Hakone: at the foot of Fuji
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Hakone
Today, you’ll make your way to the mountain resort of Hakone, only an hour from Tokyo, where you can take in incredible views of Mount Fuji. You’ll spend the next few nights in a family-friendly hotel, with breakfast and dinner included, so you only need to think about lunch.
During your time in Hakone, you’ll have the Hakone Free Pass, which gives you unlimited access to trains, buses, boats, trams, and cable cars – so you’ll be able to explore the area with ease. The pass also gives you handy discounts to many of the local sights.
Day 2 – Free time in Hakone
Enjoy a free day in Hakone, starting with one of the highlights of this region – taking the ropeway to Lake Ashi. Climbing in a cable car, you’ll soar high above the mountains and gaze out over Owakudani Valley, where you’ll spot bubbling hot springs and dramatic volcanic landscapes below. The journey takes around 30 minutes, and once you reach the lake, you can hop aboard one of the colourful pirate ships and glide across the calm waters, with Mount Fuji making an appearance on a clear day.
For a deep dive into the history of this area, you could head to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, set in a huge park surrounded by mountains, where you can wander around and admire the sculptures, before the kids burn off some energy in the playground and climbing tower.
Day 3 – Departure from Hakone
This morning, you can enjoy a peaceful lakeside stroll along the shores of Lake Ashi or take a visit to the Hakone shrine, before heading off to your next destination in Japan. For charming streets and traditional Japanese gardens, head to Kyoto, where you can take your family on a cycling tour of the city, or journey into the Alps for some of Japan’s most incredible mountain scenery.
Accommodation
