Hakone 1-day itinerary

Start your day at Hakone-Yumoto Station and take the Hakone Tozan Railway up the mountain to the Hakone Open-Air Museum — an extraordinary outdoor sculpture park set against the Hakone mountains with works by Picasso, Moore, and Japanese masters. The museum blends art with nature across rolling green hills. From there, continue by switchback train and cable car to Sounzan, then board the Hakone Ropeway for dramatic aerial views over the volcanic landscape towards Owakudani.

Ride the ropeway down into the Owakudani volcanic valley — an active geothermal zone with sulphurous steam vents, bubbling pools, and the smell of rotten eggs hanging in the air. Try the famous kuro-tamago (black eggs) boiled in the volcanic hot springs, said to add seven years to your life. Continue by ropeway to Togendai on the shore of Lake Ashi, then board the distinctive pirate ship cruise across the lake. On clear days, Mt Fuji rises perfectly above the lake — one of Japan's most iconic views.

Disembark at Moto-Hakone and walk the cedar-lined avenue to Hakone Shrine, famous for its vermillion torii gate standing in Lake Ashi. The shrine is atmospheric in the late afternoon light filtering through the ancient cryptomeria trees. End your day with a soak in one of Hakone's many onsen (hot spring baths) — Hakone-Yumoto has several day-use facilities where you can relax in naturally heated mineral water after a full day of sightseeing.