The Perfect Route for Solo Travelers! A Two Day Hakone Trip Exploring the Outdoors, Eating Traditional Cuisine, and Enjoying Art

Start Your Trip with the Economical Hakone Freepass!

This article introduces a travel course using the Hakone Freepass. With this pass, you can travel within Hakone at a reasonable price . The pass also allows you to receive discounts at participating stores (some exclusions may apply). First, take the Limited Express Romancecar (*1) from Shinjuku Station! You will arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station (OH51) in just 73 minutes.

If you want to reduce the amount of luggage you have to carry, then you can use the luggage service located on the same floor as the platform after arriving at Hakone-Yumoto Station. Your luggage will be delivered to the hotel you will be staying at. Service starts from 800 yen including tax. Show your Hakone Freepass to receive a 100 yen discount.

*1: A separate express fee (1,090 yen) will be required when you take the Romancecar with the Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station.

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Hakone-Yumoto Station Area (Along Japan National Route 1)

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[Day One] 11:45 AM – Jump into a Fairytale at The Museum of Saint-Exupéry and The Little Prince in Hakone

Our first destination is The Museum of Saint-Exupéry and The Little Prince in Hakone, a 26 minutes’ ride on the Hakone Tozan Bus (Route T) from Hakone-Yumoto Station (OH51). You’ll feel like you’ve entered the story yourself when you enter the museum.

In the area around the museum, you’ll also find a replica of the apartment where Saint-Exupéry, the book’s author, was born. The streets here are inspired by 20th-century French townscape. Also, don’t miss the wonderful souvenirs designed with church stained glass!

This is a destination you’ll want to visit even if you haven’t read The Little Prince. The admission fee is 1,600 yen for adults, 1,100 yen for high school students, university students, and seniors 65 years and older, and 700 yen for elementary and junior high school students (all prices including tax. High school and university students must show their student IDs). Show your Hakone Freepass to get a discounted price of 1,450 yen for adults and 600 yen for elementary and junior high school students.

Spend a magical time at the museum restaurant during lunch!

Fans of “The Little Prince” are sure to smile once they see the omurice (omelet rice) in this picture. The omelet is made in the shape of the snake that ate the elephant in the story. However, hidden under the egg is not the elephant, but rice cooked with ketchup.

Immerse yourself in the world of “The Little Prince” by enjoying the fairytale-esque scenery while eating delicious omurice! (1,750 yen including tax and comes with soup, salad, dessert, and a drink).

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Museum of Saint-Exupéry and The Little Prince in Hakone

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2:15 PM – Visit the Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields in Fall!

Many tourists gather to visit the pampas grass (also known as silver grass) fields in Sengokuhara from late-September to early-November every year. In the Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields, a field of pampas grass will shine gold under the sunlight while swaying in the pleasant autumn breeze.

Pampas grass is planted as far as the eye can see, so you can capture the amazing autumn scenery with your camera while walking around. The pampas grass fields can be entered for free. Get off at Sengoku Kogen (252) bus stop on the Hakone Tozan Bus Line and walk for 3 minutes.

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Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields

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4:00 PM – Enjoy an Elegant Snack Time at Hakone Highland Hotel

Take the Hakone Tozan Bus (Route T) and get off at the Shinanoki Hakone Highland Hotel Bus Stop (244). If you want to relax during your Hakone trip, we recommend the Hakone Highland Hotel.

In the afternoon, you can enjoy a relaxing walk in the spacious hotel garden. In addition, their hot springs are also said to heal fatigue. The water is also believed to improve the elasticity of your skin and has gained a favorable reputation from skincare lovers.

For dinner, enjoy a meal at the hotel restaurant, La Forêt. The restaurant serves highly aromatic and original dishes cooked with carefully selected ingredients.

For breakfast, there are a total of three different options: French, American, and Japanese. They include a wide variety of foods that will give you enough energy for your second day. The La Forêt dinner course is 8,910 yen and breakfast is 2,138 yen (all prices including tax).

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La Forêt (Odakyu Hakone Highland Hotel)

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[Day Two] 10:30 AM – Take the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani

The next day, take the Hakone Tozan Bus (Routes G, M) and get off at Gora Station (OH57). From the station, take the Hakone Tozan Cable Car to Sounzan Station (OH62), where you will then transfer to the Hakone Ropeway to head towards Owakudani.

During the ropeway ride, you will also have the chance to see Hakone’s seasonal landscape below and Mount Fuji from a close distance.

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Hakone Ropeway

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11:00 AM – Eat Kurotamago at Owakudani

Once you get off at Owakudani Station (OH63), the first things that will greet you will be the smoke rising from the active volcano and the characteristic smell of sulfur.

Don’t forget to also try the popular kurotamago (black egg) at Owakudani! The egg shell turns black due to the geothermal energy and steam from the volcano. It is said that eating one of these eggs will prolong your life by seven years. Lightly sprinkle the egg with salt and enjoy.

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Owakudani

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12:40 PM – Cross Lake Ashi on the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise!

Get back on the Hakone Ropeway and head to Togendai Station (OH65) to board the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise. There are three types of sightseeing boats modeled after European pirate ships. You’ll be able to view the beautiful scenery and enjoy the exquisite designs found inside the ship during the cruise.

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Hakone Sightseeing Cruise

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1:30 PM – A Splendid Lunch at Bakery & Table Hakone!

Bakery & Table Hakone, a popular cafe located right in front of Motohakone-ko (OH67), has a bakery with terrace seats and footbaths on the first floor, a café on the second floor, and a restaurant with delicious food and a great view of the lakeside on the third floor. This time we will go to the restaurant on the third floor.

The Seasonal Grilled Plate is a meal that includes appetizers, a salad, Matsuzaka pork flank steak, roast chicken from Shizuoka, seasonal vegetables, and nutritious yogurt. This meal is ideal if you want to try small portions of a lot of different kinds of food – it’s sure to leave you satisfied (3,672 yen including tax, drink not included).

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Bakery & Table Hakone

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3:30 PM – Buy Original Souvenirs at Kisetsu no Zakka Oriori

Once your stomach is satisfied, take the Hakone Tozan Bus (Routes H, R) to return to Hakone-Yumoto (OH51). If you want to buy unique souvenirs, we recommend a general goods store called Kisetsu no Zakka Oriori located deep in the shopping district.

You’ll find numerous items designed by the couple that own the store. Popular products include shopping bags or bags for bento boxes (lunch boxes) with adorable illustrations of a cat in a hot spring, Mount Fuji, and more, and tenugui (hand towels). Shopping bags are 2,376 yen including tax.

We also recommend the high-quality mini furoshiki (wrapping cloth) and magnets in the shape of hot spring buns, a local specialty of Hakone (the mini furoshiki are 540 yen including tax, and magnets are 432 yen including tax).

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Kisetsu no Zakka Oriori

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4:30 PM – Freshly Baked Goods at Hakone Café for Dinner

The last stop on this trip is Bakery & Delicatessen Hakone Café to pick up your favorite baked goods and drinks. Their baked goods are great for enjoying on the way home inside the Romancecar or in the café. Dig into the baked goods while reminiscing about your fun travels.

Aside from standard and seasonal baked goods, Hakone Café also sells various drinks and soft serve ice cream.

The Fondue Bread (300 yen including tax), a simple bread that you won’t be able to stop eating and the Apple Far Breton (200 yen including tax), a traditional French sweet made with Japanese apples are especially delicious.

The Hakone Pudding (330 yen including tax) shaped like an egg is a must-eat. Made with nutritious Chojuran eggs (a brand of Kanagawa-produced eggs), this pudding isn’t too sweet and has a rich aroma and flavor that you won’t tire of. It makes a wonderful souvenir. Show your Hakone Freepass to receive a 30 yen discount on coffee and black tea.

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Bakery & Delicatessen Hakone Café

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Experience Entertaining Solo Travels in Hakone!

Hakone is worth visiting for its hot springs, gourmet food, and beautiful scenery along with remarkable museums. Travel confidently, even by yourself, by using the Hakone Freepass. Those that have yet to experience the fun of a solo trip, make sure to come to Hakone first!

** Various information, such as restaurant menus or prices, is subject to change.