The famous Hakone Round Course circles the volcanic mountains using five different forms of transport: Hakone Tozan Railway, cable car, ropeway over Owakudani, Lake Ashi cruise boat, and Hakone Tozan Bus back to Odawara.
The Hakone Round Course is Kanagawa's most celebrated full-day excursion, looping through the volcanic mountains of Hakone National Park using five different forms of transport. The route connects Odawara to Lake Ashi and back via the Hakone Tozan Mountain Railway, a funicular cable car, a ropeway crossing the active volcanic valley of Owakudani, a sightseeing ferry on Lake Ashi, and a bus returning to Odawara. On a clear day, Mt. Fuji dominates the skyline from multiple vantage points along the way.
The day begins at Odawara, reached from Yokohama in 40 minutes on the JR Tokaido Line (950 JPY) or from Shinjuku in 70 minutes on the Odakyu Romancecar express (1,820 JPY including surcharge). At Odawara, travellers transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railway, a rack railway that zigzags steeply through bamboo forest and rhododendron-covered hillsides, changing tracks three times before reaching the mountain resort town of Gora. A short funicular cable car climbs to Sounzan station, where the Hakone Ropeway gondola carries passengers above sulfurous steam vents and across the dramatic moonscape of Owakudani — the active volcanic crater where black eggs boiled in the sulfur springs are a prized souvenir. The ropeway continues to Togendai on the northern shore of Lake Ashi, where the famous Pirate Ship-style ferries cross the calm lake to Hakone-machi or Moto-Hakone port.
At the lake's southern shore, the vermilion torii gate of Hakone Shrine rising from the water is one of the most photographed scenes in Kanagawa. The Hakone Open Air Museum, set in hillside gardens between Chokoku-no-Mori and Gora stations on the return, houses an outstanding collection of large-scale outdoor sculptures and a dedicated Picasso pavilion — typically worth 90 minutes. The total estimated budget including the Hakone Free Pass from Shinjuku runs around 11,000 JPY. The pass (6,100 JPY for 2 days, including Romancecar) covers nearly all transport on the route and is almost always worth purchasing.
Suggested itinerary
- 08:00 — Depart Shinjuku/Yokohama by Romancecar/train
- 09:30 — Arrive Odawara; transfer to Hakone Tozan Railway
- 10:00 — Hakone-Yumoto; continue mountain railway to Gora
- 10:45 — Gora; cable car up to Sounzan
- 11:00 — Sounzan; Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani
- 11:30 — Owakudani: volcanic valley walk and kuro-tamago black eggs
- 12:30 — Ropeway continues to Togendai (Lake Ashi)
- 13:00 — Sightseeing boat cruise across Lake Ashi (Pirate Ship)
- 14:00 — Hakone-Machi or Moto-Hakone port; Hakone Shrine visit
- 15:30 — Hakone Open Air Museum (1,600 JPY; highly recommended)
- 17:30 — Hakone Tozan Bus back to Odawara
- 19:00 — Return train to Yokohama/Tokyo
Location
35.2321, 139.1069 View on map
Highlights
- Ride five forms of transport in a single loop: mountain railway, funicular, ropeway, lake ferry, and bus
- Cross the Owakudani volcanic valley by gondola above fumaroles and sulphur steam vents
- Photograph the vermilion torii gate of Hakone Shrine reflected in Lake Ashi with Mt. Fuji beyond
- Visit the Hakone Open Air Museum for world-class sculptures and a Picasso pavilion in mountain gardens
- Look for clear-day views of Mt. Fuji from the ropeway, lake, and Owakudani observation deck
Tips for visiting
- The Hakone Free Pass (6,100 JPY for 2 days including Romancecar from Shinjuku) covers almost all transport on the Round Course — excellent value.
When to visit
October to November for peak autumn foliage along the Hakone Tozan Railway and around Lake Ashi; Mt. Fuji views are clearest in winter (December–February) when low humidity reduces haze. Avoid national holidays and summer weekends when ropeway queues can exceed 90 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Hakone Free Pass and is it worth buying?
The Hakone Free Pass (6,100 JPY for 2 days from Shinjuku, including the Romancecar) covers the Hakone Tozan Railway, cable car, ropeway, Lake Ashi ferry, and buses — all transport needed for the round course. It also includes discounts at major attractions such as the Open Air Museum and is almost always the most economical option for a full-day visit.
Is Owakudani safe to visit?
Owakudani has active volcanic vents and is occasionally closed during elevated volcanic activity. Visitors with respiratory conditions should exercise caution near the sulphur emissions. Current volcanic alert levels are published on the Hakone Official Tourism website and should be checked before travelling.
What happens if the Owakudani ropeway section is closed?
When volcanic alerts close the Owakudani ropeway, a replacement bus runs between Sounzan and Togendai. The section is less scenic by bus but the remainder of the round course continues normally, and the Hakone Free Pass remains valid for the replacement service.
Can the round course be done in reverse direction?
Yes — starting from Lake Ashi and ending with the mountain railway back to Odawara works perfectly well. The conventional direction (Tozan Railway first, Lake Ashi last) is more widely documented but the reverse allows travellers arriving by Shinkansen at Odawara to do the lake section in better morning light.