Day Trip to Hakone in Winter
Full-Day in Hakone + “Onsens” (Hot Springs)
Hakone is a popular day trip from Tokyo for both locals and international travelers alike. It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and is famous for hot springs (Onsen's) and getting close-up views of Mt Fuji (Winter is the best time). Take the beautiful Limited Express Romance Car and arrive at Hakone-Yumoto. While there are several places to go see and do here, in winter as transport options are limited and some places might be closed due to weather, skip the Hakone Loop and take a bus ride to the shores of Lake Ashi. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Mt Fuji. Stroll for along the shores leading up to Hakone Shrine. Before heading there you can choose to grab lunch at a nearby bakery. Then catch a bus and head back to the final stop - Bath in the hot springs of the famous Tenzan Onsen in Hakone-Yumoto.
Tip - Take the Super Hakone, Limited Express Romance Car Train, its worth the extra money even if you have a JR pass. It's beautiful and saves you 30 min, which is helpful in a day trip to Hakone.Duration: Full Day (Start around 8:30 AM)
Activity Level: 2 (Low to Moderate walking + train)
Good To Know: 1. If Tozan Train is not operational or you don’t want to take the cable car due to bad weather, then use this route. Winter days are very short anyway. 2. Pack 2 towels (small+large) from the hotel for the hot springs bath
Cost: Limited Express Romance Car (Shinjuku to Hakone-Moto) $25/pp each way. Hakone local transport uses Suica or Icoca Pass or Hakone. Tenzan Onsen - about $13-15 /pp.
How to get there:
From Shinjuku Station -----Super Hakone 90min--— Hakone-Yumoto— Bus H or K 45min —Moto-Hakone
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Day Trip to Hakone
Stop 1: Super Express Hakone (Shinjuku) Station
Stop 2: Hakone-Yumoto Station
Stop 3: Hakonemachi-Ko
Stop 4: Bakery & Table Cafe
Stop 5: Heiwa no Torri (on the lake)
Stop 6: Tenzan Onsen
Stop 7: Shinjuku Terrace Garden
Stop 8: Ginger Grass, Thai & Vietnamese Restaurant
Morning
Super Hakone Express - Romance Car
Board the 9 AM, Super Hakone (Limited Express Romance Car) to Hakone. This is a beautiful yet fast train. Enjoy some car while on the train.
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Time: 10:30 AM
Hakone-Yumoto
You’ll likely arrive around 10:30 AM at Hakone-Yumoto Station. Take a quick stroll across the “Red Bridge” over the running river before taking the H or K bus for a 45 min beautiful hillside drive to Motohakone-Ko Checkpoint on Lake Ashi!
Tip: This town is also the starting point to do the Lake Ashi Loop which starts in Gora where you hop on the Hakone Cable Car , followed by the Hakone Ropeway, and finally boarding the famous “Pirate” ship for a short lake cruise, before arriving at MotoHakone-Ko. Remember, it gets dark by 4PM in winter and you will be time pressed to squeeze in thisloop, especially if you are also making the Onsen stop later on15 Minutes
HakoneMachi-Ko Port
Once you arrive at this small yet bustling port, grab a soft-serve ice cream cone and enjoy the beautiful views of Mt. Fuji (Winter has super clear days!) and Lake Ashi. Given our schedule, we did not have time to do the pirate ship cruise. If hungry (it’s almost lunchtime) grab a coffee and a pastry or lunch at the Bakery & Table Cafe. It’s a quick 5 minute's walk from the port and in the direction of your next stop - The Torii Gate over Water.
Tip: You can rent cool bicycles if you choose to ride to the Torri Gate.
Afternoon
Stroll along the shore towards Hakone Shrine (10 min) and make a stop at this very popular “instagrammable” photo op. It is busy, so get in line for photos. It is well worth it!
60 - 75 min
Tip - You can choose to hike up from here to the actual Hakone Shrine (about 30 minute round trip). Remember you have to catch the 2:20PM bus back.. 
Take Bus K and get off at Okuyumotoiriguchi Bus Stop. Walk down the hill for 5 minutes to the entrance to Tenzan Onsen. You will need to pay about $13 to $15 per person at the vending station before the entrance.
Relax and enjoy the outdoor onsen in this beautiful traditional Japanese-style building on a wooded hillside.
Note: No clothes while bathing and no cameras allowed once you are inside the hot springs !! Also note you should have no visible tattoos and most onsens don't allow them
After a nice bath, get some hot tea + toast with butter and honey in the cute eatery inside the lobby entrance
120 min
Tensen Onsen (Okuyumotoiriguchi Bus Stop)
Catch Bus 328 for a short 10-minute ride back to the Hakone-Yumoto station
Note: At the time of posting this trip, this bus stop shows permanently closed on Google maps. So please check with Tenzan Onsen for alternate transportation options. 
Hakone-Yumoto Station
Time to head back. Take 2:25 PM the Romance train back to Shinjuku.
Start Time: 2:25 PM
End Time: 4:00 PM
Evening
Shinjuku Terrace - Eat @ Ginger Grass Modern Thai & Vietnamese
Upon arrival, stroll down Shinkjuku Terrace (a few minutes from the main station) and enjoy the winter illuminations and grab Ramen Noodles (Thai style) + Vietnamese vegetarian spring rolls, and nice cold Tsingha beer for dinner at this wonderful modern Asian restaurant.
Before You Go
Reserve the Super Hakone Express Romance Car at the Odakyu HakoneTicket center located in Shinjuku Station. Most don’t speak English but they sometimes do have electronic translators or you can use Google Translate App (we loved it!)
If you have a JR Pass, you can also use it to travel on the Shinkansen with no additional charge for seat reservations (if you have a green card on the JR Pass). However, it will be slightly longer and you have two hops. You will need to first take the LTD Narita Express 17 to Shinagawa Station (15 minutes), wait 12 minutes, then take JR Shinkansen (Kodama 647) to Odawara Station (27 Minutes). From Odawara, you will need to purchase a bus ticket to go to Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Hakone Pass - This could be a money-saving pass if you plan to do the Lake Ashi loop - use The Hakone Tozan Train, bus, cable car, ropeway, and cruise.
For your overall trip to Japan, please also see my post - Before You Go Checklist - packing list, tech, gear, visa, passport, wi-fi hotspot & more.. to make a hassle-free trip.
There are several beautiful ryokan/other accommodations just in case you miss any of your connections!
Recommended Additions/Alternatives
Here are some helpful alternatives to add /swap in this itinerary and to accommodate for changes due to disruptions weather, etc. It happens!
Overnight stay at a Ryokan or Onsen - Tenzan Onsen has lodging too. With an additional night, you can see a few other places, especially Gotemba for a close view of Mt Fuji and the Odawara Castle.
Stay in Hakone overnight when going from Tokyo to Kyoto on your return trip.
Cycling (Road and Mountain) - This is on my to-do list as I am an avid rider. I researched and here is a link to Fuji Bike Tour, a bike tour company offering day trips and multi-day cycling itineraries, and a google search for places to rent. I think spring, and autumn are perhaps the best months to ride. Note: I have not used these tour or rentals shop, so please check for reviews and connect with the companies directly
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