This 1 day itinerary for Hakone on a busy schedule is all you will need to soak in (almost) all that Hakone has to offer! We did this trip at a pretty speedy space but you can definitely scratch off a few things and give yourself more time to enjoy certain areas. As for the route, this is likely one of the best routes for a 1 day trip in order to fit in as much as possible, as easily as possible.
VERY IMPORTANT: Ask for a HAKONE FREE PASS which will save you roughly 1,100 yen on transportation to and from Shinjuku and all throughout Hakone. This also saves so much time rather than having to buy tickets for every single train/bus/ferry/ropeway/etc. It also gives you small discounts on local shops as well.
Extra Info:
TIMELINE:
8:00 – Arrive at Shinjuku and head to the Odakyu Romance car ticket booth
8:31 – Board Romance Car from Shinjuku
10:15 – Arrive at Hakone Yumoto
10:38 – Get on Hakone Tozan train to Gora Stn (45 mins) BUS ROUTE
11:15 – Sounzan station (10 mins), Ropeway (8 mins) ROUTE
11:30 – Owakudani (explore for 30-45 mins)
12:00 – lunch
13:00 – Ropeway to Togendai stn (16 mins)
13:25 – Sightseeing cruise to Moto Hakone (35 mins) TIME TABLE
14:00 – Walk from Tokaido checkpoint to Hakone Jinja (ancient cedar avenue) 2.3km
14:30 – Hakone Jinja (30 mins)
14:45 – Walk back to Moto Hakone ko bus stop
15:00 – Bus to Tenzan onsen BUS ROUTE
15:30 – Arrive at Tenzan onsen
17:30 – Leave onsen
17:53 – Head back to Hakone Yumoto station BUS ROUTE
18:20 – Arrive at Hakone Yumoto station
18:30 – Dinner at Hatsuhana Soba Honten
19:30 – Head to station
19:42 – Board last Romance train back to Shinjuku
21:25 – Arrive in Shinjuku