Travel Guide to Hakone for First Timer

After I bought my round-trip ticket to Japan in 2018, I was wondering on how can I make my trip different than the previous one. Of course I can never get tired of visiting Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka, but exploring new areas is a mandatory for me to spice up my travel.

When I was surfing the internet, I saw a picture of the pirate ship and I’m intrigued to know where it is. I found out that it’s located in Hakone and the more I search about that place, I’m getting more interested to go there. Hakone is also a perfect destination to slip it into my itinerary because it is in between Tokyo and Kyoto. Since I was also determined to go to Enoura Observatory in Odawara, Hakone can’t get anymore perfect to be in my itinerary.

How to Get to Hakone?

If you have Japan Rail Pass, you still need Hakone Free Pass, as it is a special area and very touristy as well. I bought the Hakone 3 days pass because I don’t think. With Hakone Pass, you can use any kind of transport in Hakone (if I remember correctly, you only have to pay for the Odakyu “Romance Car” for Tokyo – Hakone) because I didn’t pull out any extra cash for transport when I was there.

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You can use bus, train, cable car, and the pirate ship (or sightseeing cruise). I suggest you to get on board on the sightseeing cruise because you already paid for the Hakone pass, might as well use it while you’re there. Transportation that I use the most is probably bus and by foot. I usually get to the area that I want via bus, and then walk around by foot so I can take pictures nonchalantly.

Where to Stay?

When I was browsing through the Internet and find out the average price of accommodations in Hakone, I almost dropped Hakone out from my itinerary. Why? Because it’s way too high for my budget. Like way, way, way too damn high. Even Airbnb is hopeless for me. But then I found a guesthouse called Hakone Tent, located near Gora Station, which is perfect. I don’t really mind sharing bathroom as long as it’s clean and safe.

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Most of the accommodations in Hakone have onsen, if it more expensive, than you probably are paying for a private onsen. What I love about Hakone Tent is that the staffs are super friendly and it fits my budget. The guests of Hakone Tent do get private onsen too! It’s just that you have to queue with the other guests because there’s only two onsens in the guesthouse. They also provide food (kinda expensive but oh well) and kitchen with enough cooking appliances.

The location of this place is not that far from Gora Station but you do have to walk through a steep road (like around 50 meters). So I was grateful that I started packing light because even just with a cabin luggage and backpack full of camera gear, it’s still a challenge.

From here to Lake Ashi (the famous lake, where you will see the pirate ship), is quite far, but the transportation in Hakone is very easy to follow. And since Hakone is a famous tourist place, some of the guides do speak English or at least can understand you.

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What to Do?

These are the things that you should do during your first visit in Hakone.

• Purchase Hakone Free Pass usually included the transport from Tokyo to Hakone and vice versa. I booked the pass in advanced and I suggest you to do so too. Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station, and then take the Hakone Tozan Line from Odawara Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station (55 minutes).

• Lake Ashi and ride the cruise (a.k.a pirate ship). It’s already included in the Hakone Free Pass, so take advantage of the pass! I took a ride from Motohakone to Togendai-ko.

• Hakone Open Air Museum. I personally really love this place so much. I think because it’s very different to the other museums I visited before. Most of the art in here is sculpture and installation. If you’re visiting with kids, I really recommend you to go hear because it’s really kids-friendly and very spacious.

• Hakone Ropeway. I recommend you to take this anyway because you if you already bought the Hakone Free Pass, you are entitled for a free ride via ropeway. You can see Mt. Fuji and Owakudani from the cable car. You can stop by in Owakudani, a geothermic site and also where you can eat lack eggs boiled from the hot spring.

• Onsen or hot spring. You can either go to public onsen or the one in your accommodation (if they have one). Hakone is really famous for the onsen so make sure you try it.

• Lakeside Panorama Hill in Onshi Hakone Park (see bus map) or 弁天の鼻展望台 observatory deck for a view point to Mt. Fuji. There’s a lot of panoramic view spot in Hakone but this one is near Motohakone (one of the spot to take the cruise) and I think it’s a pretty spot to see Mt. Fuji. You can enjoy a cup of tea while in here. There’s less people because you have to climb a bit (more like take the stairs actually) but I like it when there’s less people.

• The Water Gate or Torii of Hakone. When I was there, I was so unlucky because out of all days of the year, they have to renovate the water gate during my travel!

• Hakone Jinja Shrine. This place is filled with locals and you have to climb many stairs before you reach the shrine. The location is very tranquil and serene, although still crowded. I didn’t know what I supposed to do but still queue with them. But I found on the internet (thanks to hakone-japan.com on how to do it properly (by “it” I guess I mean the ritual?). Before entering/going up to the shrine: 1. take the water scoop in your right hand. 2. scoop the water and wash your left hand. 3. switch the scoop to your left hand, and wash right hand. 4. switch scoop back on right hand and pour water on left hand, dabbing your mouth to complete the cleansing process Awaken the Spirits: Throw your coin in to offer box. There is no specified amount, give as much as you feel good about. Ring the bell in front of the offering box. The ringing is said to call the God to the shrine. Connect: Two Bows, Make your Wish, Two Claps, and One Deep Bow in Thanks. There are a number of wonderful religious sites in the area.

• Little Prince Museum. If you’re a fan of Little Prince, definitely have to visit here. It’s accesible via bus. I didn’t go here because of time constraint and I’m not a really big fan of little prince to spend that much money for the entrance fee.

• For more inspiration, I used this map when I was in Hakone and I think it’s a beautiful map, easy and fun to read. I get excited just from reading this map. I’m adding “explore Hakone thoroughly” to my bucketlist. Finger crossed I can visit Hakone again. So please read that map first before your thoroughly plan your trip.

Actually, 3 days is not enough for me. If I have the chance to go back, I will stay at least one week because there’s just so much to do and see.

Tips & Suggestions

• I think it’s better if you stay overnight or two (or even more!) don’t just visit it for a day. Why? Hakone is a pretty remote destination and has this resort vibe where everything is slow-paced. The public transportation is not as often and you should also look up for the opening hours depending on seasonality.
• Accommodations in Hakone is really crazy expensive. It’s better to book at least 3 months in advance or during promo season (if you’re a promo hunter like me).
• If you are a budget traveler like me, you don’t have to spend a lot for accommodation in Hakone. Based on my experience, most hostels in Japan are clean and practical. Especially if you’re traveling solo, hostel or capsule hotel or guesthouse is more than enough. I can assure you that most of them are liveable, you don’t have to worry much about it.
• The best time to visit is May till October. I went there around end of March 2019 hoping that I can see some sakura. However, the altitude of Hakone is much higher than Tokyo and the surrounding area. That’s why the sakura was blooming almost the same time with the northern area part of Japan. I was kinda bummed because of this but Hakone itself is beyond my expectation so me no sad anymore.
• Plan your day based on the transportation schedule. Because Hakone is a not like Tokyo or other metropolitan city, the public transportation can be limited and less frequent. If you depend on buses and trains, I suggest you to keep your eye on the schedule or set yourself a timer. Also check the operating time of the public transportation, because it can be different on each season.
• Wear layers during season change (transition) because of unpredictable weather. When I was visiting there, I didn’t expect any snow at all. I didn’t prepare winter attier and guess what? It was snowing the night I arrive there. Even though I didn’t bring winter clothes, I keep myself warm by wearing layers (top: shirt, sweater, jacket, outer; bottom: jacket, leggings, jeans). I only change my inner clothes (short) and pants. It works like wonder for me.
• Pack light, trust me it’s doable. I traveled for 10 days, in March with only 1 cabin luggage, 1 backpack and 1 camera bag. Why I suggest you to do this? Because Hakone is a mountainous town and it can be a pain in the arse to drag lots of luggage (or even a whole pain to your body). Especially if you use public transportation, where you have to get on and off the bus or train. Big or many luggages can be such a bother.
• Rent a pocket wifi. I cannot speak Japanese and I’m not good with body language. I use Google Translate most of the time. Not only language, as long as I have my wifi, I can search anything up. You can see more info about Japan Pocket Wifi in here. I used Java MiFi Pocket Wifi. Why I recommend pocket wifi rather than sim card, it’s because my phone battery is draining way to quick and if my phone died, I don’t have any Internet. Using hotspot from my phone will definitely drain the battery even faster. Besides, I bring my laptop and with pocket wifi, you can connect up to 4-5 devices at once.

Pictures from Hakone

As always, this is probably the only section where I feel the most confident. I went to Japan in March 2019 with the purpose to photo-hunting. I’m quite satisfied with the photos after

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Map Itinerary

Here’s the places I went when I was traveling in Hakone and some recommendations that I didn’t get a chance to visit, but would love to.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy this blogpost and let me know if you have any question down below on the comment section. Cheers!