This is the day the trip leaves Tokyo behind: a Shinkansen ride out to Odawara, then a full loop through the Hakone Round Course — the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Gora Park, the volcanic Owakudani valley, and a pirate-ship crossing of Lake Ashi — before checking in to a lakeside hotel in Hakone. It's a Transfer Day with a lot packed in, so the "transfer" is really the sightseeing route itself.
Getting to Hakone
Before travel day, it's worth buying a Hakone Free Pass in advance — it can be purchased at 7-Eleven (via the 7ticket kiosk service) from one month before the travel date, and covers most of the local trains, buses, the ropeway, and the pirate ship within Hakone for two days (adult ¥6,000). For the Shinkansen leg itself, either an unreserved seat or a pre-booked reserved seat works; register an IC card if paying that way (adult fare around ¥3,110).
From Gotanda, it's a short ride to Shinagawa to catch the Kodama Shinkansen out to Odawara, then a change onto the Hakone Tozan Line to reach Hakone-Yumoto, the gateway to the Hakone area.
Midday: Open-Air Museum & Gora Park
From Hakone-Yumoto, continue up toward Chokoku-no-Mori for the Hakone Open-Air Museum (advance web ticket, adult ¥1,800) — a sculpture park set across wooded hillside grounds, with a coin locker service (¥100 refundable) and free baggage deposit at the new building's information counter for anyone still carrying luggage.
From there, continue on to Gora Park, which is free to enter with the Hakone Free Pass. The "Koen-kami" (park-upper) station is the closest stop to the park's west gate; entering from the west gate means the walk through the park runs downhill rather than up, which is worth knowing if energy is starting to flag by midday. A break at one of the park's cafés — Isshido Charou for a dashi-rolled egg sandwich or wagyu roast beef sandwich, or Cafe Pic for a Hakone-style curry — is a good way to reset before the afternoon.
Afternoon: Owakudani & Lake Ashi
From Gora, the Hakone Tozan Cable Car and ropeway carry you up and over to Owakudani, the still-active volcanic valley known for its sulfurous steam vents and black eggs boiled in the hot springs. From there, the ropeway continues down to Togendai on the shore of Lake Ashi.
At Togendai, board the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (the "pirate ship") for the crossing to Moto-Hakone Port — a relaxed, scenic way to close out an otherwise busy day, with views back toward the surrounding hills and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji.
Evening: Arrival at the Lake
Dinner near the port is at Kotei, a stew-and-curry restaurant by Moto-Hakone Port, before the short final leg to the hotel. Along the way, a stop at 7-Eleven for any last essentials or snacks is worth building in before settling into the lakeside hotel for two nights.
- Seasonal notes: the Open-Air Museum and Gora Park are especially pleasant in spring and autumn, and Owakudani's ropeway occasionally suspends operation in high wind or after volcanic activity alerts, so it's worth checking service status before this day
- Backup rainy-day options: the Open-Air Museum's indoor galleries and Gora's cafés hold up well in light rain; if the Owakudani ropeway is suspended, the Hakone Tozan Bus can substitute for parts of this route — check current conditions before departing
Before you go: The Owakudani ropeway is sometimes suspended due to volcanic gas levels or weather. If it's not running on the day, this route will need adjusting — check the Hakone Ropeway operational status in advance and have a backup plan (such as the Hakone Tozan Bus) ready.
Time-Block Itinerary
Start: Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda
End: The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko
| Time | Stop | Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:40 | Depart Gotanda → Shinagawa | JR Yamanote Line | Short hop to the Shinkansen platform |
| ~08:55 | Shinagawa → Odawara | Tokaido Shinkansen (Kodama) | ~35 min |
| ~09:40 | Odawara → Hakone-Yumoto | Hakone Tozan Line | ~15 min |
| 10:10 | Hakone-Yumoto → Chokoku-no-Mori | Hakone Tozan Line | ~35 min |
| 10:50 | Hakone Open-Air Museum | — | ¥1,800 adult (web ticket) |
| ~12:30 | Chokoku-no-Mori → Gora → Koen-kami | Hakone Tozan Line / Cable Car | ~20 min |
| ~12:50 | Gora Park + café break | — | Free with Hakone Free Pass |
| 13:00 | Koen-shita → Sounzan → Owakudani | — | Cable car + ropeway, ~30 min |
| 14:00 | Owakudani → Togendai | — | Ropeway, ~30 min |
| 15:10 | Togendai → Hakone-machi Port → Moto-Hakone Port | — | Hakone pirate ship, ~50 min |
| 16:00 | Dinner near the port | — | Kotei (stew & curry) |
| 16:30 | Moto-Hakone → The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko | — | ~15 min |
| ~16:45 | 7-Eleven stop | — | Snacks / essentials |
| ~17:00 | The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko | — | Check-in, end of day |
Transport Notes
- The Hakone Free Pass covers the Hakone Tozan Line, cable car, ropeway, and pirate ship, but not the Shinkansen leg from Tokyo to Odawara — budget for that separately.
- The Shinkansen Kodama service is the slower, all-stops option but is the most practical for this short Tokyo–Odawara hop; unreserved seats are usually fine outside peak travel dates.
- The Owakudani ropeway can be affected by weather or volcanic activity alerts; check its operational status before relying on this exact route.
- Coin lockers are available near the Open-Air Museum entrance for anyone still carrying luggage at this stage of the day.
Cost and Ticket Notes
- Hakone Free Pass: ¥6,000, adult (2-day validity); best purchased in advance via a 7-Eleven/7ticket kiosk.
- Shinkansen (Tokyo area to Odawara): around ¥3,110, adult, unreserved.
- Hakone Open-Air Museum: ¥1,800, adult (web ticket).
- Gora Park: free with the Hakone Free Pass.
- Budget for: the Shinkansen fare, the Hakone Free Pass, museum admission, a café break, and dinner near Moto-Hakone Port.
This day pairs well with:
- Tokyo - Imperial Palace, Asakusa & Skytree — the day before, the last full day based in Tokyo
- Hakone - Lake Ashi & Shrine Day — the day after, staying at the same lakeside hotel