We have had a crazy number visitors. Don’t get me wrong we loved every minute but it also means that I feel like I’ve tried and tested out our standard Hakone day-trip enough to talk about what works and doesn’t work for us. It’s a well-rehearsed day trip. (This can also be done as part of a holiday in Hakone.)
This is not on the normal Hakone touristy itinerary and for that reason it is rarely busy and we have seen Fuji every time but one time. It’s so good.
See here for my other tips for things to do as a family in Hakone.
Even if visiting in warmer months, please be sure to pack a warm jacket as- when you get to the top – it is cold and (except for summer) pretty much always a little bit snowy.
Firstly, I would select a lovely clear sunny day so that you are more likely to see Mount Fuji. In fact, Winter Sunny days have proven to be the best days for Fuij-san spotting. And if you see it at any point? Click away ! Take that picture as Mt. Fuji is a sneaky thing ..and can disappear again quickly.
That’s the reason that Japanese people get so excited over Mount Fuji, even if they live close to a good viewing spot. You never know when a lovely clear day will bring out Mt. Fuji in all it’s glory.
On our day trips to Hakone, we like to drive (about 1 hour 45 minutes) but it is also possible to take a bus from Shinjuku too. (details HERE and HERE)
We like to arrive in the morning, take a Katamaran with THIS company to Hakone-en and purchase a return boat ticket and ropeway at the same time. Remember to bring an extra jacket in Summer and a proper snow jacket in Winter as, once at the top of the ropeway, it is considerably colder. Even snowy in Winter. The boat timetable is here.
The boat trip is only 10 minutes or so to Hakone-en. Make sure you climb to the boat rooftop for the best views of the red tori gate and Mt. Fuji !
Once you’re at Hakone-en there are some touristy shops and an aquarium. It’s a bit run down so I don’t recommend eating lunch on this side of the lake if you can avoid it. There are some pony rides and some dodgy ride on animals that my kiddies love to sit on for a few minutes. There is also a sledding field set up in Winter (you can borrow snow gear in order to participate.) We always make our kids wait until after we have done the ropeway to take park in sledding or pony rides ( incase it gets late in the afternoon and we can’t catch the ropeway or the boat back.)
Before taking on the ropeway, make sure you use the restrooms as there aren’t any at the top of the hill .
The ropeway trip is also only a few minutes. The ropeway carriage carries 50 + passengers.
This is the view when you’re out of the ropeway “station” (minus the snow in warmer seasons, of course) . I recommend heading left once you’re down the stairs to get the best Fuji pictures.
We bumped in the ropeways own mascot last time!
There is also a lovely shrine at the top too if you are feeling in the mood for taking the stairs up and down again.
Once you’re down and after the boat trip back across the lake I highly recommend lunch at a restaurant called Bakery & Table. The first floor is a bakery if you prefer a light lunch and the second floor is a coffee shop kind of thing. The place we like to eat at most is the 3rd floor as it is a proper restaurant with a lovely view. They serve club sandwiches, curries, quiches and soups. They also do a lovely kids plate. My favourites here are the sweet potato fries and the quiche is so good. You may also want to just even watch them make their gigantic King Sandwich. Huge!!
We often call ahead when we are a few minutes away if we have a large group. The staff are used to tourists and speak English. This restaurant also has highchairs for children.
Warning: the Caesar salad is huge!!
This is the view from outside Bakery & Table.
神奈川県足柄下郡箱根町元箱根字御殿9-1
9-1 GOTEN, MOTOHAKONE, ASHIGARASHIMO DISTRICT, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
OPEN: EVERYDAY
BAKERY HOURS: 10AM-5PM
CAFE HOURS: 8:30AM-5PM
3F RESTAURANT HOURS: 11AM-6PM (ALSO OPEN FOR BREAKFAST ON WEEKENDS 9AM-11AM)
WEBSITE
This was the view of Lake Ashi at Sunset.
If you are looking for gluten free restaurants in Hakone, I recommend Daimasa Honten – it is approximately 2 mins from Bakery and Table by taxi or 17 mins walk. This restaurant is not exclusively gluten free but has gluten free options. They also provide gluten free soy sauce.
It is also very close to the Hakone checkpoint and is across the street from the Hakone Hotel. This restaurant serves fresh seafood – mostly fresh sashimi bowls. It’s incredible.
Lunch budget is approximately 2000 yen ( so reasonable for such fresh portions overflowing with sashimi and salmon roe etc.) Most lunch options come with refillable miso soup too (please note that the miso soup is NOT gluten free.) They do have an English menu.
Please note that this restaurant does NOT accept credit cards.
DAIMASA HONTEN HAKONE
神奈川県足柄下郡箱根町箱根63
63 HAKONE, HAKONE-CHO, ASHIGARASHIMO DISTRICT, KANAGAWA
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11AM-4PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 6PM (RESERVATIONS REQUIRED AT DINNER TIME)
CLOSED ON THURSDAYS (AND SOMETIMES WEDNESDAYS SO BEST TO CHECK IN ADVANCE)
And while in Hakone you can also check out the shrine that you can actually see from the boat. The big tori gate makes for a fantastic photo!
There are a few flights of stairs so I don’t recommend for people unable to manage steps ( or people with strollers.)
To take a photo like the one below, you will have to wait in line – just a warning. So if you don’t really want the shot… skip this bit for sure.
HAKONE SHRINE
80-1 MOTOHAKONE, HAKONE, ASHIGARASHIMO, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
OPEN 24 HOURS
And then on the other side of the lake, down the road from 7-Eleven (addresss; 570-3 Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa-ken), is another great view of Fuji (on a clear day, of course.) It’s on the same side of the lake as the Bakery & Table restaurant too – listed above.
You can also look back on Hakone shrine too.
