Just a short hop from Tokyo on the Shinkansen bullet train, the Japanese mountain town of Hakone offers a blissful escape from the big city. Part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Hakone’s main draws are its serene onsen (hot springs) and Mt. Fuji views. The town is also home to cultural attractions, including world-class art museums, such as the Hakone Open-Air Art Museum, which displays modern art, and historic sites including the Hakone Shrine on the banks of Lake Ashi and the 15th-century Odawara Castle on the edge of town.
Hakone is an appealing destination year-round, but it's particularly attractive in spring. The sakura trees blanketing the surrounding mountains start to bloom between late March and early April, creating Hakone’s most iconic image, that of pink cherry blossoms framing snow-capped Mt. Fuji. Visiting in fall is also popular, as the town is decked with lush fall foliage, and, come October, Hakone’s unique susuki (pampas grass) turns a silvery gold.
Thanks to its efficient network of buses, trains, and even cable cars and ropeways, Hakone is a breeze to get around using public transportation. The most economical way to explore Hakone is by obtaining Odakyu's Hakone Free Pass, which includes a round-trip ticket on the express train from Shinjuku Station to Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto, as well as unlimited rides on the Hakone Tozan Railway, Hakone Tozan Bus (within a designated area), Hakone Tozan Cable Car, and Hakone Ropeway.
Hakone is one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo so it can get uncomfortably crowded, especially on weekends. Beat the crowds by visiting Hakone on a weekday or by spending the night there—most day-trippers arrive mid-morning and leave by early evening. Visitors also tend to follow a well-worth path around Hakone, so dodge them by mixing up your sightseeing with some off-the-beaten-path spots or start your day at Lake Ashi, which most people visit last.
