4 Best Hakone Tours From Tokyo: Which One To Book

Heading to Tokyo and want to spend a day in Hakone? You’re in the right place! 

With its views of Mt Fuji, relaxing hot springs, scenic cruises on Lake Ashi, and volcanic landscapes, Hakone is one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo. Planning a day there seems simple enough… until you start mapping out all the different trains, buses, ropeways, and viewpoints, and quickly realize just how much there is to coordinate.  

In our experience, the easiest way to maximize your time in Hakone is with a day trip. So in this guide, we’re sharing the four best Hakone tours from Tokyo! Whether you’re looking for the best overall experience, a private tour, the best value, or an itinerary packed with sightseeing, there’s an option here for every travel style. 

Ready? Let’s get to it! 

Best Hakone Tours From Tokyo

1. Visit Hakone and Mt Fuji by bullet train

First up is this Mt Fuji and Hakone day tour, and it’s our top recommendation for most travelers. We love it because it offers several different views of the region. Mt Fuji can be shy depending on the weather, so having multiple scenic stops gives you more chances to see it. Even if the mountain is covered in clouds, the ropeway, lake cruise, and Hakone scenery still make this feel like a proper day out of the city.

You’ll leave Tokyo by coach bright and early and head toward Mt. Fuji’s famous 5th Station partway up the mountain. From there, you’ll continue to Hakone, where you’ll enter Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and ride the Hakone Ropeway before enjoying a relaxing cruise across Lake Ashi.

The return by Shinkansen (Japan’s famous bullet train) is a huge perk, too. After a long sightseeing day, getting back to Tokyo quickly is much nicer than sitting in evening traffic! Plus, riding the shinkansen is a memorable experience in its own right and something many visitors have on their Japan bucket list.

This tour is incredibly popular and often sells out during peak travel seasons. So if you’re visiting Japan during spring, summer, or fall, we definitely recommend booking as soon as possible to secure your preferred date.

Related Read: Ready to eat your way through Tokyo while you’re here? Check out our guide to the best food tours in Tokyo to find our favorite foodie experiences and which one is right for you!

2. Private van tour to Hakone

If you’re traveling as a family or small group, this private Hakone tour is another fantastic option. Instead of following a set itinerary with dozens of other travelers, you’ll have a private vehicle and an English-speaking guide, so the day can be 100% personalized around your pace and interests.

This is the kind of tour I’d choose if I wanted a bit more flexibility and breathing room during a day trip from Tokyo. Since the itinerary is fully customizable, you can ask your guide to focus on whatever interests you most. For example, you might spend the day chasing Mt Fuji viewpoints, exploring Lake Kawaguchi and Oshino Hakkai, or visiting popular spots like Arakurayama Sengen Park, Owakudani, and Hakone Shrine.

And since many attractions, such as the Hakone Ropeway and Lake Ashi cruises, come at an additional cost, you also have the freedom to decide on the day which experiences are worth adding to your itinerary.

Another major advantage of this tour is the hotel pickup within Tokyo’s 23 wards, which means you won’t have to worry about navigating the city first thing in the morning. That makes this highly-rated tour especially convenient for families, multigenerational groups, or anyone looking for a stress-free day trip.

Related Read: Need help planning your time in Tokyo? Our 3-day Tokyo itinerary is perfect for a shorter visit and covers the must-see highlights, while our 5-day Tokyo itinerary gives you more time to explore the city!

3. Hakone and Mt Fuji tour, including the cable car and Lake Ashi Cruise

Next up is this Hakone and Mt Fuji tour, which (in my opinion) is one of the best-value day trips from Tokyo. It packs many of the region’s biggest highlights into a single itinerary, making it an excellent choice if you want to experience a little bit of everything without spending a fortune.

You’ll depart from either Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station in the morning before heading toward Hakone and the Mt Fuji area. The itinerary includes Hakone Shrine, Togendai Station, Owakudani Valley, Lake Yamanaka, and Oshino Hakkai, so you get a fantastic mix of shrines, volcanic scenery, lakeside views, and some of the area’s best Mt Fuji viewpoints. 

Owakudani is easily one of the most memorable parts of the day with its steaming volcanic vents and dramatic landscape. It’s also home to Hakone’s famous black eggs, a local specialty that legend says can add seven years to your life. Whether or not that’s true, they’re definitely worth trying!

As a heads up, access to the Hakone Ropeway is included in the tour. However, the Lake Ashi cruise is extra, so I’d bring cash and decide on the day based on the weather if that’s something you’d like to do! 

All in all, this is an excellent value day trip that combines many of Hakone’s biggest highlights into a single, easy-to-plan itinerary. 

Related Read: Planning your Tokyo itinerary? Check out our guide to the best sightseeing tours in Tokyo to see the city’s highlights, or add some excitement with one of the 3 best go-kart tours in Tokyo!

4. Group tour to Lake Ashi, Mt Fuji, Kamakura, and Big Buddha

Last but not least, we cannot recommend this Mt Fuji and Kamakura day trip enough! This experience is a little different from the other tours on this list because it combines the natural beauty of the Mt Fuji region with a visit to historic Kamakura, making it a fantastic choice if you want to see more than just Hakone in a single day.

Depending on the option you choose, the tour can include stops at the Great Buddha of Kamakura (located at Kotoku-in Temple), a cruise on Lake Ashi, Oshino Hakkai, Oishi Park, several Mt Fuji viewpoints, and even lunch. We love how much variety is packed into the itinerary, as you’ll get a mix of mountain scenery, lakeside landscapes, traditional culture, and some of the best photo opportunities in the region.

The basic option includes fewer attractions, so it’s worth checking the inclusions carefully before booking. If visiting the Great Buddha and cruising across Lake Ashi are high on your wishlist, we’d definitely recommend choosing one of the more comprehensive tour options.

In my opinion, this tour is a great choice if you’re looking for a big sightseeing day out rather than a slower Hakone-only experience. You’ll cover a lot of ground, but you’ll also get to pair mountain scenery with one of Kamakura’s most famous cultural landmarks.

Related Read: Hakone isn’t the only amazing place you can explore from Tokyo! Read our guide to the best Tokyo tours and day trips for more ideas to add to your Japan itinerary.

Where to Stay in Tokyo

Accommodation in Tokyo can be pricey, but luckily, there’s no shortage of great places to stay! We recommend staying in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s most convenient neighborhoods and a great base for exploring the city and taking a day trip to Hakone. Since all of these Hakone tours leave from central Tokyo, staying somewhere with easy access to major train stations and pickup points will make those early morning starts much easier.

To help narrow down your choices, we’ve picked out three fantastic stays for travelers looking for a luxury, mid-range, or budget option, all in convenient locations for exploring Tokyo and taking a day trip to Hakone.

Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower – $$$ 

Just a 1-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower is not only a super convenient place to stay, but its rooms also offer epic views of Tokyo! It’s sleek and modern, not to mention close to major attractions like the gorgeous Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and the Meiji Jingu Shrine. For us, this place wins in terms of location and comfort—what’s not to love?

Double rooms at Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower typically cost between 33,000 and 57,000 JPY ($230 and $400 USD) per night. Check prices and availability at Booking.com!

WPÜ HOTEL Shinjuku – $$

Just a 6-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, WPÜ HOTEL Shinjuku offers a friendly and reasonably priced stay in a prime location. It’s super close to Shinjuku SanPark Mall, so it’s ideal for those who want to shop ‘til they drop – when in Tokyo, right? 

Meanwhile, the hotel itself boasts a cozy lounge and shared kitchen, as well as an on-site restaurant. Plus, it has a flexible policy if you need to reschedule your booking, and there are single rooms available, which is perfect for solo travelers trying to keep their costs down. Conversely, there are also triple rooms, which are handy for groups!

Prices here range between 16,000 and 50,000 JPY ($110 and $350 USD) per night, depending on room size. Check availability and reserve your stay here!

Hotel Queen Annex – $ 

Hotel Queen Annex is a quirky and budget-friendly hotel just east of Shinjuku Station. Despite its affordable price tag, they really deliver the VIP treatment. You get welcome drinks on arrival, and there’s an impressive range of beauty products in the bathroom. This place was definitely designed with female travelers in mind!

The hotel is within walking distance of the station, the Hanazono Shrine, the National Garden, and Omoide Yokocho. Basically, Tokyo is your oyster when you stay here! Rooms here cost between 18,000 and 30,000 JPY ($120–$200 USD) per night. Book this great-value hotel here!

Related Read: For more details and options in this area, read our blog on the best places to stay in Shinjuku! And if you’re planning to spend a night outside Tokyo, check out our guide on where to stay in Hakone here.

Thanks for reading!

I hope this guide has helped you find the perfect Hakone tour from Tokyo! There’s so much to see around Hakone, and we think taking a tour is one of the easiest ways to fit the highlights into a single day. Between the Mt Fuji views, Lake Ashi, volcanic landscapes, and scenic ropeway rides, it’s such a fun escape from the city.

Whether you’re visiting Japan for the first time or coming back to explore somewhere new, we’re here to help! Check out our other Japan blogs here for more tips and travel inspiration. Or we’ve linked some of our most popular guides below to help get you started. Cheers!

The 15 Best Ryokans in Hakone

The 20 Best Hotels in Hakone with Onsens

How to Spend TWO WEEKS in Japan: Your 14-Day Itinerary