3 Days in Hakone and Mt Fuji

Itinerary created by

Hat Explores

What you’ll do

Fulfill your bucket list experience of seeing Mt Fuji from Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes through this itinerary! You might not always get lucky with visibility so 2-3 days offers more chances to see it and allows you to truly enjoy the moment with this natural wonder. This guide here includes details such as travel options, activity costs and our favorite things to do in the region (which you can choose and make a 2 day trip of!).

However, if you are short on time, check the visibility and consider booking this day trip from Tokyo which covers the highlights including the Hakone cruise, lunch, views of Mt Fuji up close and a bullet train back to Tokyo!

HOW TO REACH HAKONE?

There are many options to this region. Here are a couple we recommend:

Odakyu Train - From Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Odawara station (Hakone) via the Fuji Hakone Pass or the Hakone City pass (includes round trip to/from Tokyo to Odawara and unlimited transport in the region)
JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station
Shinkansen train to Odawara or Mishima (if you want to start at Fuji Five Lakes) and renting a car to explore from Fuji Five Lakes
Also the Ltd Express "Romance Car" (partially covered by the two passes above but additional ~1200 Yen). You have to buy these in advance online or from Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center or an Odakyu ticket machine.

HOW TO SEE MT FUJI FROM THE TRAIN?

From Tokyo to Hakone you will see Mt Fuji on the right side so seats C & D of the train. On a clear day you will see Mt Fuji between Shin Matsuda Station and Kayama Station. You can also go via the Romantic express (+1200 yen) where you can book observation decks seats! If you take this train to Hakoneyu, from their you can take a tram to Gora station to explore Hakone.

TIPS

We did the last one so direct Shinkansen to Mishima and rented a car for three days! so you can do Day 1 and 3 Fuji Five Lakes and Day 2 Hakone too. (You need an international driving permit to drive here and we suggest taking complete insurance).

If you don’t prefer driving, you can also reach Mishima/ Odawara and use the Fuji Hakone Pass to experience a very similar trip

Use google maps for the best routes to travel between places, the Fuji Hakone Pass already covers most routes

Odawara Station

Gateway to Hakone and Odawara

Category

Public Transport

Est. Price

Transport Type

train

Direction

21.1 km (13.1 mi)

43 min

Jump on the switchback train on the Hakone-Tozan Line from Odawara and head to Gora Station. The journey offers gorgeous views of the mountain and forest scenery from the train, so sure to get a window seat to experience the best of it!

Take the cable car from Gora station to Souzan Station where you jump on the Hakone Ropeway - which you can take a couple times too (its all covered in your pass!)

Hakone Ropeway

Breathtaking views of Sulfuric hot springs

Category

Activity

Est. Price

Est. Duration

30-60m

Direction

5.6 km (3.5 mi)

11 min

A unique delicacy here is the black eggs of Owakudani! This snack - Tamago – boiled eggs that are turned black from the sulfurous water, can be purchased all around Hakone. It is said that you increase your life span by 7 years by eating these!

Hakone Pirate Ship Tour

Pirate ship cruises on lake Ashi

Category

Tours

Est. Price

Est. Duration

1-2h

Direction

2.9 km (1.8 mi)

5 min

Torii Gate over water

Floating gate at sacred shrine

Category

Sightseeing

Direction

Torii Gate over water

Iconic floating gate in Japan

Category

Culture

Direction

5.4 km (3.4 mi)

9 min

Sail over lake Ashi and keep an eye out for prime spots like the view of Mt. Fuji and the laketop torii gate of Hakone-jinja shrine in the same view! We've added a map in the Pirate ship photo card for reference too.

Step out at Motohakone-ko to see Hakone Jinja shrine and the Tori gate before completing the circuit on the pirate ship!