How to visit Lake Ashi from Hakone?

The best way to get from Hakone to Lake Ashi without a car is to cable car which takes 7 min and costs ?974. How long does it take to get from Hakone to Lake Ashi? The cable car from Komagatake Ropeway Top Station to Komagatake Ropeway takes 7 min including transfers and departs every 20 minutes.



Visiting Lake Ashi (Ashinoko) from the Hakone town center is most easily accomplished using the Hakone Ropeway or the Hakone Tozan Bus. The most popular route for tourists in 2026 is the "Hakone Round Course." You start by taking the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora, then the Cable Car to Sounzan, and finally the Ropeway over the volcanic valley of Owakudani to Togendai station, which sits right on the northern shore of the lake. At Togendai, you can board the famous "Hakone Pirate Ship" for a scenic cruise across the water to Moto-Hakone or Hakone-machi. Alternatively, if you prefer a direct route, you can take a local bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station, which reaches the southern shore of the lake in about 35 to 45 minutes. The southern shore—specifically the Moto-Hakone area—is where you will find the iconic "floating" red torii gate of the Hakone Shrine and the best views of Mount Fuji reflecting in the water on clear days. Using the "Hakone Free Pass" in 2026 is the most cost-effective way to visit, as it covers all these modes of transport in a single ticket, allowing you to hop on and off as you explore the lakeside region.

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Check out this 12.5-mile loop trail near Ashigarashimo, Kanagawa. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 57 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

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It connects Sounzan Station (at the terminus of the Hakone Tozan Cablecar) with Togendai Station (at the shore of Lake Ashinoko) and stops at Owakudani and Ubako stations on the way. The ropeway is fully covered by the Hakone Free Pass. The ropeway's gondolas depart every minute and fit around ten people each.

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Traveling the full length of the ropeway takes around 30 minutes. Along the journey, passengers can enjoy views of the active, sulfuric hot spring sources of the Owakudani Valley between Sounzan and Owakudani and of Lake Ashinoko and Mount Fuji between Owakudani and Togendai if visibility allows.

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Many splendid views of Mt. Fuji can be found around the Hakone area. Each viewpoint shows a different profile of the famous mountain and the surrounding areas are also worth exploring for the diverse historical and natural sites.

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One simple day pass will gain you unlimited travel on eight different types of transportation in Hakone for either two or three days. Pick up your pass at Shinjuku Station, and you're able to ride the Hakone Tozan Train, Hakone Tozan Bus, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, Hakone Ropeway, and even the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise!

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The one-way fare starts from ¥3600 for unreserved seating, but with a Japan Rail Pass you need only to pay ¥320 for the Hakone-Tozan line - easily done with a Suica or PASMO card (Limited Express trains require an extra ¥200 surcharge). With a good connection, the trip takes one hour.

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An easy loop tour you can follow through Hakone includes various forms of unique transportation: Starting out by train from Tokyo, you switch to a small three-car tram that zigzags up the mountain, then change to a cable car, and then to a smaller ropeway, and end your trip with a boat ride across Lake Ashi, stopping ...

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Yes, you can use the JR Rail pass to get to the Hakone area. The JR Rail Pass can be used on JR Trains and the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) only. You can get to Odawara Station using your JR Rail pass, but from there you will need to pay for transportation separately.

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If you don't have a pass, then you can take a regular train to the Hakone-Yumoto station, the main station in Hakone. Though many people visit Japan to experience the bustling streets of Tokyo, many other popular destinations come at a slower pace.

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