Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview
Mt Fuji (3,776 m) is Japan's highest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site. It's often hidden by clouds — views are usually best on clear, cold mornings from late autumn to early spring.
Hakone (Kanagawa) is a mountainous onsen area around Lake Ashi, about 1.5 hours from Shinjuku. Fuji Five Lakes (Yamanashi), especially Lake Kawaguchiko, is closer to the mountain and has the most famous views.
Neighbourhoods & areas
Hakone-Yumoto
Gateway onsen town at the end of the Odakyu line; many day-use baths.
Gora & Owakudani
Hakone Tozan railway, ropeway over the volcanic Owakudani valley (famous for black eggs), and museums.
Lake Ashi (Moto-Hakone / Hakone-machi)
Sightseeing cruises, Hakone Shrine's lakeside torii and the old Tokaido road.
Kawaguchiko
The main base in Fuji Five Lakes: lake walks, ropeway, Chureito Pagoda viewpoint nearby. See our Fuji Five Lakes guide.
Fujiyoshida & Oshino
Retro streets with Fuji views, Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, and the Oshino Hakkai springs.
Top sights & experiences
Hakone loop
A classic circuit by train, cable car, ropeway, pirate-style lake boat and bus. The Hakone Freepass from Odakyu covers most of it.
Hakone Open-Air Museum
Outdoor sculpture park with a Picasso pavilion.
Owakudani
Steaming volcanic vents. Access can be restricted when volcanic activity rises — check alerts.
Chureito Pagoda
The iconic five-storey pagoda with Fuji behind; involves several hundred steps.
Climbing Mt Fuji
Official climbing season runs roughly early July to early September. Yamanashi and Shizuoka have introduced mandatory fees, entry limits and online pre-registration on the main trails — check the official site before planning.
Aokigahara & lava caves
Forest on old lava flows, with the Fugaku Wind Cave and Narusawa Ice Cave.
What to eat
Kuro-tamago
Eggs boiled in Owakudani's sulphurous springs, which turn the shells black.
Hoto noodles
Yamanashi's thick, flat noodles in miso stew with pumpkin and vegetables.
Ryokan kaiseki
Multi-course dinners are often included in onsen ryokan stays.
Yoshida udon
Notably firm, chewy udon from Fujiyoshida.
Where to stay by budget
Budget
Hostels and guesthouses in Hakone-Yumoto and Kawaguchiko.
Mid-range
Onsen hotels with shared baths offer good value; many include dinner and breakfast.
Luxury
Ryokan with private open-air baths (rotenburo) attached to rooms, and lakeside resorts facing Fuji.
Rough nightly ranges: hostels and capsule hotels often run a few thousand yen per person; business hotels commonly ¥8,000–¥20,000 per room; upscale hotels and ryokan can be far higher, especially in peak seasons. See our accommodation guide.
Getting there
Hakone: Odakyu Romancecar limited express from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto (around 1.5 hours), or Shinkansen to Odawara then local trains/buses. Kawaguchiko: highway buses from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (around 2 hours, traffic permitting), or JR to Otsuki then the Fujikyu Railway; some direct limited express trains run from Shinjuku.
Getting around
In Hakone, the Freepass covers the Tozan railway, cable car, ropeway, lake boats and many buses. Around Kawaguchiko, retro sightseeing buses loop the lakes. Consider luggage forwarding to your Hakone hotel to avoid hauling bags on the crowded mountain railway.
Day trips & side trips
Gotemba Premium Outlets
Large outlet mall with Fuji views.
Atami & Izu Peninsula
Seaside onsen towns and coastal hikes south of Hakone.
Shiraito Falls
Curtain-like falls fed by Fuji's spring water, on the Shizuoka side.
Best time to visit
Late autumn to early spring gives the clearest Fuji views; summer is often hazy. Hakone's autumn foliage peaks around November. Fuji is snow-capped most of the year. Climbing outside the official season is strongly discouraged by authorities and dangerous.
Local tips
- Check the live Fuji cameras before you go — if it's cloudy, focus on onsen and museums.
- Some ryokan baths don't allow tattoos; look for private (kashikiri) baths.
- Respect local rules around popular photo spots, where residents have struggled with overtourism.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: