Shibakoen Trip Overview
It’s no secret that Hakone is one of the most popular and accessible day trip destinations from Tokyo. What keeps people coming back is its famous hot springs and vastly untouched nature. Not to mention, on a lucky day, visitors can get a perfect glimpse of Mount Fuji from afar. Perhaps most strikingly, Hakone is heaps quieter, which is why even locals come here for a respite from the busy city on weekends.
Hakone is a little world of its own with its fair share of quirks, from pirate ships and volcanic valleys to the iconic torii gate. But here’s the thing: one day is not enough to explore everything! Hakone deserves more than a day trip.
In fact, we’ll be featuring some things that only opened as recently as last year — further highlighting that Japan is truly an ever-changing country that always switches things up. If you really wants to enjoy Hakone, plan a two- or three-day stay.
Additional Info
Duration: 10 to 12 hours
Starts: Shibakoen, Japan
Trip Category: Shore Excursions >> Ports of Call Tours
Explore Shibakoen Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Shibakoen, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
It’s no secret that Hakone is one of the most popular and accessible day trip destinations from Tokyo. What keeps people coming back is its famous hot springs and vastly untouched nature. Not to mention, on a lucky day, visitors can get a perfect glimpse of Mount Fuji from afar. Perhaps most strikingly, Hakone is heaps quieter, which is why even locals come here for a respite from the busy city on weekends.
Hakone is a little world of its own with its fair share of quirks, from pirate ships and volcanic valleys to the iconic torii gate. But here’s the thing: one day is not enough to explore everything! Hakone deserves more than a day trip.
In fact, we’ll be featuring some things that only opened as recently as last year — further highlighting that Japan is truly an ever-changing country that always switches things up. If you really wants to enjoy Hakone, plan a two- or three-day stay.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Mishima Skywalk, 313 Sasahara Shinden, Mishima 411-0012 Shizuoka Prefecture
Mishima Skywalk is a pedestrian bridge officially known as the Hakone Seiroku Mishima Suspension Bridge that spans a valley on the southwestern rim of the Mount Hakone caldera in Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan. The primary function of the bridge is to provide visitors with panoramic views of Mount Fuji and Suruga Bay.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hakone Shrine / Kuzuryu Shrine Singu, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0522 Kanagawa Prefecture
There is grand torii gate usually the starting point for everyone’s Hakone itinerary. This famous “floating” gate isn’t even the actual shrine! The actual Hakone shrine complex behind it is huge — with flights upon flights of stairs to boot — so if you’re only doing one day trip you may be better off giving the shrine a miss. Otherwise, exploring the whole complex could easily take you two hours or more.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Lake Ashinoko, Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0521 Kanagawa Prefecture
Taking the sightseeing cruise in Lake Ashi is like covering two of Hakone’s iconic attractions in one. Cruise along Lake Ashi in this Disney-esque pirate ship from Moto-Hakone Boat Pier to Togendai-ko Station — with a new ship joining the lineup!
In addition to the Vasa, Victory and Royal II ships, the 541-seater Queen Ashinoko has started its service from 25 April 2019. What’s unique about this ship is its floor-to-ceiling wooden interior and a gold-painted hull, giving off a majestic glow that reflects against the water surface. Basically Pirates of the Caribbean, but 100 times fancier.
The cruise passes by the famous torii gates at Hakone shrine on the way, and on lucky days you may even see Mount Fuji in the background.
The sightseeing boats leave about 1–2 times an hour
Cost: ¥1,000/person (one way)
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Hakone Ropeway, 1251 Sengokubara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0521 Kanagawa Prefecture
The Hakone Ropeway is most popularly used to get to the Owakudani volcanic valley from Togendai Station, but Ubako Station also houses one of the 17 hot springs in Hakone, Ubako Onsen! Not only does it get you to the attractions fast, you also get to soak in gorgeous nature views at the same time.
Cost: ¥1,400 – 2,550 (depending on where you stop)
Opening Hours: 9AM – 5PM (Closes 4:15PM from Dec 1 – Jan 31)
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hakone Gavel Garden Yu Nessun, 1297 Ninotaira, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0407, Japan
Hakone is most known for its abundance of onsen hot springs, but why not take it up a notch and soak in them theme park style? Yunessun Spa Resort boasts a total of 23 baths, both indoor and outdoor, with all sorts of quirks you can imagine.
Fellow alcoholics can take a dip in wine or sake-themed indoor baths, while the more sane, zen ones can chill in their 40m-long open air bath overlooking mountainous views.
*Pro-tip: Bring your own swimwear (for indoor baths), toiletries and loungewear so you don’t have to rent them at a fee.
Entrance Fee: ¥3,500 (access to both indoor and outdoor areas)
Opening Hours: 9AM – 7PM (Outdoor bath opens 11AM – 8PM)
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Owaku-dani Valley, 1251 Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0631 Kanagawa Prefecture
Another possible Mount Fuji viewpoint on a clear day, this picturesque volcanic valley looks better than it smells — no thanks to the sulphuric gases that emit from the hot spring pools (okay, fine, they don’t actually smell so bad)!
Interestingly, Owakudani is known for cooking eggs in these sulphuric pools which turn their shells black — still safe to eat though! In fact, eating each egg supposedly adds seven years to your life. That just might be the secret to the Japanese’s longevity.
There’s also a hiking path that leads up Mount Kamiyama, although it’s currently closed due to strong volcanic gasses.
Opening Hours: ~9AM – 5PM (depends on operation hours of the Hakone Ropeway
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: The Hakone Open-Air Museum, 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0493 Kanagawa Prefecture
The Hakone Open Air Museum is Japan’s first ever outdoor art museum of any sort, and experienced Japan travellers might liken this to Niigata’s Echigo-Tsumari Art Field with a similar concept where artworks are surrounded by mountains and nature.
This 70,000 square metre space houses over 100 modern and contemporary pieces, as well as an indoor exhibition selected from 300 of Picasso’s collection! Perhaps the centrepiece of it all is the Symphonic Sculpture by Gabriel Loire (pictured above) that’s actually a spiral staircase within a stained glass column, leading to an observatory on top with panoramic views of the park and mountains.
Entrance Fee: ¥1,600
Opening Hours: 9AM – 5PM (Last entry 4:30PM)
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Ryuguden Honkan, 139 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0522 Kanagawa Prefecture
The Classic ryokan onsen experience that leaves Kawaguchiko ryokans booked out all year round — an open-air bath overlooking Lake Ashinoko and Mount Fuji, at Ryuguden Onsen. You can book a stay there for the complete package, or drop by the general admission hours that’s open to all!
It’s in fact one of the only traditional inns in Hakone that allows you to see both Lake Ashi and Fuji-san at once. And after achieving tangible cultural property status (think of it as Japan’s version of a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the now-protected area also means there won’t be any man-made artefacts blocking the glorious nature view anytime soon.
Opening Hours: 8AM – 8PM (Last entry 7PM)
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Gora Park, 1300 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0408 Kanagawa Prefecture
Gora Park is just any other park — besides its distinctive French-styled landscape with two huge greenhouses housing seasonal flowers, most visitors come here to take part in indoor activities instead!
We’re talking cool stuff like glass blowing (to make your own glass or bowl for ¥3,800), sandblasting (¥2,100), and even pottery painting opening in April 2019. The best part is that if you won’t be hanging around long enough to collect it in person, they’ll ship it to your home! Talk about a real nifty souvenir.
Entrance Fee: ¥550
Opening Hours: 9AM – 5PM (Last entry 4:30PM)
Duration: 2 hours
