Complete Guide to Hakone Summer Trip 2025: Best Activities, Events & Tips
As an author who has experienced Hakone's summers for over a decade, I'm excited to share the charms of this summer retreat and provide practical advice.
The cool lake breeze of Lake Ashi, the mystical fog-shrouded mountains in the early morning, and the traditional fireworks displays that color the night sky. Just about 90 minutes from Tokyo, Hakone is a special summer retreat where you can escape the summer bustle and experience Japanese tradition and nature.
Admittedly, accommodation costs soar and tourist spots become crowded during the festival season from late July to early August. However, this period offers unique opportunities to experience traditional events and fireworks displays over the lake, allowing you to fully savor the essence of Japanese summer. The cool climate, thanks to the varying altitudes, will make you forget Tokyo's humid heat.
To ensure that even first-time visitors don't get lost, I'll introduce all the information foreign tourists need, from festival schedules to hidden spots and tips addressing common questions. Drawing on my years of Hakone visits, I'll provide a guide to help you plan a fulfilling summer trip to Hakone!
Table of Contents
・Highlights of Hakone Summer Festivals 2025
・Summer Activities in Hakone
・How to Access Hakone from Tokyo
・Frequently Asked Questions about Summer in Hakone
Highlights of Hakone Summer Festivals 2025
The festivals held consecutively around Lake Ashi in Hakone from late July to early August each have their own unique charm. With an increasing number of foreign tourists participating each year, these festivals have evolved into colorful international events. As someone who visits without fail every year, I'll introduce the highlights of each festival.
Lake Ashi Water Festival (July 31, 2025)
Source: Hakone Navi
The Lake Ashi Water Festival is a solemn festival based on the ancient legend of the nine-headed dragon. According to legend, the nine-headed dragon living at the bottom of Lake Ashi has been worshipped as a rain-bringing deity. During the ceremony on the lake, Shinto priests dressed in traditional attire perform a sacred offering ritual in a solemn atmosphere.
The highlight of the festival is the large-scale fireworks display held after sunset. The fireworks reflected on the lake surface create a fantastical scene as if flowers are blooming both in the sky and on the ground. I recommend viewing from the highlands around Moto-Hakone Port, where you can overlook the entire lake.
Many food stalls line the lakeshore, offering traditional Japanese festival foods and Hakone specialties. The water parade of traditional Japanese boats decorated with colorful lanterns evokes the atmosphere of Japan from the Edo period.
As it gets crowded during the fireworks display, I advise securing a viewing spot at least an hour in advance. It can get cool by the lake at night, so bringing a light jacket will ensure your comfort.
Website: https://www.hakonenavi.jp/spot/1385
Hakone Shrine Grand Festival (August 1, 2025)
The Hakone Shrine Grand Festival is the most important annual event of Hakone Shrine, which has long been revered as the guardian deity of Hakone.
On this day, the shrine grounds are bustling with activity from early morning, with a traditional kendo tournament taking place. From early afternoon, a vigorous lion dance is performed. The movements of the dancers manipulating the lion heads decorated with vivid red and green ornaments reflect years of practice.
Around 8:00 PM, a fireworks display is held at Lake Ashi. The view of the shrine's grand torii gate with the fireworks creates a special scene unique to this day.
Omikoshi Festival (August 2, 2025)
Source: Hakone Navi
The Omikoshi Festival is a venerable festival where the deities of Hakone Shrine tour the town of Hakone. The centerpiece of the festival is the mikoshi procession from Hakone Shrine to Komakata Shrine on the opposite shore in Hakone Town. The lavish mikoshi carried by numerous bearers creates a spectacular scene full of dignity and energy.
Then, around 8:00 PM, a fireworks display is held in Hakone-en Bay. I highly recommend this to those who want to experience a traditional Japanese event.
Kojiri Dragon God Festival (August 4, 2025)
The Kojiri Dragon God Festival is a sacred festival that enshrines the dragon god of Lake Ashi. While the ceremony itself is held privately, the fireworks display held as the evening event is particularly charming for its intimate atmosphere among the Hakone summer festival series. As it's held at the relatively small venue of Kojiri Bay, you can enjoy the fireworks up close.
Being in a bay area, the sound of fireworks echoes off the mountains, creating a unique sense of presence. The fireworks reflected on the calm lake surface show a quiet beauty different from large-scale events.
Torii Burning Festival (August 5, 2025)
Source: Hakone Navi
The Torii Burning Festival is a mystical festival that marks the finale of the Hakone summer festival series. The sight of a large torii gate set up on Lake Ashi being lit on fire creates a fantastical and solemn atmosphere. This festival is known as an ancient prayer ritual for warding off disease, with people's wishes embedded in the rising flames.
The burning torii on the lake creates a fantastical scene floating in the dark night. The reflection of the flames on the water surface offers a majestic view unique to this festival. I take photos every year, but it's challenging to capture that moment in a picture, so I highly recommend experiencing this sight with your own eyes.
From 8:00 PM, a fireworks display is held at Lake Ashi, allowing you to enjoy a fantastical landscape created by the flames of the torii and the fireworks. Being the last day, it's usually relatively less crowded, which is another attraction as you can enjoy the fireworks at a leisurely pace.
Summer Activities in Hakone
Hakone's summer offers plenty of attractive activities beyond festivals. From outdoor experiences utilizing the cool climate due to altitude differences to indoor facilities where you can spend time comfortably, I'll suggest various ways to enjoy your time. Based on over 10 years of experience, I'll introduce particularly recommended spots.
Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise
The Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise, a representative tourist activity in Hakone, has a special charm in the summer season.
The uniquely designed ships modeled after pirate ships are popular as photo spots themselves. Especially on clear days, it offers an excellent location for commemorative photos with Mount Fuji in the background.
Standing on the deck, you'll feel the refreshing lake breeze, making you forget the heat of Tokyo. My recommendation is the evening cruise. The view of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi dyed in the sunset is exceptional, and the color contrast with the vermilion torii gate of Hakone Shrine is beautifully striking.
Website: https://www.hakone-yuransen.jp/
Forest Adventure
Source: Google Map
Forest Adventure is a prime example of activities utilizing Hakone's rich forests. The athletic courses of varying difficulty levels set up in the treetops offer an authentic experience enjoyable for both children and adults.
The greatest attraction is the zip-line aerial gliding. The experience of gliding through the forest like a bird is the essence of a summer adventure.
Safety measures are thorough, with specialized guides providing careful instruction. Even first-timers and families with children can enjoy it with peace of mind. Being located at a high altitude, it's cool even in midsummer, and you can enjoy activities while forest bathing, which is also a big attraction.
My recommended way to spend the day is to enjoy activities in the morning and soothe your fatigue at a nearby hot spring in the afternoon.
Website: https://foret-aventure.jp/en/
Hakone-en Aquarium
Located at an altitude of 723 meters, Hakone-en Aquarium is known as the highest aquarium in Japan. Even on hot summer days, you can comfortably enjoy encounters with unique aquatic life unique to Hakone in an indoor environment.
What I particularly like is the proximity to the seals. You can observe the adorable expressions and movements of seals swimming right in front of you up close. During the summer vacation period, there are numerous special events for children, and interactive exhibits like experience corners are also plentiful.
The interior is air-conditioned and kept at a comfortable temperature, making it an ideal rest spot for summer sightseeing in Hakone. Also, from the cafe in Hakone-en, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Ashi, allowing you to have a tea time while cooling off.
Website: https://www.princehotels.co.jp/amuse/hakone-en/language/english.html
How to Access Hakone from Tokyo
Various transportation options are available from Tokyo to Hakone.
The most popular route is using the Odakyu Romance Car from Shinjuku Station. The limited express Romance Car arrives at Hakone-Yumoto Station in about 85 minutes from Shinjuku Station, offering a comfortable journey where you can enjoy the scenery from the window. Also, you can enjoy an elegant mood from the start of your trip in seats equipped like business class.
For those who prefer the Shinkansen, I recommend a route that takes about 35 minutes from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station using the JR Tokaido Shinkansen. After that, you can transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railway to head to Hakone-Yumoto.
For those wanting to keep their budget low, I recommend the highway bus from Shinjuku to Hakone. Although it takes about 2 hours, it's attractively priced and allows you to move without worrying about luggage.
I especially recommend using the "Hakone Free Pass." With this pass, you can use major transportation within the Hakone area unlimited for 2 days and receive discount benefits at tourist facilities. Since Hakone has various means of transportation such as ropeways, cable cars, and sightseeing boats, using this pass can result in significant savings.
Website: https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/discount_passes/free_pass
Frequently Asked Questions about Summer in Hakone
Based on over 10 years of experience, I'll answer common questions from foreign tourists visiting Hakone. I'll provide practical information along with specific numbers and data.
Is Hakone Hot in Summer?
Hakone has long been loved as a summer retreat that takes advantage of its altitude differences. Compared to Tokyo, the average temperature is about 5 degrees Celsius lower, and especially in high-altitude areas like Gora and Sengokuhara, it's comfortable even in midsummer. In my experience, even during the day, the maximum temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is lower than in Tokyo, making it quite pleasant.
It's especially cool in the mornings and evenings, sometimes requiring long sleeves. Also, around Lake Ashi, the wind from the lake is pleasant, and you can feel the natural air conditioning effect.
However, the sunlight is strong, so I recommend bringing a hat or parasol for daytime sightseeing. The comfortable climate, which allows you to experience the reason for its popularity as a summer retreat, is a major attraction of Hakone's summer.
Is It Difficult to Make Accommodation Reservations During the Summer Festival Period?
Accommodation facilities do indeed get crowded during the festival period. Especially for the festival period from July 31 to August 5, reservations are necessary 2-3 months in advance. In my experience, popular ryokans around Lake Ashi are almost fully booked 1 month in advance.
However, there's no need to give up. If it's a weekday, reservations tend to be relatively easy to make even during the festival period.
Also, areas like Gora and Sengokuhara, which are a bit away from Hakone Town, are easier to secure accommodations even during the festival period, and prices can be about 20% lower than around Lake Ashi.
Note that during the festival period, it's common for prices to increase by 30-50% from the usual rates, so I recommend having some budget flexibility.
Can I Enjoy Hakone Even on Rainy Days?
Hakone is a tourist destination that can be thoroughly enjoyed even on rainy days. This is because there are many attractive museums and art galleries scattered throughout the area. For example, the Hakone Open-Air Museum offers a fantastical atmosphere unique to rainy days.
Hot spring facilities are also plentiful. I recommend spending time leisurely soaking in a hot spring, especially on bad weather days. There are multiple day-trip hot spring facilities in Hakone-Yumoto that you can easily visit between sightseeing. Particularly on rainy days, hot spring facilities tend to be less crowded, so it can be seen as an opportunity.
How Much Budget Do I Need?
The budget for a Hakone trip varies greatly depending on the grade of accommodation and how you spend your time. Based on my experience, I'll introduce a concrete estimate of costs.
For a typical 1-night, 2-day trip, it's safe to budget around 30,000 to 50,000 yen per person. This includes accommodation at a mid-range ryokan (15,000-25,000 yen), round-trip transportation costs (6,000-8,000 yen), and meals and sightseeing expenses (10,000-15,000 yen). If you use the Hakone Free Pass, you can keep transportation costs within the area to about 5,000 yen, which saves on transportation expenses.
For a day trip hot spring plan, you can enjoy sufficiently with about 10,000 yen including transportation costs, bathing fees, and meals.
However, during the festival period, accommodation costs increase by 30-50% from usual, so an additional budget of about 5,000-10,000 yen per person is necessary.
Staying at a high-class ryokan can cost 30,000 yen or more per night. However, you can enjoy meticulous service and authentic kaiseki cuisine in return. For those with a flexible budget, I recommend staying at a luxurious hot spring ryokan unique to Hakone.
Can Foreigners Use Hot Springs?
In recent years, Hakone's hot springs have been improving their reception system for foreign tourists. Many facilities provide usage instructions in English and kindly explain how to use the hot springs and manners. As far as I've researched, especially large ryokans and day-trip hot spring facilities are very friendly to foreign tourists.
However, if you have tattoos, some facilities may not allow use, so it's necessary to check in advance. Recently, more facilities are offering tattoo seals or allowing use in private baths. Especially if you stay at an inn with private hot springs or rental baths, you can enjoy the hot springs without worry.
Also, wearing swimsuits is not allowed in most hot spring facilities. For those unfamiliar with Japanese hot spring culture, I recommend starting with a private bath. After that, you can gradually enjoy the experience by challenging the large public bath.
Summer in Hakone is a special season where traditional festivals and modern activities harmonize beautifully. It concentrates the charms unique to Japan: a cool climate taking advantage of altitude differences, beautiful lake and mountain scenery, and hot springs.
While it does get crowded during the festival period and accommodation costs rise, the excitement and experiences waiting for you more than make up for it. With proper preparation, reservations, and appropriate information on-site, even foreign visitors can fully enjoy Hakone's summer with peace of mind.
Hakone is a tourist destination where Japanese traditional culture, nature, and modern comfort harmonize beautifully. This summer, please create unforgettable memories of Japanese summer in Hakone!
