `Authorized Foreign Exchange` (a green clover) and stickers indicating which cards are accepted.

The city of Hakone has a lot of local food specialties to offer visitors, there are many different delicacies to try and other great food. The water quality in Hakone is highly valued due to its strategic location in the mountains and being well known for its hot springs and spring water. Having a great water source is key to making many of the delicious local dishes including soba noodles which are incredibly tasty.

Kumiage Yuba is a creamy tofu dish made with Hakone`s fresh spring water and high-quality soy milk simmered in delicate dashi (broth). The dish is cooked with fluffy eggs and served on a bed of rice, it is served in many restaurants around the city.

Kuro-Tamago or black egg is one of the things that should be on your bucket list to try when visiting Hakone. The raw eggs are famously boiled in 176 F boiling water in the hot springs of Owakudani the geothermal valley at the top of Hakone. The eggs are boiled for about an hour then transferred to another steaming pot of water for another 15 minutes, the eggshells turn black in reaction to the minerals in the water. Eating the eggs is said to bring individuals good luck and add 7 years to one`s life.

Kamaboko is a popular food in the Hakone region, produced in Odawara and Numazu, a type of fish cake made from processed fish paste. There is a Kamaboko museum in Hakone where visitors can see all kinds of kamaboko and see how they are made. There are all kinds of sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors of kamaboko in Hakone with options to take home.

Hakone is surrounded by the seaports of Odawara and Numazu and therefore offers various types of seafood. Hakone is also known for the great beer it produces which have won several awards including the International Beer Competition and the Asia Beer Cup. The beer is brewed using the iron-free mountain hot spring water from the region, the unique water quality of the spring water makes this an award-winning beer with a delicious and different taste.

Nightlife options in Hakone include late-night dining establishments, relaxing in warm rejuvenating waters of the hot springs, chilling out in quaint izakayas, or singing karaoke.

There are a few outdoor hot springs that are open and available to visit in the evenings in Hakone including Hotel Okada`s outdoor hot spring in a beautiful scenic setting under the stars. The hotel has several outdoor bathing options that are available to enjoy a night. Yu no Sato Hot Springs are open until 11 pm nestled on the side of a hill amid spectacular surrounding natural environment.

The area surrounding the Hakone Yumoto Station is filled with plenty of evening option including great restaurants with delicious food, sophisticated bars to enjoy after-dinner drinks as well as shops that sell snacks and souvenirs which are open late. Wander down the back alleys around the station and discover some hidden gems, including late-night establishments serving up delicious fried chicken and extensive drink menus with a fun, energetic ambiance.

Hotel Okada is also a popular destination for karaoke singers, they offer private rooms available to rent for those looking to show off their singing skills. Hotel Okada Karaoke Club is open most nights of the week and there is a game center available on site for kids and seasonal events offered.

If you need emergency services while in Japan dial 110 for the police or 119 to call an ambulance or report a fire.

Hospitals:

Hakone Rehabilitation Clinics tel.81-460-84-9111

National Hakone Hospital tel. 81-465-22-3196