Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani & Lake Ashi Day Tour from Tokyo

Hakone Shrine and the Peace Torii on Lake Ashi

Hakone Shrine stands in a forest of tall cedars on the eastern shore of Lake Ashi, and tradition dates its founding to 757. A stone stairway climbs from the lakeside to the main hall, painted deep red and surrounded by moss and lanterns, while down at the water the Heiwa no Torii, the Peace Torii, seems to float on the lake. It is the most photographed gate in Hakone and the reason many visitors plan a Hakone day trip from Tokyo in the first place.

On this tour you have about 40 minutes here, enough for the torii photo, the climb to the shrine and a short walk among the cedars. Queues for the torii photo can be long on weekends and holidays, so the guide will suggest the best order. On a clear day Mount Fuji appears beyond the lake, but the mountain is often hidden by cloud and views are never guaranteed.

Lake Ashi: crater lake and sightseeing ships

Lake Ashi, or Ashinoko, filled the caldera of the Hakone volcano roughly 3,000 years ago and lies at about 720 metres above sea level. Its sightseeing ships, built in the style of old sailing galleons, cross between Moto-Hakone, Hakone-machi and Togendai in around 25 minutes, passing the red torii and forested shores with Mount Fuji rising to the north-west on clear days.

The cruise is optional on this tour and paid on the day; your guide can help you buy the ticket. If you prefer to stay on land, the coach drives you to Togendai to meet the group at the ropeway station. Many travellers ask whether a Lake Ashi cruise is worth it: on a bright day it is one of the most relaxing views in Hakone, and the ships run year-round, with fewer departures in winter.

Hakone Ropeway: flying over the volcano

The Hakone Ropeway links Togendai on Lake Ashi with Owakudani and continues down to Sounzan, and your one-way ride is included in this tour. The gondolas climb high above wooded ridges and then glide straight over the yellow, steaming slopes of the volcanic valley. On clear days the window frames Mount Fuji and the whole of Lake Ashi, which makes the ropeway one of the best viewpoints in the area.

The Hakone Ropeway runs from about 9:00 until late afternoon, with shorter hours in winter. Service can stop when strong wind or volcanic gas levels rise; if that happens the guide adapts the route and our team will tell you how it affects your booking. The ride lasts about 15 minutes on this section, and gondolas move continuously, so queues usually clear quickly outside peak holiday periods.

Owakudani volcanic valley

Owakudani, the Great Boiling Valley, was formed by an eruption of the Hakone volcano about 3,000 years ago, and it is still active. At around 1,000 metres you walk past steam vents, sulphur deposits and hot pools, and you can smell the volcano before you see it. The local speciality is kuro-tamago, eggs boiled in the hot-spring water until the shells turn black from iron and sulphur; local belief says each one adds years to your life.

You have about 50 minutes here, often the moment to have lunch at the station restaurants or buy a snack. Owakudani opening hours follow the ropeway and volcanic alerts: some trails may be closed and access can be limited when gas levels are high. Visitors with asthma, heart problems or respiratory conditions should take care, and pregnant travellers are usually advised to limit their time in the valley.

Lake Yamanaka swan shore

Lake Yamanaka is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and, at about 980 metres, the highest. Its southern shore is known as the swan shore, where white swans glide close to the bank and Mount Fuji rises directly behind them when the sky is clear. It is a quiet, open stop that most visitors to the area never reach by public transport.

The coach stops here for about 20 minutes, a relaxed photo break after the volcanic valley. In autumn and winter the air is often clearer and the snow-capped summit stands out, while in summer the lake is greener and mistier. The best time to visit Lake Yamanaka for Fuji photos is usually in the morning or late afternoon, but the mountain may stay hidden whatever the season.

Oshino Hakkai spring ponds

Oshino Hakkai is a small village between Lake Yamanaka and Lake Kawaguchi whose eight ponds are fed by snowmelt from Mount Fuji that filters through layers of volcanic rock for many years before rising here. The water stays cold and remarkably clear all year, and the ponds are part of the Fujisan World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO in 2013. Thatched-roof houses, a water mill and small stalls selling grilled rice cakes and local snacks line the paths.

About 40 minutes is planned here, enough to circle the main ponds and see the mountain reflected in the water if it is visible. The paths are open-air and free to enter, though small private gardens charge their own fees. Afterwards the coach returns to Tokyo, arriving around 18:10, later in heavy traffic.