2026 Owakudani Cool Stroll: A Full-Day Course

Spend a day enjoying the coolness of the highlands at about 1,000 meters elevation and the powerful sight of rising steam at Owakudani (大涌谷), one of Hakone's leading scenic spots. Formed by an eruption of the Hakone volcano roughly 3,000 years ago, Owakudani still has a dramatic landscape with white steam rising from the ground, and a cool breeze typical of highlands blows through. Even in September and October, when the lowlands are still hot, this place feels like another world in terms of comfort. The Information Center is open 9:00-16:30, and the parking lot is open 9:00-16:20 (February to November); regular cars cost 500 yen for 2 hours on weekdays (1,300 yen maximum) and 1,000 yen for 2 hours on weekends/holidays (2,600 yen maximum), and motorcycles cost 200 yen. The nature trail through part of the valley at Owakudani Park (大涌谷園地) requires a guided admission fee of 800 yen per person. This course stops at Hakone Gora Park (箱根強羅公園), where seasonal flowers bloom, and the cu-mo Hakone (cu-mo箱根) observation terrace at Sounzan Station (早雲山駅) in the morning, then spends the hot afternoon hours in the cool of the highlands.