Where is Hakone & the Izu Peninsula?

Hakone is located in Kanagawa Prefecture, in the mountains southwest of Tokyo, within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Depending on traffic, the drive from central Tokyo takes approximately one-and-a-half to two hours. The Izu Peninsula is located in Shizuoka Prefecture, extending southward into the Pacific Ocean from the mainland of central Japan. The journey takes about two to three-and-a-half hours by car from Tokyo, depending on how far down the peninsula you are traveling.

How do I get to Hakone or the Izu Peninsula?

Whichever destination you choose, Extraordinary Journeys will arrange all of the details. Confirmed reservations and seamless transfers ensure smooth, worry-free travel—simply enjoy the ride. Depending on your preference, you might take a direct train to Hakone or a train-and-driver combination. For a more seamless experience, transfers can be arranged door-to-door, bypassing stations and schedules.

How many days do I need?

We generally recommend no fewer than two nights in a Hakone or Izu Peninsula ryokan. As is often the case, our feeling is longer is better. However, it is not necessary to visit both on a single trip.

Hakone & Izu Peninsula Travel Guide

Just beyond the energy of Tokyo lies a more contemplative Japan.

During luxury Hakone and Izu Peninsula travel, your journey takes a meaningful pause. Hemmed by cedar forests, volcanic peaks, and sea-swept peninsulas, settle into a traditional ryokan to practice the Japanese art of yohaku (“empty space”). Here, it’s less about what you saw, did, or photographed, and more about how you felt when nothing demanded scheduling. Days drift between soaking in steaming onsens, grazing seasonal kaiseki meals, or simply sitting with a view—moments that ask little more than presence. Without agenda, what lingers is the realization that making space for being can be just as meaningful as doing.

A panoramic view of Shimoda, a historic port city located in the Izu Peninsula in Japan

The red torii gate of the Hakone Shrine in Lake Ashi

A couple looks out at a peaceful lakeside scene in Hakone Japan

Why visit Hakone and the Izu Peninsula?

Breathtaking Fuji views meet Japan’s finest ryokan, where yohaku and omotenashi—the art of blank space and graceful, considered hospitality—shape each experience.

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Breathtaking Fuji views meet Japan’s finest ryokan, where yohaku and omotenashi—the art of blank space and graceful, considered hospitality—shape each experience.
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Easy to reach and refined, Hakone is a perennial traveler favorite, beloved for polished ryokan, a superb open-air museum, and lakeside vistas.
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Choose the more off-the-beaten-path Izu Peninsula for dramatic coastlines, quiet fishing villages, and mineral springs once favored by writers and nobility.

Itinerary

Classic Japan, with a twist

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Active Japan, made contemplative

A journey of meditative earned adventures

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Key travel information for Hakone & Izu Peninsula

The best time to travel to Hakone / Izu Peninsula

Japan is a year-round travel destination, but we consider spring and fall the best time to visit Hakone/the Izu Peninsula, when temperatures are more moderate. In late March through early April flowers are blossoming, while late fall brings autumn colors.

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Highlights of a Hakone / Izu Peninsula Trip

Experience a traditional ryokan, where tatami-lined rooms, private onsens, and attentive omotenashi create a deeply restorative stay
Dine on a parade of small plates during seasonal kaiseki dining
Wander through the striking sculptures and installations of the Hakone Open-Air Museum
Ride the chairlift up Mount Ōmuro, then stroll the crater rim for sweeping Fuji views
At Izu Panorama Park, sit spellbound as Mount Fuji rises in cinematic widescreen above Suruga Bay
Walk the cedar-lined path along Lake Ashi to Hakone Shrine
Ascend Mount Komagatake by cable car for arresting views
Visit Enoura Observatory for a thoughtful blend of landscape, art, and architecture
A guided hike to Mount Hōei’s summit, where Fuji feels thrillingly close
Admire intricately dyed kimono depicting nature and the cosmos at the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum, including the unfinished magnum opus Symphony of Light
Dine on houtou noodles, a specialty of the Fuji Five Lakes region

Mount Fuji rises beyond Lake Ashi at sunrise, with a red torii near the shore and forested hills in autumn.

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Other areas to explore

A visit to Hakone or the Izu Peninsula puts you within easy reach of many other beautiful and fascinating parts of Japan.

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A round private onsen sits beside open sliding doors, with soft light filtering through green trees beyond the deck.

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