Suggested Hakone itinerary 1 day for fun and budget

Hakone, with its majestic natural beauty and unique culture, promises to bring you wonderful experiences and a memorable vacation.

With its peaceful landscape, Hakone is an ideal tourist destination for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. From the high mountain peaks, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Ashinoko and snow-capped Mount Fuji. Stretching through the mountains and vast green forests are beautiful green trails, a great opportunity for you to enjoy the wild beauty and immerse yourself in the beautiful nature.

Hakone itinerary 1 day — Morning: Starting Energy & Mountain Journey

7:30 – 8:30: Arrive in Hakone & Explore Hakone-Yumoto Station Shopping Street

• Location: Hakone-Yumoto Station Area & Hakone Station Shopping Street (Located right in front of Hakone-Yumoto Train Station)

To start your journey in Hakone, the first stop is usually Hakone-Yumoto Station. This area has a bustling shopping street right in front of the station, where you can feel the fresh and bustling mountain air. Once here, you will be immersed in a diverse and unique shopping world with countless shops and stalls.

The shops sell traditional Japanese crafts such as kimonos, lanterns, handmade wood products and exquisite art. You can find unique and beautiful items as souvenirs or buy them as gifts for your loved ones, or simply find a small restaurant to enjoy a snack or drink, preparing your energy for the day of exploration.

8:30 – 10:30: Moving Up by Hakone Tozan Train & Hakone Ropeway

Start your journey to explore the Hakone arc route using the region’s unique and iconic transportation system. From Hakone-Yumoto Station, you will board the Hakone Tozan Railway to experience the feeling of winding through the mountainsides with cool green forests, this is a rare mountain climbing train in Japan.

At Gora Station, you transfer to the Hakone Tozan Cable Car to continue moving up to Sounzan. Experiencing these typical types of transportation is also an interesting part of the trip, allowing you to “chill” and watch the changing mountain scenery through each stage.

10:30 – 12:30: Visit Owakudani Volcanic Valley & Try Black Eggs

• Location: Owakudani Volcanic Valley (Located between the wild mountains and cool pine forests).

From Sounzan Station, take the Hakone Ropeway, the journey will take you through the space above Owakudani Volcanic Valley. The landscape here is white columns of smoke floating up from the ground, carrying the heat and energy of ancient volcanoes. The feeling of setting foot on this land and feeling the natural energy will make you feel like you are connecting with a magical world.

In addition, one of the experiences not to be missed in Owakudani Volcanic Valley is enjoying black eggs (kuro-tamago) cooked in hot water from the volcano. Black eggs are said to have the ability to increase life expectancy by 7 years and have become an indispensable traditional dish when traveling here.

12:30 – 1:30 PM: Snack & Ropeway Ride Down to Lake Ashinoko

• Location: Owakudani & Ride the Hakone Ropeway to Togendai Pier.

After enjoying the black eggs and exploring Owakudani, you can grab some more snacks here if you need to (there are also some food stalls selling black eggs). Then, hop back on the Hakone Ropeway to begin your journey down to the shores of Lake Ashi. The ride offers spectacular views of the vast lake and its surrounding greenery, and on a clear day, you can even see Mt. Fuji in the distance as the landscape changes from arid volcano to clear blue lake.

Afternoon: Relax by the Lake & Prepare for Onsen

1:30 – 3:00 PM: Lake Ashinoko Sightseeing Cruise

• Location: Lake Ashinoko (Lake Ashi) (Board at Togendai Pier). Nestled between rolling hills and lush pine forests.

When you get to Togendai Pier on the shore of Lake Ashi, get ready for the most “chill” experience of the afternoon: take a sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashinoko. This place possesses a perfect natural picture, attracting thousands of tourists. From any point on the lake shore, you will be enchanted by the majestic and poetic landscape.

A unique experience is to take a cruise on the lake (usually a typical pirate ship). From the boat, you can enjoy the vast space, see the surrounding mountains and forests, and on days with good weather, Lake Ashinoko reflects Mount Fuji with its high peaks, creating a beautiful scene that cannot be described in words.

15:00 – 16:00: Visit Hakone Shrine & Travel to the Hot Spring Area

• Location: Moto-Hakone Pier Area or Hakone-machi & Travel by local bus. Hakone Shrine is located in a special location among pine forests and on the shores of Lake Ashinoko.

At the end of the cruise (usually at Moto-Hakone or Hakone-machi Pier), if you have time and interest, you can take a short walk to visit Hakone Jinja. The shrine creates a mystical and peaceful space, attracting thousands of tourists and locals to visit and pray.

This place was built 1,200 years ago and is one of the oldest shrines in Japan, famous for its distinctive red Torii gate standing in the water. Then, take a local bus from the Lake Ashi area to move back to Hakone-Yumoto Station or your chosen Onsen area, ready for the main relaxing activity of the evening.

Evening: The Ultimate Relaxation & Mountain Cuisine

16:30 – 19:30: Absolute Relaxation at Hakone Hot Springs

• Location: Onsen facilities (day-use or at hotels/ryokan) in or around the Hakone-Yumoto area (e.g. Hakone Onsen is one of the most popular destinations in Hakone, Japan).

Hakone Hot Springs is one of the most famous Onsen destinations in Japan, nestled among the pristine mountains. The hot springs in Hakone are famous for their natural hot springs, formed from the hot springs of the Owakudani volcano. The hot springs come in a variety of sizes and styles, from large public baths to private, traditional Japanese-style baths.

Spend at least 2-3 hours soaking in the natural hot springs. The water from Owakudani will help your body recover, dispelling fatigue after a day of traveling and exploring. Experiencing Onsen in the peaceful space of the mountains and forests will bring a feeling of absolute relaxation.

19:30 – 21:00: Sumptuous Dinner & Enjoy Hakone Specialties

• Location: Restaurants in the Onsen area or near Hakone-Yumoto Station.

After a refreshing Onsen bath, you will definitely feel hungry. This is the ideal time to find a cozy restaurant in the Onsen area or return near Hakone-Yumoto Station, where there are many culinary options.

With the diversity of Japanese mountain cuisine, you can enjoy Hakone’s local specialties such as hot Soba Noodles (especially famous Soba Noodle restaurants), Udon Noodles, Hakone Curry, fish cakes (kamaboko) and other traditional dishes. Dinner in a warm, friendly atmosphere will be a great end to a memorable day.

21:00 Onward: Stroll & Return from Hakone-Yumoto Station

• Location: Hakone Station Shopping Street (optional) & Hakone-Yumoto Station.

If you have some energy left and want to enjoy the Hakone atmosphere a little more before returning, you can take a final walk through Hakone Station Shopping Street. Although some shops may be closed by this time, the atmosphere of the hot spring town at night is still very enjoyable. Then, move to Hakone-Yumoto Station to board the train back to Tokyo or your next stop, ending your Hakone exploration for the day.

References for a 1-Day Hakone Self-Guided Travel Cost

Are you planning a trip to explore Hakone and wondering about the cost? Here is an estimated cost for a day trip to Hakone, Japan, based on a sample itinerary:

Category	Cost (USD)	Note
Snacks/Snacks during the day	9.60 - 15.36	Includes shopping street snacks, Owakudani black eggs, drinks...
Onsen Ticket (Day-use)	15.36 - 23.04	Admission fee to an Onsen bathing facility by hour/day.
Dinner in Hakone	15.36 - 23.04	A hearty meal with local specialties.
Souvenirs	15.36 - 23.04	Shop for crafts and specialties at Hakone-Yumoto Station or Owakudani.
Traveling during the day	30.72 - 46.08	Estimated cost of Hakone Free Pass 1 Day. May be higher if purchasing individual tickets or traveling outside the pass range.
SIM 4G/eSIM	9.91	Cost of maintaining internet connection.
Other Expenses (Additional expenses, extra drinks...)	30.72 - 38.40	Allow for unforeseen expenses or small unplanned purchases.
Total Cost (Estimated)	127.04 - 171.20	This is an estimated cost for a day's activities in Hakone, not including the cost of traveling from Tokyo to Hakone and vice versa.

Hakone is a magical journey into the majestic nature and deep culture of Japan. From lush green forest paths to beautiful traditional houses, from unique culinary flavors to the harmony between people and nature, Hakone promises to bring you wonderful experiences.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to

• Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
• Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
• Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
• Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
• Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
• Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
• Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
• Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you finding more top things to do in Japan: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here. And here.