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Hakone Holidays and Tours

One of Japan’s most popular travel destinations, Hakone offers amazing views of Mount Fuji, a chance to stay in a traditional ryokan, and misty forest hiking trails to the Hakone Shrine.

  • Tailor-made Hakone itineraries across the mountain-side region
  • Handpicked stays in traditional ryokans and luxury onsen retreats
  • Seamless and scenic transport to top Mount Fuji viewpoints
  • 24/7 support from Scott Dunn’s Japan specialists throughout your stay
Hakone

A nature escape takes on new meaning in Hakone, one of Japan’s best places to enjoy hot spring culture all within view of towering Mount Fuji. Easily reached from Tokyo, it is a natural stop on wider Tokyo–Hakone–Kyoto itineraries and particularly popular with couples, honeymooners and first-time visitors looking to experience a more traditional side of Japan.

The Hakone Circuit is one of the best ways to explore the region, combining trains, ropeways and sightseeing boats into a scenic journey through forests, lakes and volcanic valleys. For those staying longer, Hakone has plenty to explore from outdoor art museums to bubbling volcanic Owakudani Valley to historic landmarks such as Odawara Castle. Our specialists can help tailor your time here around the experiences that matter most to you, whether that’s a luxurious honeymoon, a nature adventure or a family-friendly Hakone holiday.

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Meet Our Specialists

Meet Our Japan Experts

Our team of specialists are waiting to help you book your next adventure. Contact us today to start planning your tailor-made trip.

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Why Visit Hakone?

If experiencing a ryokan stay, being immersed in nature and pristine views of Mount Fuji are on your Japan travel wish list, then look no further than Hakone. Pair with a wider tour of Japan, adding a tranquil night or two in a ryokan to your itinerary in between your time in Tokyo and Kyoto. Culture and nature rich, think of it like a palate cleanser after a world-wind escape in Tokyo before you settle into the rich history of Kyoto.

Hot Springs and Ryokan Stays

Hakone is one of the best places in Japan to experience hot spring culture, with traditional inns and onsen towns spread across the mountains and valleys.

  • Traditional ryokans – Be transported to another time at traditional inns with tatami mat rooms, including luxurious private onsens and multi-course kaiseki dining.
  • Stroll around Gora – Explore one of Hakone’s main resort areas, home to the Hakone Open-Air Museum and sculpture park set amongst the mountain scenery.
  • Hot springs and onsens – Visit bathhouses in Hakone-Yumoto, unwind in rotenburo outdoor baths, or enjoy solo at a private onsen at your ryokan.

Mount Fuji Views

While visibility isn’t guaranteed, on clear days Hakone offers some spectacular ways to see Mount Fuji including these views:

  • Lake Ashi Viewpoint – Hike or boat to the southern shores of Lake Ashi for one of Hakone’s best spots for views of Mount Fuji.
  • A view from the sky – Ride in the sky on the Hakone Ropeway, the section crossing Owakudani can give you a truly unique perspective of Mount Fuji.
  • View from Owakudani – Go for a morning hike and you may be able to glimpse Mount Fuji beyond the steaming landscape of this ancient hot spring valley.

Nature and Scenic Landscapes

Hakone combines forested mountain scenery, historic sites and volcanic landscapes within one of Japan’s most accessible national parks.

  • Hakone-jinja Shrine – View its iconic torii gate rising from Lake Ashi or hike through ancient cedar forests leading to the main shrine at the base of Mount Hakone.
  • Old Tokaido Road hike – Follow one of Japan’s most famous trade routes used to travel from Kyoto to the shogunate capital, Edo (modern day Tokyo).
  • Owakudani Valley – See steaming vents and sulphurous landscapes formed by volcanic activity, best viewed from the Hakone Ropeway above.

Unique Experiences and Transport

Half of the fun of exploring Hakone is its variety of transportation, with several scenic ways to explore popular sites.

  • Explore by ropeway – Travel above forests, volcanic valleys and Lake Ashi on suspended cable cars linking many of Hakone’s best-known areas.
  • Scenic railway – Ride the Hakone Tozan Railway, Japan’s oldest mountain railway, with its most charming sections winding from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora.
  • Boat on Lake Ashi – Take off from Moto-Hakone pier and cruise across the lake on “pirate ship” sightseeing boats.

Top Landmarks and Things to Do in Hakone

Discover what makes this mountain-side hot spring retreat something magical. From exploring nature to unwinding at traditional ryokan stays, Scott Dunn will personalize your time here to your unique travel style.

  • Lake Ashi

    Lake Ashi

    Thousands of visitors flock to Lake Ashi’s serene shores in Hakone, a crater lake formed by Mount Hakone’s volcanic eruption around 3,000 years ago. Beautiful in its own right, Lake Ashi is a spectacular viewpoint to see Mount Fuji on clear days, while the surrounding forests and mountains make it a popular nature retreat.

    Sightseeing boats cross the lake throughout the day, passing by sites like the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine standing at the water’s edge. In the surrounding forests walking trails follow sections of the old Tokaido Road, one of Japan’s most historically significant trade routes. For other attractions, head to nearby Onshi Hakone Park and enjoy blooming gardens leading up to the Hakone Detached Palace, a former summer villa of Japan’s Imperial family.

  • Hakone Open-Air Museum

    Hakone Open-Air Museum

    Hakone Open-Air Museum combines art and nature with indoor exhibition spaces and a sprawling sculpture park set against Hakone’s hills and mountainside. Find works by Japanese and international artists including Pablo Picasso, Tarō Okamoto, Joan Miró, Goto Ryoji, and Henry Moore.

    Be sure to visit the sculpture park for the stained-glass Symphonic Sculpture tower, which visitors can climb for a bird’s-eye view of the museum grounds. Inside, the Picasso Pavilion houses an extensive collection of the artist’s work. Interactive spaces for kids make the museum accessible for families as well.

  • Owakudani Valley

    Owakudani Valley

    Owakudani, meaning “Great Boiling Valley”, remains one of Hakone’s most active volcanic areas, where steam vents and sulphurous hot springs continue to bubble from the mountainside. The landscape was formed by the eruption of Mount Hakone thousands of years ago and still feels dramatically different from the surrounding forests and lakes.

    The Hakone Ropeway passes directly over the valley, offering views across the volcanic terrain that can also be explored on walking trails near the vents. While visiting Owakudani you may encounter several stalls selling kuro tamago, black eggs, cooked in the sulphurous hot springs. It’s believed that eating one adds seven years to your life.

  • Hakone Ropeway

    Hakone Ropeway

    For a unique perspective of Hakone’s natural landscapes, the Hakone Ropeway is one of the most exciting and novel ways to explore it. The ropeway carries visitors above Hakone’s lush forests, volcanic valleys, and down to Lake Ashi. The full route stretches for several kilometres, linking many main sights and connects with the wider transport network through Hakone.

    One of the most striking sections runs between Gora and Owakudani, where the ropeway passes high above the Owakudani Valley hot springs. On clear days, passengers may also catch views of Mount Fuji during the journey. You can purchase the Hakone Free Pass for unlimited rides on the Hakone Ropeway along with local trains, buses, and boats or you can purchase individual tickets at the ropeway station.

  • Gora Area

    Gora Area

    Secluded traditional ryokan stays are blocks away from blooming rose gardens, charming cafés, and art spaces that make Gora a destination in its own right. For art lovers, make sure to visit Hakone Open-Air Museum and sculpture park as one of the area’s main attractions, or visit nearby museums focused on photography, ceramics and Japanese art. Local craft studios near Gora Park offer hands-on workshops for everything from pottery to glass blowing.

  • Lake Ashi
  • Hakone Open-Air Museum
  • Owakudani Valley
  • Hakone Ropeway
  • Gora Area

Luxury Ryokans and Itineraries for Hakone

A truly peaceful destination, Hakone is all about slowing down, slipping into hot springs, and taking the time to disconnect and get in tune with the world around you. With some of our most popular ryokans located here, it’s a must for any itinerary focusing on traditional cultural experiences.

Discover our collection of stays and tailor-made tours below to see how your trip could look.

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Yoshimatsu

Yoshimatsu

Hakone, Japan

Surrounded by bamboo trees and hills, Yoshimatsu is a traditional ryokan with beautiful outdoor hot spring baths and a traditional Japanese garden. Rooms come with private hot spring baths and the stunning kaiseki cuisine is some of the best in Hakone.
Hoshino KAI Hakone

Hoshino KAI Hakone

Hakone, Hakone, Mount Fuji & Around, Japan

Immerse yourself in the peaceful beauty of Hakone National Park at a deluxe Japanese ryokan, combining modern convenience with traditional Japanese hospitality and experience the relaxing custom of onsen bathing, powered by natural hot springs.
Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa

Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa

Hakone, Japan

The Hyatt Regency is located in Gora, close to Hakone, an area famous for its hot springs and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. As the smallest hotel in the group, the Hyatt Regency delivers a lovely home away from home feel.
Gen Hakone

Gen Hakone

Hakone, Hakone, Mount Fuji & Around, Japan

The Gen Hakone has been renovated as a deluxe ryokan with just six luxuriously spacious suites. Blending the best of Japanese heritage and design with Western comforts, this standout accommodation offers private indoor and outdoor onsen hot spring baths.
Hakone Gora Byakudan

Hakone Gora Byakudan

Hakone, Hakone, Mount Fuji & Around, Japan

Infused with a compelling sense of harmony, this ryokan combines elegant interiors and modern comforts with the traditional features of a Japanese inn, offering private onsen bathing on every balcony with outstanding views of Hakone National Park.
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NEW Our list of new properties, tours and experiences to Scott Dunn.
5 nights
Japan's Golden Route by Rail: Cruise Extension

Japan's Golden Route by Rail: Cruise Extension

Worldwide

Explore Japan's Golden Route on board the epic bullet train. Ancient shrines, hidden gems and slow moments of zen await as you take a step into a country of contrast. Our Rail & Sail extensions are designed for those who believe that how you get there is just as important as the destination itself. We pair the intimacy and elegance of ultra-luxury cruising with carefully crafted rail journeys through the most iconic destinations.

£4,300 pp

18 nights
Rail & Sail: Japan Uncovered with Silversea

Rail & Sail: Japan Uncovered with Silversea

Japan

Some journeys show you a destination. Others allow you to truly live it. Journey overland from the electric streets of Tokyo to the timeless beauty of Kyoto and the volcanic drama of Hakone, before taking to the sea and discovering a side of Japan that few ever witness. This is Japan experienced on a deeper level. Consider this itinerary your inspiration. Your dedicated Travel Specialist will work with you to craft every detail into something entirely your own.

£11,100 pp

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Japan with Kids

Japan with Kids

Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto

An action-packed adventure for all the family, experience Japan’s highlights during a school break or combined with a Southeast Asian beach trip. Experience iconic pop culture in Tokyo, marvel at the natural beauty of rural Hakone and Mount Fuji, then ride the bullet train to Kyoto, laden with Japan’s rich geisha, samurai and ninja heritage.

£6,300 pp

12 nights
Japan in Spring - Cherry Blossom Season

Japan in Spring - Cherry Blossom Season

Tokyo, Kanazawa, Miyajima, Kyoto & Hakone

Explore and marvel during Sakura season, when beautiful cherry blossom blankets the country. Taking you throughout the island of Honshu, visit Japan in spring to see a nation in full bloom. The unfolding beauty continues through Hakone National Park and Miyajima Island, two of the best and most picturesque places to see Japan’s famed blossom.

£16,000 pp

The Best Time to Visit Hakone

Hakone experiences cooler mountain conditions than nearby Tokyo, with each season bringing dramatic transformations. Here’s what to expect throughout the year:

  • March to April for cherry blossoms – Cool and comfortable temperatures with peak blooms across Hakone and the Five Lakes region.
  • June to August is rainy season - Warm, humid weather with the rainy season typically from June into July, which can make it a less ideal time to visit.
  • October to November for autumn foliage – Clear days and cooler evenings as forests and mountain slopes turn shades of red, orange and gold.

Busy tourism seasons

 Hakone remains popular throughout the year, though some periods see a spike in visitor numbers, including:

  • Peak cherry blossom season (March–April) – One of the busiest times to visit, with crowds at places like Onshi Hakone Park and Gora Park for peak bloom.
  • Golden Week (late April–early May) – A series of national holidays in Japan can mean more crowds and limited availability for ryokans and transportation.
  • Peak autumn foliage season (October to November) – Can be quite busy as visitors come to see Hakone’s forests, gardens and lakeside viewpoints transform for autumn.

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Why Scott Dunn for Hakone Holidays?

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