Is Hakone expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Hakone is one of the pricier places to stay near Tokyo, because the classic experience — a ryokan with an onsen and a kaiseki dinner — costs much more than a city hotel. Expect about ¥16,000 a day per person on a tight budget, about ¥32,500 mid-range and ¥69,000 or more for comfort. Rooms are the big cost; transport is good value with the Hakone Freepass.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ¥6,000 | ¥17,000 | ¥45,000 |
| Food & drink | ¥4,000 | ¥7,000 | ¥12,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ¥3,000 | ¥5,000 | ¥7,000 |
| Local transport | ¥3,000 | ¥3,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Per person, per day | ¥16,000 | ¥32,500 | ¥69,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Hakone day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Black eggs (kuro-tamago) at Owakudani | roughly ¥500 a pack |
| Lunch at a noodle shop | ¥1,200–2,000 |
| Izakaya dinner | ¥3,000–5,000 per person |
| Hakone Freepass, 2 days from Shinjuku | roughly ¥6,000–7,000 |
| Romancecar seat supplement | about ¥1,200 each way |
| Day onsen in Hakone-Yumoto | roughly ¥1,500–2,000 |
| Hakone Open-Air Museum | about ¥2,000–2,500 |
| Hakone Checkpoint | about ¥500 |
| Mid-range ryokan in Gora (room, usually with meals) | ¥25,000–45,000 a night |
| Luxury ryokan with private onsen | ¥60,000–150,000 a night |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation dominates: hostels and simple guesthouses in Hakone-Yumoto cost about ¥8,000–14,000 a night, mid-range ryokan in Gora and Miyanoshita ¥25,000–45,000, and luxury ryokan with private baths ¥60,000–150,000 — though ryokan rates usually include dinner and breakfast, which cuts food costs. Museums are the next cost, at about ¥2,000–2,500 each for the big ones. Transport is reasonable: the Hakone Freepass covers the loop and the trip from Shinjuku. Hotels also add a small hot-spring bathing tax of about ¥150 per person per night.
When it is cheaper
Weekdays are much cheaper than weekends and Japanese holidays at almost any time of year. Prices are highest in autumn-leaf season (October–November), at New Year, in Golden Week (late April–early May) and in mid-August.
How to spend less
- Stay on a weekday night; ryokan rates often drop noticeably compared with Saturday.
- Buy the Hakone Freepass if you ride the loop and return to Tokyo, or the Odawara version if you arrive by shinkansen.
- Book a ryokan with dinner and breakfast included, which is often better value than eating out, as restaurants close early.
- Use a day onsen in Hakone-Yumoto for about ¥1,500–2,000 if you stay in a budget hostel.
- Choose one or two museums rather than several, and use the free footbath at the Open-Air Museum.
- Take the regular Odakyu train via Odawara instead of the Romancecar to skip the seat supplement.
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Common questions
Is Hakone expensive?
It can be. Expect about ¥16,000 a day on a budget, about ¥32,500 mid-range and ¥69,000 or more for comfort, mostly because of ryokan rates.
Is the Hakone Freepass worth it?
Usually yes if you ride the full loop and return to Tokyo. The 2-day pass from Shinjuku is roughly ¥6,000–7,000.
How much is a ryokan in Hakone?
Mid-range ryokan are about ¥25,000–45,000 a night, usually with dinner and breakfast; luxury ones ¥60,000–150,000.