Hakone Old Tokaido Road Hiking Tour to Hakone Shrine

The Old Tokaido Road still carries the footsteps of Edo-period travelers, merchants and samurai.

This private hiking tour follows the historic Old Tokaido Road from Hakone-Yumoto Station through forest and traditional village to Hakone Shrine on Lake Ashi. Your English-speaking guide shares the route's history as you walk stone-paved sections, stop at Hatajuku to see Yosegi marquetry woodcraft, rest at a centuries-old teahouse, and finish at the shrine's famous torii gate. The tour runs 6.5 hours and adapts to your group's pace. Children from age 10 are welcome. Moderate fitness is needed for the forest hiking sections.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike Old Tokaido Road and Visit Hakone Shrine

• Meet guide at Hakone-Yumoto Station
• Take local bus to Old Tokaido Road entrance
• Hike Old Tokaido Road through forest
• Explore Hatajuku village and Yosegi marquetry
• Bus to Amasake Chaya historic teahouse
• Walk stone-paved Old Tokaido to Moto-Hakone
• Lunch by Lake Ashi with possible Mt. Fuji views
• Visit Hakone Shrine and torii gate

The experience

The tour starts at Hakone-Yumoto Station, where you meet your guide and take a local bus to the Old Tokaido Road entrance. From there you hike through forest along the historic route that once connected Edo (present-day Tokyo) to Kyoto, with your guide explaining how travelers, merchants and samurai moved through these mountains centuries ago. The trail leads to Hatajuku, a village known for Yosegi marquetry (geometric patterns cut from different types of natural wood), where you can see artisans at work on this traditional craft.

A short bus ride takes you to Amasake Chaya, a teahouse that has served travelers on the Old Tokaido for generations. You stop here to rest and can order Amasake, a traditional sweet rice drink people have enjoyed along this road for centuries (food and drinks are separate from the tour price). From the teahouse you walk the stone-paved sections of the road for about an hour toward Lake Ashi, where on clear days Mt. Fuji comes into view. You have lunch by the lake before finishing at Hakone Shrine, one of Hakone's most important Shinto sites, where the famous torii gate stands in the water.

Because this is a private tour, your guide can adjust the pace and stops to match your group's interests. The hike requires moderate fitness and proper hiking shoes. The route follows a natural trail where weather can affect conditions, so your guide may modify the itinerary if safety calls for it. Public transportation is available nearby if you need to reach the station, and children from age 10 can join.

What’s included

• Private tour with English-speaking guide.
• local bus transport from Hakone-Yumoto Station to the Old Tokaido Road entrance and from Hatajuku to Amasake Chaya.
• forest hiking along the historic route.
• visit to Hatajuku village and its Yosegi marquetry workshops.
• rest stop at the centuries-old Amasake Chaya teahouse.
• walk along stone-paved sections of the Old Tokaido toward Lake Ashi.
• entry to Hakone Shrine and the torii gate.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 69 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (10 to 12 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 41 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteJP¥ 1,000

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by RAY

Is this one for you?Starting from Hakone-Yumoto Station with pickup included means you don't need a car or separate transportation to reach the trailhead, making this tour accessible whether you're staying elsewhere in Hakone or arriving by train. The private format lets your guide adjust the pace to match your fitness level and interests, so you can linger at the teahouse or move faster through sections depending on what your group wants.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

9 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (10 to 12 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Old Tokaido Road and why is it historic?

The Old Tokaido Road was one of the most important highways during Japan's Edo period, connecting Edo (present-day Tokyo) to Kyoto. Travelers, merchants and samurai walked this route for centuries, and sections of the original stone-paved path still exist. Your guide explains this history as you hike through the forest along the same route.

Will I see Mt. Fuji on this tour?

Mt. Fuji may be visible from Lake Ashi on clear days, but views depend entirely on weather conditions. Your guide will point it out if it appears during the walk along the stone-paved sections near the lake.

What happens at Hatajuku during the tour?

Hatajuku is a village famous for Yosegi marquetry, a traditional woodcraft that creates geometric patterns from different types of natural wood. You stop here to see the craft and watch artisans at work before continuing to the teahouse.

Is food included in the tour price?

Food and drinks are not included in the tour price. You can order Amasake and other refreshments at the historic teahouse during your rest stop, and you have lunch by Lake Ashi, but you arrange and pay for these separately.

How does a private tour differ from a shared one?

Because only your group participates, your English-speaking guide can adapt the experience to your pace and interests. You set the rhythm of the hike and can spend more or less time at each stop based on what your group wants to explore.