7 Things to Do in Hakone in 2 Days | Winter Travel Japan 2025

We came to Hakone with a full plan. The ropeway, the pirate ship, the Venetian Glass Museum, the restaurants. Monday had other ideas. Almost everything was closed. We got lost. We ate konbini food in the cold. We stumbled into a cemetery full of flowers blooming in January. We stood at a 1,200-year-old shrine in the wind. And somehow — it became one of the most beautiful trips we've ever taken. This is Hakone, Japan. 90 minutes from Tokyo. Built inside a volcano. And one of the most magical places we've ever been. In this video: 🎋 Hakone 2-Day Free Pass — what it covers and is it worth it? 🚡 Hakone Ropeway — what to expect and when to go 🌋 Owakudani Volcano — the black eggs and the sulfur valley ⛩️ Hakone Shrine — history, the torii gate on the water, and the wind 🍵 Amazake Chaya — Japan's oldest tea house (since the 1600s!) 🌸 Hidden flowers in January — a cemetery we didn't expect 🏪 Japanese convenience store survival on a Monday ✨ The energy of just letting a trip happen Full ryokan review dropping next — kaiseki dinner, onsen, price breakdown, and booking tips so you can save money. Subscribe so you don't miss it. ———————————————————————— 📍 PLACES IN THIS VIDEO Hakone Ropeway (Hakone Tozan Cable Car) Owakudani Volcanic Valley Lake Ashi (Ashinoko) Peace Torii Gate — Hakone Shrine Amazake Chaya Tea House (oldest in Hakone) Lawson Convenience Store Hakone Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (closed on Mondays!) #Hakone #HakoneJapan #JapanTravel #JapanVlog #HakoneFreePass