How to Stay in Tokyo for Free: Part 8 – Day Trip from Tokyo – What to Do in Hakone

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Emily:   Have you always wanted to visit Japan?  You can get there for a fraction of the cost with a few credit card sign-up bonuses!

My boyfriend and I recently flew from Austin to Japan for ~$200 round trip in Business Class.  And for 3 weeks of lodging (including some fancy hotels), I spent ~$450!

Japan is a beautiful country with LOTS to see and do, from high-rise skyscrapers to old temples to hot springs.  I loved Tokyo for its energetic neighborhoods, shopping, and delicious restaurants.

Wherever you go, you’re sure to have an amazing time!  In this series, I’ll go into detail about where I stayed in Tokyo, what to do, and some of my favorite restaurants, and show you how you can do it, too!

How to Stay in Tokyo for Free Trip Report Index:

• Part 1 – Introduction and Planning
• Part 2 – Our $200 Business Class Flights to Japan
• Part 3 – Grand Hyatt Tokyo Hotel Review
• Part 4 – What to Do in Tokyo
• Part 5 – Where to Shop in Tokyo
• Part 6 – Why Tokyo is the Culinary Capital of the World
• Part 7 – Day Trip From Tokyo – Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa Review
• Part 8 – Day Trip From Tokyo – What to Do in Hakone
• Part 9 – Day Trip From Tokyo – Where to Eat in Hakone

What to Do in Hakone

1.   Ride to Mount Hakone

To reach the cable car that would take us to Mount Hakone, we had to walk to a train stop ~15 minutes from our hotel.

It was a beautiful, peaceful walk.  And we didn’t see any other people until we got on the little train.

It was a ~5 to 10 minute train ride to the cable cars.

And from the train, we bought our tickets and hopped on the cable cars.  Tickets can be purchased at the main train station.  It’s the station a stop or two away from the train stop near our hotel.

The views were gorgeous!

It cost ~$26 for the two of us for the round-trip journey, which included round trip tickets to and from the train stop near our hotel.  And it was a great experience!

We finally reached the top, and were rewarded with even more beautiful views.  There isn’t a whole lot to do once you reach the top.  It would’ve been cool to walk on some nature trails, but perhaps it’s too dangerous to get too close.

But then decided to get on another cable car and head back down to visit the lake.

We even had time to wander around a bit before we caught the last train back towards our hotel.

There were pretty pathways…

…with gorgeous flowers.

And after an afternoon of sightseeing, we were excited to go back and relax at the hotel!

2.   Cruise on Lake Ashi

Lake Ashi is a “must-see” during your trip to Hakone.  And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can take a cruise around the lake in a pirate ship!

Just be sure to plan accordingly, because we didn’t leave enough time to enjoy a cruise AND take the cable car trip.

We left our hotel at ~10:00 am, and the cruise was full by the time we arrived.  So get an early start to your day (~8:00 to ~9:00 am) to make sure you get a seat on the boat.

3.   Visit the Hotel Onsen

At the hotel, you can visit two large on-site onsens (hot springs).  Onsen is a mineral hot-spring spa said to promote healing and health.  I visited the onsen once during my stay, and it was relaxing.  But I didn’t get any pictures to respect people’s privacy.

It wasn’t the greatest spa/baths I’ve been to, but it was nice.  (As a side note, the best spa/bath experience I’ve had was at the Grand Wailea hotel in Maui).

Bottom Line

There isn’t a lot to do in Hakone.  But it was a great place to relax and see some natural beauty.

If you decide to make the ~90 minute trip from Tokyo to this mountainous town, don’t miss the cable car ride to Mount Hakone or the cruise on Lake Ashi.