Hakone is not a single town but a collection of seven distinct areas spread across the caldera of an ancient volcano, connected by the Hakone Tozan Railway, cable cars, ropeway, buses, and a sightseeing boat. Each area has a distinct character: some are transport hubs with budget hotels, others are quiet onsen villages with high-end ryokan tucked into forested valleys. Choosing where to base yourself determines which attractions are on your doorstep and what kind of evening you will have after the day-trippers leave. See the Hakone weather by month for detailed climate data. This Hakone travel guide covers everything you need to plan your trip.
Best Neighborhoods in Hakone: Hakone Yumoto
Hakone Yumoto is the gateway to the region and the first stop on the Hakone Tozan Railway from Odawara. It has the highest concentration of hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops in Hakone, plus direct access to several public onsen including Tenzan and the riverside Sounji Temple foot bath. The main street (Yumoto Shotengai) runs from the station toward the hills, lined with shops selling Hakone yosegi-zaiku (wooden marquetry) boxes, onsen manju sweets, and pressed sushi. This is the most practical base for travellers who want transport convenience, since every bus and train route in Hakone radiates from or passes through Yumoto. Budget and mid-range hotels dominate here; you will find business hotels like the Hakone Yumoto Hotel from 6,000 yen per night, up to mid-range ryokan at 15,000-25,000 yen per person with dinner. The trade-off is that Yumoto lacks the mountain views and secluded atmosphere of higher-elevation areas. Read our best time to visit guide to pick the right season.
Best Neighborhoods in Hakone: Gora
Gora sits at 550 metres, the upper terminus of the Hakone Tozan Railway and the starting point of the cable car to Sounzan (which connects to the ropeway). The area is known for its high-end ryokan with private onsen and mountain views, several good museums (the Hakone Museum of Art and its moss garden, the Hakone Gora Park with its rose garden and tea house), and a quieter atmosphere than Yumoto. Gora is the best base for travellers who want a luxury ryokan experience: properties like Gora Kadan (from 60,000 yen per person) and Hyatt Regency Hakone (from 40,000 yen) are within 10 minutes of the station. The downside is limited evening dining beyond hotel restaurants, as most independent restaurants close by 19:00. Gora works best for one or two nights of immersive ryokan staying rather than as a touring base. Our things to do in Hakone covers all the major sights.
Best Neighborhoods in Hakone: Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi
The two small towns on Lake Ashi’s eastern shore serve as the lake cruise ports. Moto-Hakone is the more historic of the two, with Hakone Shrine, the Heiwa-no-Torii gate in the water, the start of the Old Tokaido cedar avenue, and several lakeside cafes. Hakone-machi, 2 km north, has the reconstructed checkpoint museum, a compact old town with Edo-period atmosphere, and the southern pirate ship dock. Accommodation here skews mid-range to high-end: the Hakone Hotel (formerly the Fujiya Hotel’s lakeside annex, from 25,000 yen) sits right on the water, and small family-run ryokan cluster around Moto-Hakone port. The area empties out after 17:00 when day-trippers leave, giving you the lakeside almost to yourself for sunset. This is the best area for photographers wanting early-morning shots of Fuji across the lake. The Hakone events and festivals has dates and details for seasonal celebrations.
Best Neighborhoods in Hakone: Sengokuhara
The Sengokuhara plateau (650 metres) is Hakone’s quieter, more spread-out upper area, known for the pampas grass fields, the Pola Museum of Art, and the Venetian Glass Museum. Accommodation is mostly mid-range hotels and pensions (family-run Japanese B&Bs), with a few notable high-end properties like Hakone Sengokuhara Prince Hotel. The plateau has a resort feel with wide-open spaces, distant mountain views, and far fewer tourists than the lakeside or Gora. Buses connect Sengokuhara to Gora and Hakone Yumoto, but service frequency drops to once per hour after 18:00, which can leave you stranded at dinner if you do not plan around the schedule. This area suits travellers who want a quieter stay with nature access and are comfortable managing bus timetables. Hotel rates here average 12,000-20,000 yen per person, 20-30% below Gora equivalents. See where to stay in Hakone guide for recommendations by area and budget.
Best Neighborhoods in Hakone: Miyanoshita and Kowakidani
Two small stations between Hakone Yumoto and Gora on the Tozan Railway line. Miyanoshita is home to the historic Fujiya Hotel, opened in 1878 and hosting guests from John Lennon to Charlie Chaplin. The hotel’s main building is a registered cultural property with a Meiji-era Western facade, and its onsen bathhouse is supplied by a natural hot spring. Room rates start around 30,000 yen. Kowakidani is a compact onsen village with the Yunessun water park, a few small ryokan, and a cluster of riverside baths. Both areas are quiet, with almost no commercial activity beyond the hotels themselves. Best for travellers who want a historic hotel experience or plan to spend a full day at Yunessun. The train stops here are request-only after 20:00, so confirm with your hotel about evening access. For practical information, check our Hakone travel tips and FAQ.
