Depart Tokyo and take an express train to the Hakone/Mt. Fuji area with free time to get settled in and get to know your surroundings upon arrival.
Transfer to Hakone by train
Today you will travel on your own from the Tokyo Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station via limited express train. Upon arrival you will make your own way to your accommodation and have the rest of the day to enjoy free time to visit the town and its scenic attractions or take a dip in one of the many "onsen" hot springs around. Have dinner on your own and overnight in Hakone.
The hilly and scenic town of Hakone is located approximately 100 kilometres from Tokyo and is the gateway to Mt Fuji and the surrounding national park. Brimming with hot-springs known as "onsen" it is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Japanese nature and culture. Hakone has been a popular resort area attracting visitors from around the world to the natural hot springs surrounded by forested mountains, created by the remaining steam vents of an ancient volcano that was active here nearly 4,000 years ago. When the weather is clear, you can glimpse a stunning view of nearby Mt. Fuji, one of Japan's three Holy Mountains.
Included in your Hakone Free Pass are discounts for admission to local attractions in the Hakone area. We recommend visiting the Hakone Open Air Museum, the first open-air museum in Japan, home to a huge collection of over a thousand sculptures made by Churyo Sato, Henry Moore and Picasso among others. If time allows on day 1, stop by the Hakone Botanical gardens for a relaxing stroll among a diverse collection of Japanese flowers and plants or make a quick visit to one of the art museums in town. You will have a full free day tomorrow for more exploring in Hakone!