Photo: Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
The 3-day plan, rearranged for 4 days: every place stays and a few more are added, and each day keeps to one part of town.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
The gateway to the hills, where the main line ends and the small mountain train begins. A few steps from the station there are shops and small cafes, so it is a good place to arrive and have a first look around.
Go when Morning, as soon as you arrive.
Local tip Walk the small streets near the station before you board the mountain train. Shops sell local sweets and wooden crafts.
A small mountain railway that climbs through forest and over river gorges, turning back and forth in zigzags as it goes up. The ride itself is the point, so sit by a window and watch the valley fall away.
Go when Late morning, with a seat by a window.
Local tip The train stops and reverses at a few points on the climb. That is how it gets up the hill, so do not worry.
Buckwheat noodles, served hot in broth or cold on a tray with a dipping sauce, in a small shop on the street by the station. A light lunch before the climb.
Local tip Slurp the noodles. In Japan it is polite, and it keeps them from going soft.
A wide upland of grass and open sky north of the lake, a place for a long walk with space around you. Dress for wind.
Go when Midday, when it is the warmest part of the day.
Local tip The air is cooler and the wind stronger than by the lake, so bring a layer.
A garden of lawns, ponds and a glass greenhouse near the top of the line. A gentle walk before the evening, with benches in the sun.
Go when Afternoon, then rest before the evening.
Local tip Walk to the greenhouse at the far end and sit among the plants for a while.
A calm art museum in the forest, with paintings in a modern building and a short woodland path outside. A restful last stop before the train home.
Go when Afternoon, then take the train home.
Local tip Walk the short path in the forest outside the building, then go in for the paintings.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A sculpture park on a green hillside, with large works among the trees and a pavilion of paintings by Picasso. Walk without a plan and let the hill do the rest.
Go when Morning, when the paths are calm.
Local tip Walk the whole hill once without stopping, then go back to the works you liked best.
A steaming valley of yellow rock and volcanic gas, reached by a ropeway that crosses the hills. Sulfur vapor hangs over the ground and the smell is strong. Check ahead, because the ropeway can stop and the area can close when the gas rises.
Go when Midday, if the ropeway is running and the air is clear.
Local tip The ropeway can stop and the area can close when volcanic gas is high, so check ahead. People with breathing problems are told to stay away. Look for the local snack, black eggs boiled in the hot spring water.
A short funicular that climbs the hill from Gora toward the ropeway, with small stations along the way. A gentle ride with a view of the slope.
Go when Midday, on the way up to the ropeway.
Local tip Stand at the front window for the view up the line.
A long mountain lake with forested hills all around. A sightseeing boat crosses it, and you look back at the volcanic hills from the water. On a clear day Mount Fuji can show in the distance, but never count on it.
Go when Afternoon, near sunset (about 4:38 PM), when the light is low on the water.
Local tip Sit on the open deck for the view of the hills. Mount Fuji depends on the weather and the cloud, and some days it does not show at all.
A large museum of Japanese and Asian art on the hill above Gora, with a footbath outside. A quiet place for a wet afternoon.
Go when Afternoon, after the Open-Air Museum on another day.
Local tip It is a big building, so choose two floors and stay with them.
A long, slow dinner of many small dishes, served in your room or a private dining room: something raw, something simmered, something grilled, rice and a sweet at the end. Each dish is small, and the evening is the point.
Local tip Tell the inn about any allergy when you book, and arrive at the table on time, since the dishes are cooked in order.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A rebuilt barrier of the Edo period, where travelers on the old road were stopped and checked. A small museum next to it explains what the guards looked for.
Go when Morning, after a slow breakfast.
Local tip Read the signs inside about how travelers were stopped. Check ahead, because small museums keep their own days.
A ropeway up a wooded peak above the lake, with a small shrine at the top and a wide view over the water. On a clear day Mount Fuji can show in the distance, but the cloud often hides it.
Go when Morning, on a clear day. Check ahead that the ropeway is running.
Local tip The air at the top is colder than by the lake, so bring a layer.
A bowl of noodles, rice with a topping or a plate of grilled fish in a small place near the pier. Warm food and a window with a view of the water.
Local tip Eat before the afternoon, since small places near the lake close early.
A quiet shrine in a cedar forest on the shore, and a red torii gate standing in the water. Walk the old stone steps and then go down to the gate.
Go when Late afternoon, before the light fades.
Local tip Walk to the torii gate in the water at the end of the visit. It is the picture people remember.
A stretch of the old road between Edo and Kyoto, lined with tall old cedar trees. Walk the avenue slowly in the late light and then go home to the bath.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset (about 4:38 PM).
Local tip The old road is uneven stone in places, so wear shoes with a grip, and stay to the side for the cedar roots.
After the long day, a simple set meal at a small restaurant near your inn or at the inn itself. Rice, soup, one main dish and a few small sides.
Local tip Keep it light, because tomorrow is a slow day.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
The most visited of the five lakes around Mount Fuji, with a long shore for walking and cafes that face the water. Mount Fuji rises behind it on a clear day, and hides in cloud on others.
Go when Morning, when the air is often clearest.
Local tip Walk the north shore and stop wherever the mountain shows. Never plan the whole day around the view.
A hillside park with a small red pagoda that looks across the town to Mount Fuji on a clear day. A climb of many steps leads up to it.
Go when Afternoon, when the light is warm and low.
Local tip It is a climb up many stairs, so go slowly, and enjoy the walk through the town if you decide to skip the top.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, April to November are the most comfortable months for walking around Hakone. This plan is built for late November, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 4 days in Hakone, planned for late November. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 4.3 to 17.8 kilometers between its stops, and 42.1 kilometers in all across 4 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
5 days in TokyoAbout 80 km awayAn easy add-on
4 days of temples, tea and quiet corners in KyotoAbout 300 km away
4 days of long meals and neon in OsakaAbout 330 km awayAnother guide with a page about Hakone. It opens in a new tab.
Photo: Kounoichi, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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