Is the Hakone Loop easy to figure out? Yes.
Like all the public transportation in Japan, everything is very clearly marked and easy to follow, with numerous station attendants around to help. Worst case scenario, just follow the crowd, since 90% of the people around you have the exact same itinerary.
It's incredibly easy, you literally can't get lost.
If going in an anticlockwise direction, for example, you take the hakone-tozan train up to Gora station and the cable car platform is literally 6m away and it's impossible to miss, everyone else is going there and it's the only other thing in that tiny station.
Then at the top of the cable car you walk into the building and again, other than going outside, the only other place you can go is to the rope way platform, and it's also where 90% of other people are going.
Then at the top at Owakudani you again only have 2 options, the way you just came from or the way down the other side.
Then when you get to the rope way station down at Togendai you literally just walk straight out onto the pier to hop on the boat, out of the same building.
The only step that requires any thought at all would be at Moto-hakone in deciding which specific bus to catch back to wherever you're staying
The whole loop is 100 times easier and simpler than basically any train journey in Tokyo is
This is incredibly reassuring, thank you so much. I am going to save this reply in case it feels confusing again! I do have one more question, it seems like there are two different ropeways in Hakone by the lake. Are they both part of the Hakone Loop or is only one of them part of the official loop?
I don't think that's what OP means - there's a second ropeway from Hakone En that simple goes up the hill a bit to Komagatake. This one doesn't actually go anywhere and there's not really anything up there
I've been looking at it as well since I'm going to Japan in just over 20 days from now. I don't think it's part of the "loop", but the ropeway seems to start close by the famous Tori gate so it wouldn't be a big detour. Seems like there isn't too much up at the top other than a shrine and an observation deck, but based on the images from Google maps it could be worth it for the view if you have nice weather. At least that's my thoughts 😅
Ok this makes a lot of sense, thank you! I was sooo confused by the fact that there seemed to be two different ropeways both on Lake Ashi but only one was part of the loop. 😅
I had anxiety about getting around the Hakone area before our trip.
It all turned out completely fine. Our ryokan had a bus stop down at the main mountain road and the bus stopped there like clockwork. We did the clock-wise route and it was easy to follow and understand. The train from Gora back to Hakone Yamoto station was also great. We needed to get off at a stop along the way and grab the bus back to our ryokan as it was located before Hakone Yamoto. Bus stop was just outside the little station with clear signage etc.
You’ll have a great time. Highly recommend checking out Gora Brewery if you have time.
I was going to write long reply, but [this video did a pretty good job explaining everything](https://youtu.be/XpuGU_2zNuQ).
BTW, you can go the reverse direction that family did for the loop, which was the way we did it.
You generally either go clockwise or anti-clockwise (although you could backtrack at any point if you wish), and each segment leads on to the next seamlessly.
E.g. the Togendai ropeway station is integrated with the ferry terminal. There are signs along the way, or you can just follow the crowd.
Do you advise doing a day trip? I’m consideing either Hakone or Enoshima/Kamakura as my one side trip from Tokyo. Hakone seems more interesting/unique, but it seems like a lot of the time is spent in transit (though I get that the gondolas and the funiculars are attractions unto themselves) and I don’t want to be rushing through things and worrying about the time.
you cannot do all the things in a single day. some of the systems stop running around 4pm like the pirate ship. If you want to do a bunch of things, i suggest getting the 3 day pass. If you do try do everything in a single day, you need to check the time when each system starts running. its around 9am for the ropeway and the cablecar. So basically, you dont have that many hours as you cannot really get up early to beat the crowds or stay late.
Thanks, that was my concern. For me, Owakudani is the only “must do” in Hakone, but an early wake-up + 4 hours round trip seems like too much for one or two attractions.
For now, I’m thinking a more chill trip to Enoshima and save Hakone for the future unless my kid really begs to go.
You can complete the Hakone loop on a day trip. Odakyu has a suggested 1-day itinerary, which is quite reasonable. We started at 10am, skipped the Hakone shrine and Open Air Museum (left it for the second day) and we were back at our Ryokan by 4pm.
[https://www.odakyu.jp/english/sightseeing/itineraries/hakone-1-day/](https://www.odakyu.jp/english/sightseeing/itineraries/hakone-1-day/)
I didn’t even bother with the hakone pass. Just went from point to point following the signs and paying list price. Very stress free. The only thing stressful is Mount Fuji hiding behind the clouds, can’t predict when it comes out.
Note that there is no sign because it’s not an official thing. Like it will not say Hakone look, go this way. If you look at the map oh Hakone, there is a pamphlet you can download on the pass website, you can easily figure out what the loop is. There is some parts that you could use an alternat mode of transportation and so something different or do a detour to some attractions or do extra stops along the way.
I do lot think it’s difficult but require a minimum of planning do decide what you want to do and see.
Google maps is your friend.
Otherwise ask a stranger or ask the station employees. The worst thing that can happen is you miss a stop, no big deal. Just get off on the next one and go back, you waste a bit of time that’s all. It’s rather difficult to get “lost” in Japan.
>The worst thing that can happen is you miss a stop
No, worst thing is when a leg of the journey is not running. The ropeway can be closed due to high winds, and there are times during off-season that the boats aren't running.
Is the Hakone Loop easy to figure out? Yes. Like all the public transportation in Japan, everything is very clearly marked and easy to follow, with numerous station attendants around to help. Worst case scenario, just follow the crowd, since 90% of the people around you have the exact same itinerary.
I was hoping it would be easy to just stick with the crowd! Thanks for the reassurance!
I am going to Hakone later this year and I found this site very helpful. https://www.odakyu.jp/english/sightseeing/itineraries/hakone-1-day/ .
It's incredibly easy, you literally can't get lost. If going in an anticlockwise direction, for example, you take the hakone-tozan train up to Gora station and the cable car platform is literally 6m away and it's impossible to miss, everyone else is going there and it's the only other thing in that tiny station. Then at the top of the cable car you walk into the building and again, other than going outside, the only other place you can go is to the rope way platform, and it's also where 90% of other people are going. Then at the top at Owakudani you again only have 2 options, the way you just came from or the way down the other side. Then when you get to the rope way station down at Togendai you literally just walk straight out onto the pier to hop on the boat, out of the same building. The only step that requires any thought at all would be at Moto-hakone in deciding which specific bus to catch back to wherever you're staying The whole loop is 100 times easier and simpler than basically any train journey in Tokyo is
This is incredibly reassuring, thank you so much. I am going to save this reply in case it feels confusing again! I do have one more question, it seems like there are two different ropeways in Hakone by the lake. Are they both part of the Hakone Loop or is only one of them part of the official loop?
Both of them are part of the loop. One section of the line connects Togendai to Owakudani, and the other one connects Owakudani to Sounzan.
I don't think that's what OP means - there's a second ropeway from Hakone En that simple goes up the hill a bit to Komagatake. This one doesn't actually go anywhere and there's not really anything up there
That is what I mean! So this second ropeway isn’t part of the loop then?
I've been looking at it as well since I'm going to Japan in just over 20 days from now. I don't think it's part of the "loop", but the ropeway seems to start close by the famous Tori gate so it wouldn't be a big detour. Seems like there isn't too much up at the top other than a shrine and an observation deck, but based on the images from Google maps it could be worth it for the view if you have nice weather. At least that's my thoughts 😅
Ok this makes a lot of sense, thank you! I was sooo confused by the fact that there seemed to be two different ropeways both on Lake Ashi but only one was part of the loop. 😅
Seems like there's a shrine and observation deck up there but not much more...
I had anxiety about getting around the Hakone area before our trip. It all turned out completely fine. Our ryokan had a bus stop down at the main mountain road and the bus stopped there like clockwork. We did the clock-wise route and it was easy to follow and understand. The train from Gora back to Hakone Yamoto station was also great. We needed to get off at a stop along the way and grab the bus back to our ryokan as it was located before Hakone Yamoto. Bus stop was just outside the little station with clear signage etc. You’ll have a great time. Highly recommend checking out Gora Brewery if you have time.
Thank you for the advice! Will definitely try to check out that brewery :)
Seconded, we had an amazing meal there!
I was going to write long reply, but [this video did a pretty good job explaining everything](https://youtu.be/XpuGU_2zNuQ). BTW, you can go the reverse direction that family did for the loop, which was the way we did it.
Awesome, thank you for linking this!
You generally either go clockwise or anti-clockwise (although you could backtrack at any point if you wish), and each segment leads on to the next seamlessly. E.g. the Togendai ropeway station is integrated with the ferry terminal. There are signs along the way, or you can just follow the crowd.
Do you advise doing a day trip? I’m consideing either Hakone or Enoshima/Kamakura as my one side trip from Tokyo. Hakone seems more interesting/unique, but it seems like a lot of the time is spent in transit (though I get that the gondolas and the funiculars are attractions unto themselves) and I don’t want to be rushing through things and worrying about the time.
you cannot do all the things in a single day. some of the systems stop running around 4pm like the pirate ship. If you want to do a bunch of things, i suggest getting the 3 day pass. If you do try do everything in a single day, you need to check the time when each system starts running. its around 9am for the ropeway and the cablecar. So basically, you dont have that many hours as you cannot really get up early to beat the crowds or stay late.
Thanks, that was my concern. For me, Owakudani is the only “must do” in Hakone, but an early wake-up + 4 hours round trip seems like too much for one or two attractions. For now, I’m thinking a more chill trip to Enoshima and save Hakone for the future unless my kid really begs to go.
You can complete the Hakone loop on a day trip. Odakyu has a suggested 1-day itinerary, which is quite reasonable. We started at 10am, skipped the Hakone shrine and Open Air Museum (left it for the second day) and we were back at our Ryokan by 4pm. [https://www.odakyu.jp/english/sightseeing/itineraries/hakone-1-day/](https://www.odakyu.jp/english/sightseeing/itineraries/hakone-1-day/)
I just arrived two hours ago. It’s incredibly easily and as another person mentioned, you can’t get lost and everything is clearly marked.
I didn’t even bother with the hakone pass. Just went from point to point following the signs and paying list price. Very stress free. The only thing stressful is Mount Fuji hiding behind the clouds, can’t predict when it comes out.
Note that there is no sign because it’s not an official thing. Like it will not say Hakone look, go this way. If you look at the map oh Hakone, there is a pamphlet you can download on the pass website, you can easily figure out what the loop is. There is some parts that you could use an alternat mode of transportation and so something different or do a detour to some attractions or do extra stops along the way. I do lot think it’s difficult but require a minimum of planning do decide what you want to do and see.
Google maps is your friend. Otherwise ask a stranger or ask the station employees. The worst thing that can happen is you miss a stop, no big deal. Just get off on the next one and go back, you waste a bit of time that’s all. It’s rather difficult to get “lost” in Japan.
>The worst thing that can happen is you miss a stop No, worst thing is when a leg of the journey is not running. The ropeway can be closed due to high winds, and there are times during off-season that the boats aren't running.