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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.

    I Enjoyed Visiting Mt. Hakone and Seeing the Geothermal Activity in the Area

    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:

    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.

    Here Comes the Train!

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

    Excited to Ride to the Top of the Mountain

    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.

    From the Cable Car, We Had Sweeping Views of the Valley

    The views were gorgeous!

    Tickets Can Be Purchased at the Main Train Station

    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!

    Obligatory Selfie Inside the Cable Car

    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.

    We Spent ~15 Minutes at the Top Taking in the Beautiful Surroundings

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

    On a Clear Day, You Can See Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi

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

    There were pretty pathways…

    I Never Pass up an Opportunity to Explore
    …with gorgeous flowers.
    These Periwinkle Flowers Were Eye-Catching!

    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.

    You Can Cruise Around the Lake on a Pirate Ship!

    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.

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)