Mountain town in Kanagawa, Japan
Hakone for solo travelers
Is Hakone good for solo travel?
Onsen town in the mountains west of Tokyo with Mount Fuji views, Lake Ashi cruises and art museums. Best for one or two nights; ryokan are pricey and food is limited and early-closing.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 3/5 · Good, with some effort |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Limited |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Check ryokan solo-booking rules; some refuse single guests. |
How to meet people in Hakone
Not a social place: day-trippers and couples. Meet people in guesthouses in Yumoto, guided hikes and shared onsen baths.
Good things to do alone
- Soak in a day-use onsen at Hakone-Yumoto
- See Fuji from Lake Ashi in the morning
- Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Walk the old Tokaido cedar avenue
- Eat black eggs at Owakudani when open
Where to stay in Hakone
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Hakone-Yumoto | Gateway: trains, shops, public baths, cheaper stays |
| Gora | Art museums, cable car and ryokan; good base |
| Lake Ashi (Motohakone, Hakone-machi) | Lake views, shrine and Fuji vistas |
| Sengokuhara | Quieter, pampas grass fields and hotels |
Solo travel across Japan
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 | Limited |
| Kyoto | 5/5 | Limited |
| Osaka | 5/5 | Limited |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 | Limited |
| Hiroshima | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nara | 4/5 | Limited |
| Sapporo | 4/5 | Limited |
| Okinawa | 4/5 | Limited |
| Niseko | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Yokohama | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Kanazawa | 4/5 | Limited |
| Takayama | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Nagoya | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kamakura | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kobe | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hakuba | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Ishigaki | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nagasaki | 4/5 | Limited |
| Miyakojima | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hakodate | 4/5 | Limited |
| Otaru | 4/5 | Limited |
| Beppu | 4/5 | Limited |
| Matsumoto | 4/5 | Limited |
| Koyasan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Sendai | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hakone | 3/5 | Limited |
| Kawaguchiko | 3/5 | Limited |
| Nikko | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shirakawa-go | 3/5 | Limited |
| Furano | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Hakone good for solo travelers?
Good, with some effort (3/5). Onsen town in the mountains west of Tokyo with Mount Fuji views, Lake Ashi cruises and art museums.
How do you meet people in Hakone?
Not a social place: day-trippers and couples. Meet people in guesthouses in Yumoto, guided hikes and shared onsen baths. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Hakone?
Limited.
Is Hakone safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Check ryokan solo-booking rules; some refuse single guests.
More about Hakone
Going to Hakone solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Hakone meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.