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Hakone

A no-transfer Romancecar ride from Shinjuku. The peaks and the valley floor sit far apart in elevation, so peak foliage can differ by nearly a month depending on where you go.

This time of yearAutumn leaves (until early December)Usually peaks late October to early December, nearly a month apart by elevationRead the guide: Autumn Leaves in Hakone →
Guides by theme

Events in Hakone

Highlights

  1. A street of inns and shops in the Hakone-Yumoto onsen town
    1. Hakone-Yumoto

    The onsen town at the gateway to Hakone, where the Romancecar from Shinjuku pulls in. It sits low, so the leaves peak late, from late November into early December.

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  2. The fountain and gardens at Hakone Gora Park
    2. Hakone Gora Park

    Maples color up across the park in autumn. Admission is 650 yen for adults and free for elementary-school children and younger.

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    Book admission tickets
  3. A blue-roofed building above stone steps winding through spring greenery
    3. Hakone Museum of Art

    A foliage favorite in Gora. After closing for renovation, it reopens in stages: the cafe and annex on October 30, 2026, and the main gallery on December 23.

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    Book admission tickets
  4. The egg-shaped Owakudani monument before steaming volcanic slopes
    4. Owakudani

    The crater area of an active volcano. On days when gas levels rise, you may not be able to get off at Owakudani Station, and parts of the area close.

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  5. Golden pampas grass across the Sengokuhara fields
    5. Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields

    The grass turns gold from late September to early November, a little ahead of the maples.

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  6. A white Western-style pavilion beyond a sweep of lawn
    6. Onshi-Hakone Park

    A park on the shore of Lake Ashinoko at Moto-Hakone, where Mt. Fuji across the water and the autumn leaves fit in one frame.

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Things to book

Getting there

From ShinjukuOdakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto with no transfer, about 75 minutes on the fastest trains. Check the fare on Odakyu's fare search.
From Hakone-YumotoHakone Tozan train to Gora, 460 yen one way.
Hakone Free PassFrom Shinjuku, valid for 2 days, 7,100 yen for adults. It usually pays for itself if you loop Hakone by train, ropeway and sightseeing cruise; if you're staying around Yumoto, single tickets come out cheaper.
See Hakone tickets →

Hotels

A red train crossing a truss bridge above a green valley

Staying in Hakone

Where to stay: around Hakone-Yumoto Station, Gora Station and Moto-Hakone Port

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Links to booking sites include ads.

More on Hakone

The golden pampas grass field at Sengokuhara with a single path running through it and the Hakone mountains beyond
Things to Do

Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields, Hakone (2026): When to Go for the Golden Peak

Aug 30, 2026
An open-air onsen bath at a Hakone ryokan overlooking Lake Ashinoko and Mt. Fuji
Things to Do

Where to Stay in Hakone: 8 Best Onsen Hotels & Ryokan by View and Budget

Aug 18, 2026
Autumn maples along Lake Ashinoko in Hakone, with Mt. Fuji rising across the water
Things to Do

Hakone Autumn Foliage 2026: When to Go, and Whether the Free Pass Pays Off

Aug 18, 2026
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