23 Best Things to Do in Hakone With Kids (2026): Easy Family Adventures Near Tokyo

Hakone is often treated as a peaceful hot-spring escape from Tokyo, which it absolutely is. But bring children along and the area becomes something else entirely: pirate ships crossing a crater lake, cable cars drifting above volcanic valleys, mountain trains climbing steep slopes, interactive art installations, puzzle boxes, aquariums, and enough unusual baths to make a regular swimming pool feel rather boring.

Most of the best things to do in Hakone with kids are spread around Lake Ashi, Gora, Owakudani, and Sengokuhara. You will not cover everything in one day unless your family enjoys sprinting between bus stops with snacks clenched between your teeth. Choose a few attractions that suit your children’s interests, leave space for the journey itself, and treat Hakone’s scenic transport as part of the adventure.

The Best Things to Do in Hakone With Kids

1. Cruise Across Lake Ashi on the Hakone Pirate Ship

Lake Ashi is one of Hakone’s classic sights, but children may be more interested in the enormous pirate ship gliding across it than in quietly admiring the landscape. Fair enough. The Hakone Pirate Ship turns a simple lake crossing into one of the easiest family activities in the area.

The ships travel between Togendai Port, Hakone-machi Port, and Motohakone Port. There are three vessels — Queen Ashinoko, Royale II, and Victory — each with its own elaborate design. On a clear day, you may also catch views of Mount Fuji rising behind the lake.

The cruise works especially well as part of a larger Hakone sightseeing loop. You can arrive at Togendai by ropeway, cross the lake by ship, and continue towards Hakone Shrine or the restored Hakone Checkpoint.

• Best for: families with younger children, first-time visitors, and anyone building a classic Hakone day itinerary.
• Address: 164 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Togendai Port is beside Togendai Station on the Hakone Ropeway.
• Booking tip: Advance e-tickets can save time during busy weekends and holiday periods.

2. Ride Above the Volcanic Landscape on the Hakone Ropeway

If your children consider every cable car, train, and unusual form of transport an attraction in its own right, the Hakone Ropeway will be an easy win. The ride connects Sounzan, Owakudani, Ubako, and Togendai, carrying passengers high above one of Hakone’s most dramatic landscapes.

Between Togendai and Owakudani, look out for views of Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji. On the other side of Owakudani, the scenery becomes wilder: volcanic slopes, clouds of steam, and the rugged landscape around the crater area. It is scenic without requiring a long hike, which is useful when traveling with children who have already walked several kilometres before lunch.

Get off at Owakudani Station rather than simply passing through. The area is known for its black eggs, cooked in naturally hot volcanic water. According to local tradition, eating one is said to add seven years to your life. Children may be more interested in the fact that the shells are genuinely black, but either way, they make a memorable Hakone snack.

The nearby Hakone Geo Museum is also worth visiting when you want to explain why the surrounding landscape is bubbling, steaming, and occasionally smelling faintly of sulphur.

• Best for: children who love transport, volcanic scenery, and unusual snacks.
• Access: Reach Sounzan from Gora by cable car, or board at Togendai after exploring Lake Ashi.
• Allow: Around one to two hours if you stop at Owakudani.

3. Splash Around at Hakone Kowakien Yunessun

Hakone is famous for hot springs, but traditional onsen rules can feel complicated when you are traveling with children. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun solves that problem neatly. This family-friendly hot-spring resort includes areas where visitors wear swimsuits, making it much easier for families to relax and play together.

The indoor section is delightfully unconventional. Instead of a standard pool, you will find themed baths such as a green tea bath and a coffee bath. Outside, children can tackle the Rodeo Mountain water slides before slowing down in the warmer pools surrounded by trees.

This is a good choice for a rainy day, a slower afternoon, or the point in your Hakone itinerary when everyone needs a break from museums and sightseeing. It is also one of the easiest ways to introduce children to Japan’s hot-spring culture without expecting them to sit silently in a traditional bath.

• Best for: rainy days, active children, and families nervous about traditional onsen etiquette.
• Address: 1297 Ninohira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Take a Hakone Tozan Bus and get off at Kowakien or Yunessun-mae.
• Booking tip: Check admission options before arriving, as advance passes and discounted tickets may be available.

4. Meet Otters and Seals at Hakone-en Aquarium

An aquarium might not be the first attraction that comes to mind when planning a mountain escape, but Hakone-en Aquarium is a useful family stop — especially when the weather refuses to cooperate.

Located 723 metres above sea level, the aquarium is known for its large saltwater tank. Natural light enters from above, illuminating the water and creating a surprisingly atmospheric setting. The aquarium also runs events throughout the day, including seal feeding sessions, diver feeding shows, and opportunities to see Asian small-clawed otters.

Because the aquarium is part of the wider Hakone-en complex, it is easy to combine with a ride on the Komagatake Ropeway or a walk beside Lake Ashi. Check the daily schedule when you arrive so you do not discover that the otters appeared fifteen minutes before you did.

• Best for: younger children, animal lovers, and rainy-day itineraries.
• Address: 139 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Take the Izu Hakone Bus and get off at Hakone-en or The Prince Hakone Ashinoko.
• Planning tip: Check the feeding and show schedule before exploring the rest of Hakone-en.

5. Let Children Explore the Hakone Open-Air Museum

Some museums ask children to lower their voices, keep their hands firmly in their pockets, and admire everything from a respectful distance. The Hakone Open-Air Museum takes a much more family-friendly approach.

Set among the green hills of Hakone, the museum places sculptures and installations across a spacious outdoor site. Children have room to move around, while several artworks are designed to be explored rather than simply observed. The colourful Net Forest is one of the most popular areas for younger visitors.

Adults still get a proper art museum experience, but children do not have to spend the entire visit pretending they are not itching to run across the grass. The combination of outdoor space, interactive installations, and mountain scenery makes this one of the best things to do in Hakone with kids.

• Best for: families who want art without a formal museum atmosphere.
• Address: 1121 Ninohira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Two minutes on foot from Chokoku-no-Mori Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway.
• Allow: Around two hours, or longer if your children settle into the play areas.

6. Take the Hakone Tozan Train Through the Mountains

The Hakone Tozan Train is not merely a practical way to travel between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora. It is one of the area’s most enjoyable experiences, especially for children who perk up at the sight of railway tracks.

The train climbs through the mountains for approximately 8.9 kilometres, covering the route in around 40 minutes. Along the way, it navigates steep gradients and switchbacks, pausing as it changes direction before continuing uphill. The slower pace gives you time to watch the scenery shift from busy Hakone-Yumoto to wooded slopes, bridges, and small mountain stations.

The railway first opened in 1919, and its retro stations and mountain setting still give the journey a slightly old-fashioned charm. You can ride straight through to Gora or stop along the route to explore nearby attractions.

• Best for: train enthusiasts, relaxed sightseeing, and families traveling between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora.
• Hakone-Yumoto Station address: 707-1 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Hakone-Yumoto is approximately 15 minutes from Odawara Station by train.
• Planning tip: Treat the ride as part of the itinerary rather than simply transport between attractions.

7. Solve Puzzle Boxes at the Sekisho Karakuri Museum

Hakone and nearby Odawara are known for yosegi-zaiku, a traditional form of Japanese marquetry created from carefully arranged pieces of wood. You will see puzzle boxes and geometric wooden souvenirs in shops across the area, but the Sekisho Karakuri Museum lets children interact with them rather than simply stare at a display shelf.

The museum is located close to the Hakone Checkpoint and focuses on clever wooden mechanisms. Children can try opening puzzle boxes and testing how the objects work. What looks like a simple box may require a specific sequence of sliding movements before it reveals its secret compartment.

It is a small attraction, but it works well as part of a Lake Ashi itinerary. Combine it with the checkpoint and the pirate ship rather than making a separate journey across Hakone solely to visit the museum.

• Best for: curious children, puzzle fans, and families looking for a short cultural stop.
• Address: 16 Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: One minute on foot from the Hakone Sekisho Ato bus stop.
• Combine with: Hakone Checkpoint and a Lake Ashi pirate ship cruise.

8. Learn About the Landscape at Hakone Visitor Center

Hakone’s mountain scenery is impressive even when you know nothing about geology. It becomes much more interesting once you understand why Lake Ashi exists, which birds live in the surrounding forest, and what is happening beneath the steaming volcanic landscape.

The Hakone Visitor Center introduces the area’s plants, animals, insects, wild birds, and geological features. Exhibits include a large topographical model of Hakone and a high-definition theatre. Admission is free, making it an easy addition to a slower day around Lake Ashi.

This is not the kind of stop that needs several hours. Visit when your children are curious about the landscape or when you need a calm indoor break before returning to the lake, walking trails, or ropeway.

• Best for: nature-loving children, budget-friendly itineraries, and families seeking an educational indoor stop.
• Address: 164 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Get off at the Shirayuridai bus stop on the Hakone Tozan Bus.
• Admission: Free.

9. Step Into Edo-Period History at Hakone Checkpoint

Standing on the shores of Lake Ashi, Hakone Checkpoint offers a glimpse of what travel looked like during the Edo period. It may be difficult to imagine now, as pirate ships glide across the lake and buses wind through the hills, but this area once formed part of a closely controlled route between Edo and Kyoto.

The checkpoint has been carefully reconstructed using historical records. Visitors can explore the gates, stone walls, guardhouse, and rest areas. Displays and mannequins recreate scenes of travelers being inspected as they passed through the checkpoint.

This attraction is likely to appeal most to older children, particularly those already interested in samurai-era history. For younger children, it works best as a short stop combined with the nearby Sekisho Karakuri Museum and a cruise across Lake Ashi.

• Best for: school-age children, history lovers, and families exploring the southern shore of Lake Ashi.
• Address: 1 Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Two minutes on foot from the Hakone Sekisho Ato bus stop.
• Combine with: Sekisho Karakuri Museum, Hakone-machi Port, and the Old Tokaido route.

10. See the Lake From Above on the Komagatake Ropeway

The Hakone Ropeway gets most of the attention, but it is not the only cable-car ride in the area. The Komagatake Ropeway connects Hakone-en with the summit of Mount Komagatake, climbing 1,783 metres in around seven minutes.

At the top, you can look out across Lake Ashi and the surrounding mountains. On a clear day, the panorama may stretch towards Mount Fuji, Suruga Bay, the Izu Islands, the Shonan coast, and even the Boso Peninsula. Naturally, clear weather matters. Hakone occasionally wraps itself in mist and refuses to reveal anything beyond the nearest tree.

The summit is also used for occasional stargazing events, including sessions timed around meteor showers. These can be a memorable addition to a family trip, particularly for older children interested in astronomy.

• Best for: panoramic views, older children, and families already visiting Hakone-en.
• Address: 139 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Take the Izu Hakone Bus from Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto and get off at Hakone-en.
• Planning tip: Save this for a reasonably clear day, as the summit views are the main reason to go.

11. Walk Through the Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields

Not every family activity in Hakone needs a ticket, a timetable, or an elaborate attraction attached to it. In autumn, the Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields offer one of the simplest and most atmospheric walks in the area.

The tall grasses spread across the foothills of Mount Daigatake, turning golden as the season progresses. From late September to mid-November, the landscape becomes particularly striking, especially when the grass catches the afternoon light and ripples in the wind.

The main trail is straightforward, making this a manageable outdoor stop for families. It is a good way to slow down after several museums or transport-heavy attractions, although younger children may need some encouragement if they were expecting another pirate ship.

• Best for: autumn trips, gentle walks, and families who want a scenic outdoor break.
• Address: Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Approximately 30 minutes by bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station. Get off at Sengokuhara Kogen.
• Best season: Late September to mid-November.

12. Visit Hakone Shrine Beside Lake Ashi

Hidden among towering cedar trees near Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine feels far removed from Tokyo’s crowds. The approach through the forest is peaceful, while the shrine’s red torii gate standing in the lake has become one of Hakone’s most recognisable sights.

The shrine has a long history and is associated with prayers for good fortune, safe travel, success, and relationships. Families do not need to understand every detail of Shinto practice to appreciate the atmosphere. Walking beneath the trees, climbing the stone steps, and pausing beside the lake are all part of the experience.

Because the lakeside torii gate is popular for photographs, queues can form at busy times. Visit early in the morning when possible, or enjoy the broader shrine grounds without treating one photograph as a compulsory mission.

• Best for: families seeking a cultural stop, forest walks, and classic Lake Ashi scenery.
• Address: 80-1 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Take a Hakone Tozan Bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station to Hakone Jinja Iriguchi, then walk for around 10 minutes.
• Planning tip: Visit earlier in the day to avoid the longest queues near the lakeside torii gate.

13. Explore the Forest-Side Pola Museum of Art

The Pola Museum of Art is one of Hakone’s quieter attractions, tucked into the forest in Sengokuhara. Its glass-heavy architecture was designed to sit gently within the surrounding landscape, allowing natural light and greenery to become part of the museum experience.

The collection includes Western artists such as Monet, Renoir, Picasso, and Léonard Foujita, alongside Japanese art and rotating exhibitions. This may not be the obvious first stop for toddlers, but it can be a rewarding choice for older children and teenagers beginning to take an interest in art.

The building itself is part of the appeal, and the forest setting prevents the visit from feeling overly formal. It works particularly well when paired with the Sengokuhara grass fields or another attraction in the northern part of Hakone.

• Best for: older children, teenagers, art lovers, and rainy afternoons.
• Address: 1285 Kozukayama, Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Get off at the Pola Museum of Art stop on the sightseeing bus.
• Combine with: Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields or other attractions in Sengokuhara.

14. Make a Souvenir at Hakone Craft House

Buying a souvenir is easy. Making one yourself is much more memorable — even when the final result is slightly wonky and proudly displayed at home for years afterwards.

Hakone Craft House, located inside Hakone Gora Park, offers hands-on activities including glassblowing, pottery, and glass bead making. Pottery painting is particularly accessible for families. Children can decorate unglazed ceramic pieces with paints, drawings, or stamps before the finished work is fired.

This is a useful option when you want an indoor activity with a creative element rather than another museum. It also gives children something tangible to bring home from the trip — a souvenir with a story rather than one more object purchased at a station shop.

• Best for: creative children, rainy days, and families looking for a personal souvenir.
• Address: 1300 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture, inside Hakone Gora Park.
• Access: Around one minute on foot from Koen-shita Station on the Hakone Tozan Cable Car.
• Booking tip: Some activities may be available without a reservation, but checking ahead is sensible during busy periods.

15. Take a Side Trip to Mishima Skywalk

When your family still has energy after exploring Hakone — a bold but not impossible scenario — consider a side trip to Mishima Skywalk in nearby Shizuoka Prefecture.

The pedestrian suspension bridge stretches across a valley with wide views towards Mount Fuji on clear days. Simply crossing the bridge is an adventure, particularly for children excited by heights and dramatic scenery.

On the far side, the experience becomes more active. Families can choose from outdoor attractions such as zip lines, forest adventure courses, Segway tours, buggies, and e-bikes. It is a good fit for older children and teenagers who would rather climb through trees than visit another quiet museum.

Mishima Skywalk is outside Hakone itself, so treat it as an optional addition rather than squeezing it into an already crowded sightseeing day.

• Best for: active families, older children, teenagers, and clear-weather views of Mount Fuji.
• Address: 313 Sasahara Shinden, Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
• Access: Take a Tokai Bus and get off at Mishima Skywalk.
• Booking tip: Check age, height, and weather restrictions before booking outdoor activities.

More Family-Friendly Places to Visit in Hakone

The attractions above cover Hakone’s biggest family highlights, but there are still a few worthwhile additions if you are staying overnight or planning a slower itinerary. These are not places to cram into an already packed day. Think of them as useful alternatives: gardens when the weather is pleasant, a glass museum when you want something quieter, and short food stops that make the travel between attractions considerably more enjoyable.

16. Slow Down at Nicolai Bergmann Hakone Gardens

Nicolai Bergmann Hakone Gardens is one of Hakone’s newer attractions, opened in 2022 and designed to blend flower installations with the surrounding mountain landscape. Rather than forcing nature into perfectly trimmed rows, the garden makes use of the existing slopes, trees, and changing seasons.

The grounds cover around 26,400 square metres, with walking paths, five pavilions, outdoor displays, and seasonal events. The garden changes noticeably throughout the year, so the experience depends on when you visit: spring flowers, summer greenery, autumn colour, and winter installations all give the landscape a slightly different mood.

There is also an on-site cafe, NOMU hakone, where you can pick up drinks and food when younger children begin to lose enthusiasm for admiring plants. Pets are welcome in the gardens, although they cannot enter the indoor cafe area.

This is a peaceful stop rather than a high-energy attraction. The paths follow the natural terrain, with slopes and uneven sections, so comfortable shoes are sensible. Families traveling with toddlers may find a carrier more practical than relying entirely on a stroller.

• Best for: nature-loving families, slower itineraries, seasonal flowers, and travelers visiting Hakone with a dog.
• Address: 1323-119 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Take the sightseeing facilities bus from Gora Station and get off at Nicolai Bergmann Hakone Gardens. The entrance is beside the bus stop.
• Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last admission at 4:30 PM. Closed on Wednesdays.
• Admission: Adult tickets cost ¥1,800 on the day. Students pay ¥1,400. Elementary-school children and younger enter free. Advance online tickets may be cheaper.
• Planning tip: The garden operates cashlessly, including its parking area.

17. Take a Breather in Hakone Gora Park

Hakone Gora Park is an easy place to slow down after riding the mountain railway or exploring the busier attractions around Gora. Opened during the Taisho era, it was Japan’s first French-style formal garden, although its mountain setting keeps it from feeling overly polished or precious.

The grounds are planted with seasonal flowers, including azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and roses. Large rocks are scattered across the park, a reminder that this was once rough volcanic terrain rather than a conveniently flat city garden.

Children may not spend an hour discussing the finer points of landscape design, but there is enough space to walk, explore, and take a break from public transport. The park also includes greenhouses, a rose garden, a cafe, and Hakone Craft House, which is already covered in the section above. That is where families can try pottery painting, glassblowing, and other hands-on activities.

Gora Park works particularly well when you are already visiting Hakone Craft House. Instead of treating the workshop as a quick standalone stop, leave time to walk through the gardens before continuing with your day.

• Best for: a relaxed garden walk, seasonal flowers, and families combining sightseeing with a craft workshop.
• Address: 1300 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Walk from Koen-shita Station or Koen-kami Station on the Hakone Tozan Cable Car.
• Opening hours: From March to November, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. From December to February, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Admission: Adults pay ¥650. Elementary-school children and younger enter free. Admission is also free for visitors using selected transport passes, including the Hakone Freepass.
• Allow: Around 45 minutes for the gardens, or longer when adding a craft workshop.

18. Step Into a Sparkling Garden at the Hakone Glass Forest Museum

The Hakone Glass Forest Museum feels slightly unexpected in the middle of the mountains. One minute you are traveling through Sengokuhara; the next you are walking through a European-style garden filled with Venetian glass, seasonal flowers, and crystal installations catching the sunlight.

The museum specialises in Venetian glass, with pieces ranging from historic works to contemporary designs. Indoors, the displays introduce different techniques and styles. Outside, the gardens are the real scene-stealer, particularly when the crystal-glass installations shimmer in the sun.

Families can also add a hands-on activity rather than limiting the visit to display cases. Workshops include options such as sandblasting and glass fusing, allowing children to make a small souvenir of their own.

This is a good choice for older children, teenagers, and parents looking for something calmer than a theme-park-style attraction. It also works nicely on a Sengokuhara day alongside the Pola Museum of Art or the pampas grass fields.

• Best for: creative children, teenagers, photography, and a quieter afternoon in Sengokuhara.
• Address: 940-48 Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: From Hakone-Yumoto Station, take a bus towards Kojiri or Togendai and get off at Hakone Glass no Mori.
• Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with last admission at 5:00 PM.
• Admission: Adults pay ¥1,800, high-school and university students ¥1,300, and elementary and junior-high students ¥600.
• Family tip: Some areas include stairs and do not have ramps, so navigating the museum with a stroller can require extra care.
• Allow: Around one to two hours, depending on whether you add a workshop.

Easy Food and Souvenir Stops in Hakone With Kids

Hakone’s attractions are scattered across the mountains, which means a family itinerary can involve a surprising amount of moving around. These stops are useful because they fit naturally into the route. No special detour. No dramatic negotiations with hungry children on a bus platform.

19. Pause at cu-mo Hakone While Changing at Sounzan Station

When traveling between Gora and Owakudani, you will pass through Sounzan Station, where the Hakone Tozan Cable Car connects with the Hakone Ropeway. Do not rush through the transfer without noticing cu-mo Hakone.

This small station-side stop includes an observation terrace, a footbath, a shop, and a food counter. The theme is clouds, naturally enough, because you are about to float above the mountains in a ropeway cabin. Depending on availability, you may find playful snacks such as cloud-inspired drinks, sweets, and cotton candy.

It is not a separate destination that needs to dominate your timetable. It is simply a pleasant place to sit down, dip your feet into the warm water, and regroup before continuing towards Owakudani.

• Best for: a short break during the classic Hakone sightseeing loop.
• Location: Inside Sounzan Station.
• Access: Take the Hakone Tozan Cable Car from Gora Station and get off at Sounzan Station.
• Planning tip: Keep an eye on the ropeway timetable rather than becoming too comfortable in the footbath.

20. Pick Up an Easy Lunch at Ginkatsu Kobo

Close to Hakone Gora Park, Ginkatsu Kobo is a useful stop when your family needs something more substantial than another souvenir-shop snack. You can eat inside or pick up takeaway food and continue towards the park.

The menu includes katsudon, deep-fried skewers, bento boxes, rolled sushi, desserts, and the popular Gin Katsu Sandwich with a thick pork cutlet. There are also soy-milk-based sweets, including soft-serve ice cream and parfaits, when lunch somehow turns into dessert. It happens.

• Best for: an easy takeaway lunch before visiting Gora Park or Hakone Craft House.
• Address: 1300-694 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Planning tip: Popular items can sell out, so visit earlier in the day when possible.

21. Buy the Famous Black Eggs While You Are Already at Owakudani

The volcanic scenery, Geo Museum, and black eggs of Owakudani are already covered in the Hakone Ropeway section above. But it is useful to know where to pick up the eggs once you arrive.

Stop at the Owakudani Kurotamago Museum, where the Kurotama Shop sells Hakone’s famous black-shelled eggs alongside sweets, keychains, T-shirts, and other souvenirs. The building also has a casual food counter and a black egg sculpture outside for the inevitable family photograph.

The black eggs can sell out, particularly on busy days, so do not leave the purchase until the last possible minute. On weekends, arriving by ropeway is usually more convenient than joining the traffic heading towards the parking area.

• Best for: a quick snack and souvenir stop during an Owakudani visit.
• Address: 1251 Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Opening hours: The shop generally operates from 9:00 AM to 4:15 PM. Black eggs are generally sold until 4:20 PM, although seasonal changes and sell-outs are possible.
• Access: Walk from Owakudani Station on the Hakone Ropeway.

22. Eat Fresh Bread Beside Lake Ashi at Bakery & Table Hakone

Bakery & Table Hakone sits beside Lake Ashi, close to Motohakone Port. That makes it an especially convenient stop after a pirate ship cruise or a visit to Hakone Shrine.

The first-floor bakery sells freshly baked bread, including its best-selling rice-flour curry doughnut filled with curry and a creamy whole egg. Another signature option is the square-shaped “Hakone” bread, inspired by the geometric patterns of the area’s traditional yosegi-zaiku marquetry.

You can take your bread upstairs to the cafe and eat while looking across Lake Ashi. There is also a footbath terrace where you can soak your feet while having a drink or snack — a rather efficient way to recover after walking around the lake.

• Best for: breakfast, a lakeside snack, or a relaxed break after sightseeing around Motohakone.
• Address: 9-1 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Access: Beside Lake Ashi, close to Motohakone Port.
• Opening hours: The first-floor bakery opens from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Other areas within the building have slightly different hours.
• Planning tip: Lines can form during popular times, so visit outside the busiest lunch period when possible.

23. Browse the Shops Around Hakone-Yumoto Station

Before heading back towards Tokyo, leave a little time to explore the shopping street outside Hakone-Yumoto Station. It is the easiest place to buy last-minute souvenirs without carrying shopping bags around the mountains all day.

The shops sell local specialties such as onsen manju, wasabi products, dried fish, sweets, and yosegi-zaiku marquetry. Some stores focus on traditional wooden crafts, while others are better suited to edible souvenirs that will mysteriously begin disappearing before your train reaches Odawara.

For an easy snack, look for freshly baked castella-style onsen manju. You will also find newer dessert shops alongside the more traditional stalls, making the street a good place to compare old-school Hakone treats with modern versions.

• Best for: last-minute souvenirs, snacks, and a final stroll before leaving Hakone.
• Location: Outside Hakone-Yumoto Station.
• Opening hours: Vary by shop.
• Planning tip: Save souvenir shopping for the end of the day so you do not carry boxes of sweets through every ropeway transfer.

How to Plan a Family Day in Hakone

Hakone is not one compact town with every attraction clustered around a single station. It is a mountain area connected by trains, cable cars, ropeways, buses, and boats. That is part of the appeal, but it also means that trying to visit all 15 attractions in one day would be a heroic mistake.

For a classic first visit, begin in Hakone-Yumoto, ride the Hakone Tozan Train towards Gora, continue by cable car and ropeway to Owakudani, then descend to Togendai and cross Lake Ashi on the pirate ship. From there, visit Hakone Shrine or the Hakone Checkpoint before returning by bus.

Families staying overnight can slow the pace considerably. Spend one day following the classic sightseeing loop, then use a second day for Yunessun, the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone Craft House, Sengokuhara, or Hakone-en. Hakone is much more enjoyable when the journey feels like part of the trip rather than an obstacle course involving increasingly tired children.

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  Kobe does souvenirs rather well. This is a city where elegant Western-style patisseries sit beside bustling Chinatown shops, local coffee institutions, specialist tea stores, and businesses determined to turn Kobe beef into almost every portable food imaginable. The result? You are unlikely to leave empty-handed. What to buy in Kobe: To help you separate the… Read more: What To Buy in Kobe (2026): Sweets, Kobe Beef Gifts and Local Finds
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  What to buy at Matsumoto Kiyoshi (2026): The Budget-Friendly Japan Beauty Finds Worth Checking Out
  Matsukiyo, officially known as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, is one of Japan’s most familiar drugstore chains. You will find it everywhere: near train stations, in shopping streets, close to tourist areas, and often right when your skin decides it hates the weather. But beyond the famous Japanese beauty brands, Matsukiyo also has its own private-label cosmetics —… Read more: What to buy at Matsumoto Kiyoshi (2026): The Budget-Friendly Japan Beauty Finds Worth Checking Out
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  Best Japanese Snacks to Try in 2026: From Crispy Senbei to Weird Little Konbini Treasures
  Japan does snacks like it does trains, stationery, and tiny hotel bathrooms: with terrifying precision and a surprising amount of joy. One minute we’re buying a polite little rice cracker. The next, we’re holding dried squid, sour gummies, and chocolate-covered potato chips like we’ve made several bold life choices at once. So, what should you… Read more: Best Japanese Snacks to Try in 2026: From Crispy Senbei to Weird Little Konbini Treasures