For discerning travelers, here’s a comprehensive guide that covers every step of your journey from Tokyo to Hakone. If you care about harmony of body and mind in today’s busy world, you’ll appreciate how each stage—from transport to lodging—prioritizes sustainability and wellness. This guide walks you through a hakone tour from tokyo with clear, practical tips that preserve comfort and the planet.
By stepping away from the city’s bustle to immerse yourself in Japan’s natural beauty and healing culture, you can refresh body and mind while staying mindful of the environment. From choosing eco‑friendly transport and savoring meals rooted in local produce to caring for your inner self with traditions that nurture the spirit, this guide shares everything you need for a high‑end trip that truly satisfies.
There are several ways to reach Hakone from Tokyo, but we recommend options that balance comfort with environmental responsibility. Traveling by rail lets you relax in transit and significantly reduces CO₂ emissions compared with covering the same distance by car or plane（＊1）.
If you prefer a private journey, an electric vehicle (EV) drive is also appealing. With smart advance booking and thoughtful packing, you can keep your travel smooth while minimizing impact.
The most convenient routes are the Tokaido Shinkansen via Odawara or the Odakyu Romancecar directly to Hakone‑Yumoto. Reserve online in advance to secure your seat seamlessly. On the Romancecar, choose front or rear observation seats or spacious premium seats for a comfortable ride with sweeping views. The Shinkansen Green Car (Green seats) offers wider seating and a calm atmosphere that turns the journey itself into quality time（＊2）.
In recent years, ticketless boarding has become common, letting you complete everything—from booking to passing through the gates—on your smartphone without paper tickets. Some travel agencies also offer plans with optional CO₂ offsetting, allocating a portion of your fare to balance emissions from transport（＊3）. Used well, rail travel makes your Hakone tour from Tokyo both comfortable and sustainable.
If you want private transport, consider an EV rental or car share and drive from Tokyo to Hakone. Take the Shuto Expressway to the Tomei Expressway and aim for the Hakone‑guchi IC; rapid chargers are available at service areas along the way.
For example, “Michi‑no‑Eki Hakone Toge” offers a 24‑hour rapid charging station—a reassuring hub while driving in the mountains（＊4）. Many major hotels in Hakone also have EV charging facilities, and some are open to non‑staying guests（＊5）.
EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions and are remarkably quiet. On Hakone’s mountain roads, roll down the window to enjoy the forest’s scent and the sound of the wind as you drive. Before departure, check charging points on your route via apps and keep a comfortable margin of battery for peace of mind.
For a smoother trip, pack light and sustainably. Bring a reusable bottle, eco‑bag, and fabric slippers to cut down on single‑use plastics while traveling（＊6）.
Choose mix‑and‑match clothing and do a small wash on the road if needed to reduce what you carry. Most modern inns stock amenities, so resist overpacking. If possible, avoid peak travel times.
Leaving early in the morning or traveling on weekdays helps you skip commuter crowds and busy tourist windows. Off‑peak travel reduces stress and—even better—spreads environmental impact more evenly. With light luggage and an unhurried schedule, you’ll set a restful tone from the start.
Assuming a 7:30 a.m. departure from Tokyo and arrival in Hakone around 9:30 a.m., here’s a model 1‑night, 2‑day wellness‑focused itinerary. It balances outdoor activities with hot springs so you can ease tension and restore body and mind at a gentle pace.
From hot springs to relieve travel fatigue, to forest bathing and Zen for a mental reset, and yoga to move your body—you’ll experience Hakone’s full spectrum of restorative power.
7:30 Depart Tokyo – Board the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku. Let the comfortable limited express ease you into the spirit of your journey.
9:30 Arrive at Hakone‑Yumoto – Drop your luggage at your inn and start exploring light.
10:30 Owakudani (Sulfur Springs Nearby) – Ride the Ropeway to Owakudani. Take in dramatic volcanic steam vents, then soak in a sulfur spring in nearby Gora. The milky‑white, sulfur‑rich water is said to promote circulation and metabolism, supporting detox effects（＊1）. Owakudani’s waters are known as “baths for beauty and health,” leaving your skin silky while warming you to the core. Check Ropeway operations in advance, as service may be suspended due to volcanic gases or weather.
14:00 Forest Therapy on the Yusaka Route – After lunch, hike the Old Hakone Highway’s Yusaka Route. Stroll along mossy stone paths beneath cedar groves and enjoy forest bathing. On clear days you’ll find viewpoints stretching to Sagami Bay（＊2）.
Breathe deeply in the woods and immerse yourself in phytoncides released by the trees—you’ll feel stress ease. These forest compounds are associated with deep relaxation（＊3）; by the hike’s end, your head and heart feel clear.
17:00 Check‑in & Locally Sourced Dinner – After your forest reset, check into your inn. Rest in a guest room with its own hot spring bath, then savor a kaiseki dinner crafted around seasonal local ingredients. Dishes highlight Ashigara vegetables and fish fresh from Sagami Bay, with fermented elements like miso and shoyu koji for wholesome, delicious depth（＊4）.
Nurture yourself from within with a locally sourced meal, slip back into the hot spring before bed, and turn in early. Wrapped in mountain quiet, you’ll end Day 1 with that lovely, contented tiredness.
6:30 Zazen (Seated Meditation) – In the clear morning air, join a zazen session at a nearby Zen temple. Under instruction at an old Rinzai temple, take time to settle the mind. As you correct posture and regulate breath, distractions fade and clarity emerges. Even beginners are guided step by step by the head priest, so you can participate with confidence and enjoy a calm, refreshing afterglow（＊5）.
15:30 Sunset Yoga by Lake Ashi – In the afternoon, head to the lakeshore to close your trip with sunset yoga. With an instructor, move through gentle poses and open body and breath.
Practicing while watching the sun sink over the lake invites a deep sense of connection with nature and profound relaxation. Instructors tailor the program to your condition and level, so first‑timers can join comfortably（＊6）.
Afterward, you’ll feel both loosened and full, with a quiet sense of balance returning. This tranquil, harmonious time in the glow of dusk is a mindful finale to your journey.
18:00 Depart Hakone‑Yumoto (Back to Tokyo) – Feeling centered, board the Romancecar from Hakone‑Yumoto and head back to Tokyo. Carry the gentle energy of the past two days with you—you’ll likely find it easier to re‑enter daily life.
Hakone offers a variety of spring qualities, each with distinct characteristics. Here we introduce three representative types—sulfur, bicarbonate, and chloride—along with their typical benefits. Choose a bath aligned with your goals—deep detox, glowing skin, or lasting warmth—and you’ll elevate your stay.
Common in volcanic regions, sulfur springs have a distinctive boiled‑egg aroma. In Hakone, Owakudani and Gora are notable; their milky‑white waters are rich in sulfur.
Soaking is said to stimulate circulation and metabolism, helping the body release waste products for a detox effect（＊1）. These waters are also famed for supporting healthy skin turnover toward a supple, luminous complexion—hence their reputation as “beauty baths”（＊1）.
They have long been used in therapeutic bathing and are believed to ease conditions like atopic dermatitis or chronic eczema. For a special experience, choose a room with an open‑air bath fed directly from the source in areas like Gora. Private soaking with a mountain panorama feels cleansing for body and soul.
Bicarbonate springs (sodium bicarbonate) are often called “bijin‑no‑yu,” or baths for beautiful skin. Slightly alkaline and containing sodium and calcium, they act almost like a gentle soap, helping to lift away impurities and old keratin to leave skin smooth and soft（＊2）.
That silky, polished feel after bathing comes from enhanced turnover as old keratin is shed. The water is typically clear to slightly cloudy and mild enough for sensitive skin.
In Hakone, Miyanoshita features this spring quality, where you can enjoy the refined touch of the water in venerable inns with storied histories. If you’re seeking beautifying benefits, this is the one to try.
Chloride springs are rich in salt and known as “netsu‑no‑yu,” baths of heat retention, for their outstanding ability to warm you to the core. Salt adheres to the skin, forming a light film that helps trap heat after bathing, sustaining warmth and moisture（＊3）. This makes them ideal for easing sensitivity to cold and preventing post‑bath chill.
With mild antiseptic properties, they’re also referred to as “kizu‑no‑yu,” beneficial for minor cuts and dry skin. In Hakone, Ashinoyu and Dogashima Onsen are examples; though colorless and clear, they keep you warm for a long time. You’ll feel the gentle heat lingering throughout your body well after you step out.
Deep warming also helps release muscle tension, aiding recovery from fatigue. If you want warmth from the inside out, this is your match.
Hakone’s nature and culture are ideal for mindfulness that brings you into the “here and now.” Forest bathing with deep breaths among the trees, practicing Zen at a historic temple, and yoga by Lake Ashi—all sharpen the senses and release everyday stress. In quiet settings where you can meet yourself as you are, these experiences amplify the journey’s healing power.
The rich forests on Hakone’s outer rim are inherently healing. On a Yusaka Route hike, slow your pace and pay attention to moss underfoot and shafts of light through the leaves. Pause for deep breaths to take in phytoncides—the woods’ aromatic compounds. These are associated with relaxation and may reduce stress hormones while stabilizing the autonomic nervous system（＊1）.
Listen to birdsong and the rustle of leaves; fill your lungs with the forest’s scent and you’ll feel a gentle cleansing of the heart. Thanks to this natural therapy, you’ll finish your hike feeling mentally and physically refreshed.
At Zen temples such as Sōun‑ji near Hakone‑Yumoto, you may be able to join morning zazen sessions upon request. Sit quietly on tatami, follow the head priest’s guidance to align posture and breath, and feel your mind gradually settle.
Zen emphasizes “harmonizing body, breath, and mind.” As you continue slow abdominal breathing, stray thoughts fall away and you encounter a deep quiet within（＊2）. Even as a beginner, you’ll learn the basics from scratch and can relax into the practice.
After zazen, with cool morning air and a mossy garden before you, you’ll be wrapped in a crystalline sense of clarity. Even brief moments of no‑mindedness become a memorable reset during your trip.
By the shores of Lake Ashi, yoga in nature gently unwinds body and mind. Roll out your mat on a pier deck at dusk and, with your instructor, move through calm poses. As the lake surface turns gold, you’ll feel tension melt with each deep breath.
Instructors tailor the program to your condition and level, so even first‑timers can join comfortably（＊3）. Practicing in this natural setting leaves you unusually refreshed, with the day’s fatigue and mental noise slipping away.
This quiet, harmonious time alongside the setting sun is mindfulness at its purest.
At two ryokan in Hakone‑Yumoto Onsen, generations of female proprietors—including current okami and young okami—lead the way in offering stays shaped by the SDGs.
Each property is nestled in nature with a serene, refined atmosphere that sharpens the senses—almost like a Zen temple. Interiors feature natural materials in whites and beiges, complemented by aromatic scents and abundant greenery.
By evening, a gentle hint of bamboo drifts through the garden, ushering in a peaceful hour. The surrounding greenery, hot springs, and cuisine rooted in local ingredients come together to create time that’s kind to body and spirit. These inns blend tradition and innovation into a contemporary wellness ryokan experience.
Hakone’s four seasons bring ever‑changing expressions—from spring blossoms and autumn foliage to winter snowscapes. Each ryokan has a distinct concept and offers a range of room styles to match how you like to stay.
Within the grounds of Hakone Retreat före (Sengokuhara), the restaurant “WOODSIDE dining” serves wood‑fired cuisine that brings seasonal local ingredients to life over an open flame. If you want to step away from the everyday, this is an ideal wellness retreat. Surrounded by a deep, forest‑bath‑like quiet, you can reset fully.
Hotel Senkei in Hakone‑Yumoto Onsen is an intimate, 15‑room Japanese‑style ryokan, and every room features its own hot spring bath fed by a private source（＊1）.
Layouts and interiors vary from room to room, accommodating couples and families alike. Throughout the property, you’ll find furnishings crafted from traditional materials like cypress, stone, and washi, with designs that invite in light and breeze.
The inn is registered as a Kanagawa “SDGs Partner”（＊2）, and the young okami, Ms. Kaori Tsuda, holds certification as a 2030 SDGs Facilitator—evidence of active commitment to the SDGs（＊2）. In the café, Mino‑ware ceramic straws help reduce plastic waste, and chopsticks are made from thinned Yoshino cypress—proof that care for the environment extends to the details. The open‑air bath sits on the top floor, offering sweeping mountain views for deeply soothing soaks.
Dining also champions local ingredients. Menus feature Hakone Sanroku pork, Ashigara beef, tofu made with Hakone’s spring water, and Odawara lemons—flavors unique to Hakone（＊3）.
Vegetables are sourced as locally as possible, and fermented foods and seafood are used generously for wholesome, deeply satisfying dishes. With open‑air bath rooms surrounded by nature and stay plans aligned with the SDGs, you can experience hospitality that marries exceptional indulgence with sustainability.
Hanare Yamagaso, a detached hideaway in Hakone‑Yumoto Onsen, is a sukiya‑style ryokan imbued with Taisho‑era romance. Its open‑air bath overlooks Hakone’s mountain ridges, inviting you to soak while embraced by the great outdoors（＊５）.
Meals served in your room morning and evening include tofu made with Hakone’s famed spring water, Odawara’s dried fish and kamaboko, and miso soup featuring local miso—seasonal fare and fermented staples that are gentle and nourishing（＊4）. Carefully fermented and matured, these foods deliver depth of flavor and kindness to the body. Step out for an early walk, listen to birdsong, and you’ll feel as if you’ve merged with nature.
There’s also an “SDGs Plan” stay that incorporates mindful choices. In collaboration with Minimal Living Tokyo, guests receive eco items such as an organic cotton drawstring bag and a bamboo toothbrush, and ¥500 per guest is donated to initiatives addressing poverty and hunger（＊６）.
Organic cotton and bamboo materials are reusable, so you can continue to use them after your stay. Through natural materials and the benefits of fermented foods, you’ll shape time that leaves you well—inside and out.
“WOODSIDE dining” is a striking half‑dome restaurant nestled in the woods. Guided by the concept “live with the forest, resonate with the forest,” it creates a space in harmony with nature; a full glass wall mirrors greenery across the seasons（＊７）.
Dinner spotlights an inventive wood‑fire approach called “Maki‑yaki Innovative,” where chefs fine‑tune wood type and flame to draw out peak flavor from seasonal ingredients. Radiant heat crisps the exterior while keeping the interior tender and juicy, with a subtle smokiness adding depth.
Plates weave elements of Japanese dashi, fermented seasonings, and spices, inviting new discoveries for your palate. Natural wines are thoughtfully selected; linger and enjoy the interplay of aroma, fire, and ingredients with all five senses. Staff can assist in English, so overseas guests can relax with confidence. Menus shift with the seasons, keeping every visit fresh.
In the café, house‑roasted coffee is offered free‑flow; take a morning forest walk with a cup in hand. On clear nights, a canopy of stars sets the stage for romance. After wood‑fired dining and hot springs align body and mind, rest deeply on Japanese bedding. With quality sleep, you’ll greet the next morning restored.
The wellness practices you cultivated in Hakone can keep working for you if you bring them home. Weave elements of the forest and hot springs into everyday routines to maintain balance long after your trip.
To evoke the feeling of forest bathing at home, lean on the power of plants and aroma. Place greenery in your living room so the faint natural scent and calming visual effect help you relax.
Diffuse essential oils from conifers like hinoki or fir to fill the room with a forest fragrance. Phytoncides in these wood‑derived aromas are associated with medically observed benefits such as stress reduction and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system（＊1）.
Caring for favorite plants while being wrapped in scents that recall the woods creates a space where you’ll find yourself breathing more deeply at home.
That “reset” feeling from alternating a hot spring and a cold plunge can be recreated in your own bathroom. Warm up thoroughly in the tub, then take a short cool shower. Repeat the hot–cool cycle a few times. Alternating dilation from hot water and contraction from cool water can boost circulation, helping with swelling and post‑fatigue recovery（＊2）.
This contrast may also activate metabolism across the body and stabilize the autonomic nervous system（＊2）. Start gently with lukewarm water if needed. You’ll likely notice you’re warmer than usual after bathing and feel wonderfully refreshed.
Try it at night for deeper sleep; add a cool rinse in the morning to spark metabolism and an invigorating start.
Meditation with Japanese tea is an easy at‑home self‑care ritual. The whole process of whisking matcha and savoring it quietly becomes quality time for mindfulness.
As you whisk, focus on the sound of bubbles and the tea’s aroma. During those slow sips, vision, smell, and taste all hone in on the present, and lingering thoughts fade.
Recently, approaches that combine sencha‑do with mindfulness have been proposed（＊3）, reframing tea time as a practice of self‑hospitality. There’s no need for strict formalities—brewing your favorite tea with care and attending to its fragrance and flavor is more than enough.
Even a few minutes of tea meditation in a busy day helps you summon the inner quiet you found on your trip—whenever you wish.
In Closing
We’ve explored the appeal of a Hakone tour through the lens of wellness and sustainability—from access and itineraries to hot springs, mindfulness, and dining. Bring the renewal you felt through nature and culture into your daily life. True quality healing doesn’t end with the trip—it extends into your lifestyle when you return.
The deep relaxation taught by Hakone’s forests and hot springs, the inner calm from Zen and yoga, and the satisfaction of traveling sustainably will color your days in rich ways. Hold on to what you felt with all five senses, and enjoy a path of wellbeing that continues.
On your next journey, choose travel that’s kind to the planet and to yourself—you’ll find new wonders waiting. When you plan your next hakone tour from tokyo, the sense of healing will be even deeper—ready to welcome you back.