HakoneArea

Hakone is one of the most popular weekend escapes from Tokyo for travelers with a car, and it's easy to see why. The drive itself is part of the appeal: winding mountain roads climb through forested hills, opening onto sweeping views of Lake Ashi and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji in the distance. Unlike many parts of Japan built around train stations, Hakone rewards drivers with access to viewpoints, smaller onsen towns, and back roads that are slow or inconvenient to reach on foot or by local bus.

A typical Hakone road trip combines a soak in one of the area's many hot spring ryokan or day-use onsen facilities with time spent exploring Owakudani's volcanic scenery, the Hakone Open-Air Museum, or the boat crossing on Lake Ashi. Because the region sits close to Tokyo, it works well as a one- or two-night trip, or as a stop on a longer loop that continues toward Izu or Mt. Fuji.

Driving conditions in Hakone are generally manageable for visitors with some experience on mountain roads, though switchbacks and narrow sections call for caution, especially in wet weather or winter. Parking is available at most major sights, though it can fill up during peak leaf-viewing and cherry blossom seasons, so arriving early in the day is worth planning for.