Hakone
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Hakone is a popular mountain resort town widely recommended for its traditional ryokan stays, hot springs (onsens), and scenic views of Mt. Fuji. While many travelers find it a therapeutic break between Tokyo and Kyoto, it is frequently described as highly touristy and prone to heavy crowding, which can lead to significant logistical frustrations.
Pros
- Excellent selection of high-quality ryokans and onsens for a relaxing experience.
- Scenic attractions including Lake Ashi, the Hakone Ropeway, and the Open Air Museum.
- Unique transportation options like the 'pirate ship' and cable cars.
- Conveniently located as a stopover point between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka.
Cons
- Can be extremely crowded with long wait times for public transport (up to two hours for the ropeway).
- Weather-dependent; Mt. Fuji is frequently obscured by fog or clouds.
- Not very stroller-friendly due to numerous steps and steep terrain.
- Can feel overpriced and overly commercialized compared to quieter onsen towns.
Caveats
- The 'Hakone Loop' can be a logistical puzzle and may be underwhelming as a rushed day trip.
- Visibility of Mt. Fuji is never guaranteed; have a backup plan for rainy or foggy days.
- The area can be very quiet or 'dull' at night once the main attractions close.
Best for
- Travelers seeking a traditional ryokan and onsen experience.
- Nature lovers and museum enthusiasts.
- Those looking for a scenic mountain escape within easy reach of Tokyo.
Avoid if
- You have a low tolerance for heavy crowds and long queues.
- You are traveling with a stroller or have significant mobility concerns.
- You are on a very tight budget and want to avoid 'tourist trap' pricing.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 18-month half-life. The evidence is based on 52 mentions across major travel subreddits with a median source age of approximately 312 days.
Sentiment
52 positive (57%) · 19 mixed (21%) · 21 negative (23%)
Trust + time weighted score: +34% · raw score 34%
What redditors said (10 of 92)
Suspect it's far more touristy now, but still better than Hakone which seems more crowded and apparently (?) isn't very stroller-friendly due to lots of steps.
The onsen towns here are much quieter than the more popular ones like Hakone.
I’ve done both a day trip and overnights in Hakone and overnight was so much more pleasant. As with Miyajima and Takayama, once the day-trippers have gone these towns take on a special magic that simply cannot be duplicated when there are thousands of selfie-stick wielding tourists around every corner.
Hakone for a day trip is doable but rather pointless. Stay in Tokyo.
Hakone, on the other hand, is close to Tokyo and although not as "exciting" is nice if you have a ryokan with a private bath for a night.
I would also recommend to spend one night in a ryokan in Hakone, it was a great experience to me.
I still think you should consider Hakone as a stop over and stay in a nice onsen or Ryokan. You could drop Nikko as a day trip.
I really enjoyed hakone, but could be more restful to visit Kyoto 2 nights.
For the second day, Hakone could be interesting if you're leaning more toward nature. Lake Ashi, the ropeway (views of Fuji on clear days if you're lucky), and the open air museum are all connected by the Hakone loop pass. A bit more of a logistics puzzle but the scenery might make up for it.
If you visit Hakone then my advice would be to book a Ryokan overnight for that traditional inn experience. It also allows you to get the most out of the Hakone 2-day travel pass.