Stepping away from busy routines to reconnect with yourself in nature is a universal wish. In Japan, however, the idea of “entrusting yourself to nature to restore inner harmony” has, for centuries, taken root through Zen and onsen (hot spring) culture.
Just about an hour and a half from Tokyo, Hakone brings that spirit to life—its forests, hot springs, and Zen wisdom blending with effortless grace. Unlike the common Western notion of a holiday as time for active fun, you’re invited into a Japanese‑style wellness trip that makes “dwelling in quiet” the very purpose of travel.
This “luxury of doing nothing” resonates with the Japanese sense of ma (間)—purposeful pause—instilled from childhood, while offering many Western readers an “I never knew that!” kind of discovery.
On this Hakone route, you’ll savor forest bathing, sunrise yoga, flowing spring‑fed onsen, and local organic cuisine—experiences that are kind to your body and to the environment. With trains and EVs for transport, healthy meals sourced close to home, and time‑honored Zen practices, every detail is considered with sustainability in mind. Ready to set off on a three‑day wellness tour?
Hakone is an ideal wellness escape where you can immerse yourself in “Zen × Nature” barely 90 minutes from Tokyo. It’s one of Japan’s premier onsen areas and famed for views of Mount Fuji, welcoming visitors year‑round (*1). In recent years, the region has rallied around sustainable tourism.
Forest bathing in lush woods, the hush along Lake Ashi, and spring‑fed onsen loosen both body and mind; studies even show stress hormones drop in such environments (*2).
What deserves special attention are the many experiences designed so Hakone’s nature and spiritual culture seem to “converse.” While Western traditions have long framed nature as something to explore or conquer, Japan has emphasized the view that “all of nature is imbued with Buddha‑nature,” blurring the boundary between people and the natural world.
When a guide invites you to “match your stride to the breath of the trees,” that phrase captures the essence. This feeling of “merging with nature” stands in contrast to highly individualist perspectives and sparks multicultural insight. By staying mindful of differences in cultural sensibility, you begin a journey that naturally respects diverse values.
Begin by choosing low‑impact ways to travel from Tokyo to Hakone. By combining transport and services with smaller carbon footprints, your journey itself becomes a gentle, comfortable part of the adventure.
In Japan, there’s a cultural habit of “enjoying the journey itself,” finding value in window scenery and ekiben (station bento) along the way—an approach that differs a bit from many Western travel styles. This “savor the process” mindset lends new richness to efficiency‑focused trips.
It’s about 40 minutes by Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara. Compared with private cars, rail emits roughly one‑seventh the CO₂ per passenger, making it an exceptionally eco‑friendly choice (*1). From Odawara Station, switch to an electric vehicle (EV) via rental or car share.
Hakone’s mountain roads can be steep and narrow, but a compact EV zips along while producing zero tailpipe emissions—keeping the air pristine. Around Odawara Station you’ll find eemo EV car‑share stations, where you can rent a Nissan LEAF and more in 15‑minute increments (*2).
Charging fees are included, so longer drives feel worry‑free. With charging spots increasingly available along the route, you can enjoy Hakone’s nature by EV. Unlike the often high‑powered, long‑haul “road trip” ethos popular in parts of the West, here the quiet, compact EV sets the tone. By choosing not to pollute the local air, you engage the region more deeply.
Relax & Soak Up the Scenery on the Odakyu Romancecar
From Shinjuku to Hakone‑Yumoto, the Odakyu Romancecar is another excellent option. This all‑reserved limited express gets you there in about 1 hour 20 minutes with no transfers—faster than regular trains (*3).
Onboard you’ll find generous reclining seats and ample legroom designed for comfort, even on longer rides. Every seat has power outlets, and there’s Wi‑Fi, so you can read or get work done with ease (*4). Through the picture windows, cityscapes gradually give way to forested mountains, with seasonal views that amplify the mood of travel. Cherry blossoms and fresh greens in spring, autumn foliage, and—on rare winter days—Mount Fuji dusted with snow all make the journey special (*5).
The choice to name a train “Romancecar” reflects a distinct Japanese sensibility—seeking lyrical atmosphere in travel. In contrast to Western high‑speed trains that foreground speed and business features, the Romancecar suggests that transit time can be “time to cultivate the heart.” It’s a fine example of how words shape expectation. Tickets open one month before departure and can be booked online or at stations (*3), so secure yours ahead for peace of mind.
If you’re on a longer trip or carrying more, use door‑to‑door delivery and travel hands‑free. Send your suitcase from home (or your Tokyo hotel) to your Hakone lodging a day before departure with Yamato Transport’s “Hands‑Free Travel” service (*6), and enjoy a light, easy day.
At Hakone‑Yumoto Station, “Hakone Carry Service” will deliver bags to your accommodation the same day—drop them by 12:00 and pick them up at your hotel after 18:00. Prices range roughly from ¥900 to ¥1,600 depending on size, with online booking and insurance options available (*7).
In Japan, it’s a social grace not to inconvenience others—with big suitcases crowding rush‑hour cars, for instance. Luggage delivery protects not only your comfort but also the comfort of people around you—Japanese hospitality at work. It lowers environmental impact and honors local norms: part travel etiquette, part sustainability.
Day one is about waking up and opening up as you immerse yourself in Hakone’s nature. Begin with morning yoga in the crisp air, then take a mindful hike along a storied cedar‑lined road.
For lunch, you’ll reset from the inside out at a café serving local organic produce. Hakone’s abundant nature feels like one vast therapy room. With every deep breath you’ll feel tension fall away and fresh energy flow in. Here’s your detailed Day 1 plan.
Yoga by the lakeshore at dawn wraps you in gentle wind and stillness—the perfect time to reset and realign from within (*1).
Many classes have instructors who can guide you in English, so you’re in good hands. If it rains, sessions move indoors, making bookings easy regardless of weather. Some studios lend mats and white samue (workwear), so you can come in comfortable clothes and need nothing else.
Breathing deeply as the wind skims the lake is what Japanese call “aligning your ki (energy).” It’s an outlook that values oneness with nature and others—an illuminating contrast with yoga styles that focus more strictly on the individual inner world. Share backgrounds while holding the same poses, and you’ll notice an unexpected sense of unity—an “I never knew!” moment.
When an instructor says “the lake is a mirror; it reflects the heart,” it may nudge you to notice assumptions you’ve been carrying. In the quiet before sunrise, as you lean into breath and posture, you’ll feel body and spirit awaken, alive with energy.
Along the Old Tokaido cobblestone path, a cedar avenue stretches roughly 500 meters, lined with 300–400‑year‑old giants that have watched over travelers since Edo times (*2). Walk slowly, footfall by footfall, along a road once planted to shelter pilgrims from harsh sun and wind.
Tune into the crunch of stone and birdsong; return your attention to your breath, and the walk naturally becomes a mindful, meditative hike. Join a guided tour that includes Zen breathing techniques for a deeper experience—international visitors often say, “This is Japan!” and love this route (*3).
Many feel the same awe here that they do gazing up at a European cathedral’s ceiling. The architecture may be different—built structure versus living forest—but both lift the spirit through scale and verticality, revealing a human longing for sacred space.
Walking the Old Highway lets you “retrace history” underfoot. The prints of countless travelers quietly remind you that you’re part of a larger flow.
For lunch, refuel at an organic café showcasing Hakone Nishiroku Mishima vegetables, prized since old times as “sakamono” from the slopes of the western Hakone range—among Japan’s most sought‑after produce (*4).
Think brown‑rice bowls vibrant with seasonal greens and roots, fermented drinks like koji‑based amazake smoothies or house kombucha, and gluten‑free rice‑flour breads—healthy fare with inventive twists. Vegan and vegetarian options abound, so you’ll charge into the afternoon feeling nourished and light.
Treating ingredients as living gifts is closely tied to temple cuisine in Japan. By enjoying every part, you connect land and body. After the meal, try a small gesture of gratitude—lift the bowl with both hands as if enclosing it. Such simple “carefulness” can make the same dish feel richer. Through food, your worldview expands.
On day two, you’ll pair Hakone’s signature onsen with a calming Zen experience for profound relaxation. In the morning, enjoy private soaking at a thoughtfully designed inn, and greet the day with zazen at a temple.
Afterward, cleanse in a mineral‑and‑aroma sauna, unwinding from the inside out. When Hakone’s restorative waters meet Zen’s contemplative spirit, your senses and awareness sharpen—letting you fully taste that feeling of being “in balance.”
When you select lodgings, prioritize privacy and safety. A villa or detached suite with its own open‑air bath lets you soak any time of day without worrying about other guests. Barrier‑free rooms with minimal steps are reassuring for older travelers. Interiors that use natural materials like wood and washi paper add another layer of calm.
Pay attention to water quality, too. With gensen kakenagashi—fresh spring water flowing straight from the source—you bathe in living water without added chlorine: a treat.
By contrast, circulation‑and‑filtration systems conserve large volumes of water and reduce environmental load. Choose based on your preferences and the hot spring caretaker’s (yumori’s) philosophy—or from a sustainability standpoint.
While Japanese onsen culture traditionally means communal bathing without swimwear, options for private‑use baths and in‑room tubs have expanded to welcome privacy preferences. This flexible updating of local customs is part of what makes Japanese culture so engaging.
A temple zazen session is also recommended. At Komyo‑ji in Hakone‑Yumoto, morning zazen begins at 7:00 under the guidance of a monk. Settle into stillness in the quiet grounds and experience simply sitting.
There’s no set fee; you make a donation to the temple (no reservation required). Local volunteers may offer simple English interpretation, making it approachable for international travelers. Wear comfortable, easy‑moving clothes; the temple also lends white samue.
By the time you finish, the eastern sky is brightening, and in the clear air you can feel a sharpened clarity in body and mind. There is no “correct” way to do zazen. Through this simple act of sitting, you may find the worldview with you at the “center” gently loosening, your relations with others and with nature becoming more level—an experience enriched when shared by people from varied backgrounds.
Saunas are popular in Japan too, and Hakone offers distinctive styles. Try a healing sauna floored with natural minerals, or an aroma sauna using high‑quality essential oils.
Choose your preferred scent—lavender for ease, hinoki cypress for a forest‑bathing feel—and breathe it in with the steam for a more meditative session. Staff perform löyly at intervals, pouring aromatic water onto hot stones to encourage deep perspiration.
Rotate sauna → cold plunge → rest, and you’ll notice your autonomic nervous system settling—the famed sensation of totonou (feeling aligned). Close your eyes and meet yourself there: pure self‑meditation.
Born in the West, sauna culture in Japan evolved with the local love of ma (spacious pause) into the uniquely beloved “outdoor air bath” rest—an inspiring example of new wellness habits that emerge when cultures meet.
Your last day heightens the sensitivity and vitality you’ve cultivated. Linger in contemplative art appreciation, move out onto expansive Lake Ashi, and close with a standout farm‑to‑table dinner. As a three‑day finale, you’ll nourish every sense and return to daily life truly “aligned.”
Hakone’s museums are many and distinctive, but you can’t see them all in a day. This time, focus on the Pola Museum of Art in Sengokuhara. Its modern building, embraced by forest, welcomes ample natural light and harmonizes quietly with the surrounding greenery.
Inside is a wide‑ranging collection assembled by members of the POLA founding family, including Western and Japanese paintings, ceramics, glass, cosmetic tools, and contemporary works. Masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Fujita Tsuguharu (Léonard Foujita) are on view; you can stand face to face with highlights like Monet’s Water Lilies.
Audio guides are available not only in Japanese but also in English, French, and more (*1). After viewing, stroll the adjoining forest path. Immersed in the harmony between art and nature, you’ll find your senses at their keenest.
Many in Japan approach museums as “places to meet stillness,” a style that contrasts with Western traditions of lively conversation in front of artworks. Try both—you’ll feel how the act of “seeing” is shaped by culture.
Water activities are perfect for closing a wellness trip. Try early‑morning SUP (stand‑up paddleboard) on Lake Ashi to awaken body and mind while training overall balance right at the water’s surface.
Instructors teach the basics, so beginners can relax. Sit on your board out on the lake, gaze toward Mount Fuji, and fold in yogic breathing—you’ll feel movement and stillness meet.
Prefer to take it easier? Board an eco‑conscious sightseeing cruise and wander the lake by boat. Launched in 2024, the twin‑hull Sorakaze is a panoramic vessel designed as a “floating green park,” letting you enjoy Hakone’s big‑sky nature with the wind in your hair (*2).
You’ll take in shoreline views and clean air from the deck. Before departure, staff provide a safety briefing covering life jackets and emergency procedures, so you can join with confidence.
For your final evening, sit down to a farm‑to‑table dinner that spotlights local flavor at its best.
With Hakone Nishiroku vegetables and Ashigara beef in a full‑course menu, you’ll taste each ingredient’s natural depth. Pair the dishes with organic wines from local wineries or sparkling nihonshu from nearby breweries—both are excellent. Each sip and bite reflects the land, a fitting, memorable close to your journey.
Some restaurants offer fully vegan courses, proving you don’t need animal products for a satisfying feast. When you can see the producers behind your meal, it nourishes more than your body—it nurtures gratitude and a sense of connection to the region.
Any wellness journey in Hakone is incomplete without “food.” As the old saying ishoku‑dogen goes, what you eat is inseparable from your mental and physical health.
Here are key points—fermented foods, shojin ryori (Buddhist temple cuisine), and craft drinks—that support wellbeing during your trip. The knowledge you pick up becomes treasure to carry home. Encounter Hakone’s food culture and bring its essence back as a meaningful souvenir.
A breakfast rich in fermented foods energizes you from the gut. Many hotel buffets serve amazake smoothies—amazake is so nutrient‑dense it’s nicknamed a “drinkable IV,” packed with glucose and B vitamins that aid recovery and gut balance (*1).
You may find house granola made with miso, vegetable dips fermented with koji, and Western‑style items reimagined with Japanese fermentation. Gluten‑free rice‑flour breads and multigrain congee—high in fiber and easy to digest—are another plus.
Enjoying a balanced range of fermented foods in the morning activates beneficial bacteria, powering you through the day. Fermentation is prominent across East Asia, and in recent years the West has re‑embraced it through the lens of gut health. A Japanese breakfast buffet is like a living lab at the forefront of that trend.
While shojin ryori is often associated with Zen’s spread in the 13th century, earlier roots of plant‑forward eating appear in 7th‑century edicts discouraging meat. The cuisine aims to balance body and mind. It uses no eggs or dairy and honors the natural flavors of ingredients, aligning with Buddhism’s principle of non‑harm.
In Miyanoshita, the breakfast spot “Saien” offers a unique experience: shojin ryori prepared by an active Buddhist monk (*2). Run by Deputy Head Priest Daiki Orihashi, it serves a course meal in oryoki (traditional monks’ nested bowls) inside a renovated folk house.
The main tray might include tofu, seasonal vegetables, and crisp shojin‑age (vegetable fritters)—colorful and satisfying without meat or fish. Guests say the flavors are vivid yet balanced, leaving a comfortable sense of fullness.
After your meal, linger on the engawa (veranda), admire the garden, and settle into Zen‑like quiet. For wellness‑minded travelers, a monk‑cooked breakfast is a restorative new style of journey.
To cap your trip, consider a gently alcoholic, gut‑friendly fermented drink. Hakone Beer is a local brew made with the celebrated “Hakone Hundred‑Year Water,” known for its mellow taste (*3).
At the brewery’s pub, sample several beers side‑by‑side and savor a flavor profile unique to the region. We also recommend “GORA BREWERY,” Hakone’s first craft‑beer brand, launched in Gora in 2017 (*4).
Brewed with Hakone’s natural water and served fresh, the beers pair with a menu featuring umami‑rich Japanese game grilled to perfection and wood‑fired pizza crafted from scratch by a Naples‑trained chef—ideal for enjoying food and beer together.
Sip mindfully and let the power of fermentation complement the balance you’ve cultivated. The Japanese proverb “Sake is the best of medicines” points to an old wisdom of moderation. Combined with modern gut‑health drinks, it makes for an updated wellness toast.
Even after your three days in Hakone, you can carry the habits and insights you gained into daily life, extending the trip’s benefits. Below are easy Hakone‑style self‑care ideas to try at home.
The journey may end, but your wellness path continues. Use the calm and techniques you honed in Hakone to enrich everyday life.
Keep the habits alive—start with a five‑minute morning flow. Picture Hakone’s mountains and lake as you link a few simple poses to wake body and mind.
Stand tall in Mountain Pose, feeling the ridgelines of Tanzawa and Fuji through your whole frame; lift your arms and lengthen your sides in Tree Pose, breathing as if you were one of Hakone’s cedars. Focus on slow nasal breathing—just a few minutes can steady the mind and sharpen focus.
Search online for “Hakone yoga flow” and you’ll find beginner‑friendly five‑minute guides. This “landscape visualization” is a time‑honored idea in Japanese poetry—summoning inner scenery to recreate a journey’s afterglow across distance.
Bring home onsen mineral bath salts and enjoy a hot‑spring mood in your own tub. Dissolve sulfur‑ and sodium‑rich salts to promote perspiration and circulation—perfect for legs tired from sightseeing.
No bathtub? No problem. Fill a basin or footbath with warm water and salts for a simple foot soak. Heat rises from the feet upward, easing swelling and coldness.
And don’t waste the water. In Japan, more than 60% of people reuse bathwater for laundry (*1)—an eco‑friendly habit. You can also let it cool and water plants. Treating bathwater as a “shared resource” aligns beautifully with the culture of communal bathing and models a circular mindset—an easy step toward a more sustainable life.
Why not apply what you learned in Hakone to your next journey? Globally, over 90% of travelers say they want to travel more sustainably, and roughly 70% prioritize contributing economically to local communities (*2).
In future plans, choose accommodations with environmental certifications, prioritize public transport or EVs, or join volunteer tours that support local conservation. When flying, consider purchasing carbon offsets to account for your trip’s footprint.
Caring for yourself and caring for the planet do go hand in hand. Bring your sustainable perspective to your next destination and keep exploring new wellbeing experiences. See travel not only as “self‑discovery,” but as “two‑way conversation with the world”—an essential stance for global tourism going forward.
Just ninety minutes from Tokyo, Hakone is a sanctuary where forests, hot springs, and Zen wisdom interweave to support your wellbeing. In this guide, you followed a three‑day journey that keeps sustainability front and center—from transport choices to the way you stay—while inviting you to move in step with nature. You opened body and mind with forest bathing and sunrise yoga, sank into deep quiet through spring‑fed onsen and Zen practice, and on the final day sharpened your sensibilities with art and time on the lake—a flow that is, quite literally, the process of feeling “in balance.” Fermented foods, shojin ryori, and farm‑to‑table dining further uphold kindness to your body and to the environment through the lens of food culture. The essence of this trip continues at home as well, through self‑care like a simple yoga flow or the mindful use of mineral‑rich onsen salts. The sense of “becoming one with nature” that you discover in Hakone reaches beyond cultural differences, connecting people and pointing the way toward a sustained path of wellbeing—one that naturally guides you to your next journey.