Private Hakone & Gotemba Day Trip from Tokyo — Owakudani, Lake Ashinoko & Gotemba Outlets

Hakone•easy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

9 hours

Fitness Level

Suitable for all fitness levels; minimal walking required but includes short steps and short nature trails

Overview

Swap Tokyo’s concrete for mountain air: a private, English-speaking driver delivers a customizable 9‑hour loop through Hakone’s volcanic landscapes, lakeside shrines and the Gotemba Premium Outlets. Ideal for travelers who want the sights without public-transport logistics.

Private Hakone & Gotemba Day Trip from Tokyo — Owakudani, Lake Ashinoko & Gotemba Outlets

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other

wildlife

sightseeing-tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Nov 6

Travelers

Morning light flattens the Tokyo skyline as your driver slips out of the city and onto the Odawara road. Asphalt gives way to pine-speckled hills, and by the time the car climbs into Hakone the air has the clean bite of altitude. Steam curls in the distance above Owakudani — white plumes punctuate a moonscape of black rock and sulfur vents — while the bulk of Mount Fuji often watches the route in silence, its snowcap cutting a precise silhouette when the sky is clear.

Adventure Photos

Private Hakone & Gotemba Day Trip from Tokyo — Owakudani, Lake Ashinoko & Gotemba Outlets photo 1

Adventure Tips

Bring your passport for tax‑free shopping

To claim tax-free prices at Gotemba Premium Outlets bring your passport and complete purchases at participating stores.

Start early to beat traffic and haze

Depart Tokyo as early as possible — fewer vehicles and clearer skies improve the chance of Mount Fuji sightings and reduce travel time.

Reserve Owakudani nature path in advance

The Owakudani Nature Study Path often requires advance booking and an 800‑yen fee — check availability before your tour day.

Dress in layers and bring good shoes

Hakone’s elevation and coastal weather can be chilly; wear layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes for temple steps and short trails.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Japanese macaque (in higher woods)
various native songbirds and seasonal waterfowl on Lake Ashinoko

History

Hakone has long been a strategic mountain pass and onsen destination along the old Tōkaidō route; its volcanic activity shaped both the landscape and local hot‑spring culture.

Conservation

The Hakone area balances tourism with protection of volcanic and forest habitats — stick to trails, avoid disturbing fumarole areas, and support local businesses that follow sustainable practices.