Hakone Highlights : Explore Japan’s Mountainous Region

Experience nature, the lush mountainous landscape and Japan’s most famous and iconic landmarks during your trip to Japan on this day trip from Tokyo! This tour has been designed so customers can experience one of Japan’s most popular and beautiful areas in one day, Hakone. The tour will provide customers with the opportunity to visit all of Hakone’s top attractions. If you love nature and spending time outdoors, this tour is for you!

Your tour will begin travelling from Shinjuku station in Tokyo where your tour guide will greet you and pick you up. Once everybody has arrived, we will board the train together and head for Hakone! Once we arrive in Hakone, we will board the local Tozan train to the Tozan Cable Car at Gora to Sounzan station. Sit back and enjoy the impressive views of the luscious greenery that surrounds you on this picturesque journey!

Next, we will board the famous Hakone Ropeway which provides more stunning and impressive views of this mountainous region. We will travel to ‘Owakudani’ meaning Boiling valley! It is also known by the locals as Jigokudani (Hell Valley), but don’t let these names put you off! What you will discover will be an amazing scene from nature and the power of volcanic energy. The expansive horizon is peppered with plumes of smoke seeping out from the rocky ground. You will be hit by the smell of sulphur as you explore! The landscape looks almost other worldly, where you can take great photos and videos! There are shops and cafes here where you can buy some great souvenirs, and you can buy black onsen eggs if you’re feeling brave! This is where you will have your lunch break and some free time. You can buy something to eat and drink at the restaurant and cafes on site as you relax watching the amazing scenery in front of you.

Once we have finished at Owakudani, we will descend on the ropeway for another 30 minutes. Your third destination will be Hakone’s beautiful lake, Lake Ashinoko. Here you will enjoy a boat cruise across the lake which will provide you with a different perspective of Hakone from the water. Please sit back and relax as you take in the breathtaking views before you. On clear and fair weather days, you will be able to see Mount Fuji towering above the lake and Hakone! From the boat, you can also enjoy the scenic view of Hakone Shrine’s famous red Torii gate! The cruise takes 40 minutes.

Once we finish the boat cruise, we will reach Lake Ashinoko’s port. We will take a short walk of 5 minutes to Hakone Shrine and Torii gate. Here, your tour guide will tell you all about the shrine’s history and significance in the area. Walk around the peaceful shrine complex nestled among nature and feel transported back in time. Before departing the shrine, we will stop by its iconic red Torii gate overlooking Lake Ashinoko. The Torii gate frames the landscape perfectly and makes for a great photo of your trip! Your tour guide will happily take your picture for you. We may have to wait to take your photos depending on how busy it is.

Finally, we will pay a visit to one of Hakone’s famous museums where you can enjoy exhibits on contemporary art known as ’Nihonga’ or Japanese style painting. The museum is also well known for its lounge area and cafe offering amazing panoramic views of the lake, Torii gate and Mount Fuji on clear days. You can sit, relax and take great photos whilst enjoying refreshments such as the Fuji beer or Matcha tea set, a perfect way to conclude the day!

Once we have finished at the museum we will board the Hakone sightseeing bus back to Hakone Yumoto station for 40 minutes where we will board our train back to Shinjuku. So sit back and relax on the return journey home.

MEETUP POINT
Outside Shinjuku Station South Gate Baskin ROBBINS @ 08:00am

You will meet your tour guide outside of Shinjuku Station’s South Gate Baskin Robbins. You will recognise the South Gate entrance as it has many ’Lumine 2’ signs across the station entrance building. You can see signs in the left of the second photo above for Baskin Robbins, just past the ’Lumine 2’ sign. You will meet your tour guide outside of the Baskin Robbins ice cream shop directly outside of the station entrance. Please look out for the tour guide with a ’Snow Monkey Resorts’ sign. Once everybody has met, we will enter Shinjuku station together to begin the tour.

NOTES

Included

• Return train journey from Shinjuku to Hakone including limited express seat reservation, and all local Hakone transport including local trains and buses

• Hakone Tozan Cable Car and Hakone Ropeway one way ticket from Gora Station to Togendai Station

• Lake Ashinoko boat cruise one way ticket

• Ashinoko Narukawa Art Museum admission

• English speaking guide 

Excluded

• Trains and transport before and after the tour

• Food and drink

OTHER INFORMATION

• Please book this tour as far in advance as possible so that we can make the necessary arrangements. It is advised you book this tour no later than 7 days in advance of your chosen tour date.

• Note that if the weather is bad, Hakone Ropeway is subject to closure.

• Please note that timings may be subject to change depending on traffic conditions on the day of the tour.

• This tour involves walking in the outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or rain coat if necessary.

• This tour is designed for travelling from and back to Tokyo, but if you wish to book this tour for a private charter package travelling onto Nagano or another of our tour areas please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

• There will be free time during Owakudani and the lunch break for guests to enjoy at their own pace. However, please make sure that you are at the respective meetup points at the time stated by your guide on the day of the tour. If you get lost or need assistance, feel free to call the number which is listed on your tour pass, and our staff will assist you immediately.