Hakone Stone‐paved Road
Hakone Stone‐paved Road
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
153 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
79
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24
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Tom H
Santa Cruz, CA383 contributions
Apr 2023
We were staying in Moto-Hakone and took the bus to first Hatajuku to look around and then partway back to stop at the famous tea house. We had tea and baked treats at the atmospheric teahouse constructed with huge beams, and then walked along the stone walkway, the "Tokiado Highway", back to Lake Ashe and Moto-Hakone. It was steep at first and then downhill. It was a beautiful walk but especially on the downhill side we found it difficult to walk on the uneven sized rocks that paved the walkway. I think this experience is an amazing historical walk and was worth it from the teahouse. I don't think I would want to walk more because of the way it is constructed.
Written May 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie C
43 contributions
Jun 2016 • Friends
Reviews on this list are really reviewing two sections of the same stone paved road. It was confusing to me because reviewers discussed two entrances and two types of walk. I went and visited and realized there are two completely different sections of the stone paved road and they are much different for walking.
1. Old Tokaido Highway (Stone paved road with Tea House) Section
2. Stone Paved Road near Hakone Checkpoint along Route 1
1. This is the section of road many are reviewing with large stones that is uphill at first from the boat pier in Moto-Hakone then downhill to the Amazakechaya Teahouse. It has signs for the Old Tokaido Highway. This was a fun walk for me and friends, but we are fit. I was wearing flip flops and made it, but much better shoes are recommended. It is steep uphill in parts and downhill in parts. Walking in the part were the water is made to drain is easier at times. A great walk to the Amazake Chaya teahouse, we took the bus back bc the walk one way was plenty. I have a photo of this entrance in the review.
2. Stone Paved Road near Hakone checkpoint Museum. You can enter this much different section of the roadway just north of the Checkpoint Museum and I'm sure further south in Hakone-Machi. This is very flat with tall trees on both sides and is a very pleasant walk any person in any shoes could make. This part of the path follows Route 1 (the Tokaido highway) If you are on Route or Highway 1 - just check across the street for the path. You can also enter at Moto-hakone under an overpass.
I'd say do both, but understand the difference least you miss out!
1. Old Tokaido Highway (Stone paved road with Tea House) Section
2. Stone Paved Road near Hakone Checkpoint along Route 1
1. This is the section of road many are reviewing with large stones that is uphill at first from the boat pier in Moto-Hakone then downhill to the Amazakechaya Teahouse. It has signs for the Old Tokaido Highway. This was a fun walk for me and friends, but we are fit. I was wearing flip flops and made it, but much better shoes are recommended. It is steep uphill in parts and downhill in parts. Walking in the part were the water is made to drain is easier at times. A great walk to the Amazake Chaya teahouse, we took the bus back bc the walk one way was plenty. I have a photo of this entrance in the review.
2. Stone Paved Road near Hakone checkpoint Museum. You can enter this much different section of the roadway just north of the Checkpoint Museum and I'm sure further south in Hakone-Machi. This is very flat with tall trees on both sides and is a very pleasant walk any person in any shoes could make. This part of the path follows Route 1 (the Tokaido highway) If you are on Route or Highway 1 - just check across the street for the path. You can also enter at Moto-hakone under an overpass.
I'd say do both, but understand the difference least you miss out!
Written June 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carla P
London, UK291 contributions
Jul 2018
Wow! What a perfect day trip from Tokyo. I highly recommend doing this walk! Ok, so I found information really hard to find. So, here - have some tips:
- We thought we’d walk from Hakone to the lake (Motohakone) because we’d read it was 11km and that sounded like a great day hike. But, we found out the Old Tokaido highway only really goes from Motohakone to Hatajyuku (about 5km). It is possible to walk from Motohakone all the way to Hakone, approx 11km, but the 6km leg from Hatajyuku to Hakone is along a busy road - and not pretty at all. It’s better to just do the 5km walk, and if you want a bit of huffy puffy, just do it uphill. To do this, it’s is best to either catch the bus from Hakone train station to Hatajyuku (very easy and frequent bus service), and walk from here to Motohakone along the Old Tokaido Road - keeping in mind this is mostly uphill. For the downhill version, start in Motohakone (get there either via bus or by catching the ropeway, cable car and then a boat ride) and walk downhill towards Hatajyuku (and bus back to Hakone from there). We are quite fit and found that the uphill was actually fairly challenging - there are like
- Not sure about the slightly odd pirate ship? There is a plain ferry which takes you from one side of the lake to the other. It is much cheaper than the weird kitsch pirate ship. We did the simple ferry and it gives you information as you pass the sights. It was great.
- Getting to Hakone from Tokyo is fairly confusing, so here’s what we found out - there seems to be two different ways you can get there; either via bullet train (which leaves from Shinagawa station and arrives at Onagawa, and you then get a little old train from there to Hakone), or the ‘romance train’ - which is included in the ‘Hakone Free Pass’. The romance train is cheaper but takes over 3 hours, whereas the bullet train trip, while a little pricier, was only around 1 hour. If you’re doing a day trip, it’s worth the extra yen for a quicker trip.
- Regarding the Hakone Free Pass - you get a number of things included so it seems like great value, but we found that once we got to Hakone a) it was too cloudy to bother with the cable car, b) the pirate ship had a cheaper and less touristy ferry option, and c) the rope way was shut due to renovations. We were therefore glad we didn’t get the free pass and just bought things separately if we actually needed / wanted them.
- We thought we’d walk from Hakone to the lake (Motohakone) because we’d read it was 11km and that sounded like a great day hike. But, we found out the Old Tokaido highway only really goes from Motohakone to Hatajyuku (about 5km). It is possible to walk from Motohakone all the way to Hakone, approx 11km, but the 6km leg from Hatajyuku to Hakone is along a busy road - and not pretty at all. It’s better to just do the 5km walk, and if you want a bit of huffy puffy, just do it uphill. To do this, it’s is best to either catch the bus from Hakone train station to Hatajyuku (very easy and frequent bus service), and walk from here to Motohakone along the Old Tokaido Road - keeping in mind this is mostly uphill. For the downhill version, start in Motohakone (get there either via bus or by catching the ropeway, cable car and then a boat ride) and walk downhill towards Hatajyuku (and bus back to Hakone from there). We are quite fit and found that the uphill was actually fairly challenging - there are like
- Not sure about the slightly odd pirate ship? There is a plain ferry which takes you from one side of the lake to the other. It is much cheaper than the weird kitsch pirate ship. We did the simple ferry and it gives you information as you pass the sights. It was great.
- Getting to Hakone from Tokyo is fairly confusing, so here’s what we found out - there seems to be two different ways you can get there; either via bullet train (which leaves from Shinagawa station and arrives at Onagawa, and you then get a little old train from there to Hakone), or the ‘romance train’ - which is included in the ‘Hakone Free Pass’. The romance train is cheaper but takes over 3 hours, whereas the bullet train trip, while a little pricier, was only around 1 hour. If you’re doing a day trip, it’s worth the extra yen for a quicker trip.
- Regarding the Hakone Free Pass - you get a number of things included so it seems like great value, but we found that once we got to Hakone a) it was too cloudy to bother with the cable car, b) the pirate ship had a cheaper and less touristy ferry option, and c) the rope way was shut due to renovations. We were therefore glad we didn’t get the free pass and just bought things separately if we actually needed / wanted them.
Written July 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelling_Becca
Barcelona, Spain86 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Expected an hour hike through the woods but was a slow 20min walk.
Beautiful landscape and giant bamboo trees but very short. It came to a sudden end and you had to rejoin the path next to the road. I did walk around looking for it to go on but had no luck.
A good place to take pictures and it didn't have many tourist.
I would suggest doing it after you get of the pirate ship at Motohake and then jump back to the ship to go back to the other side of the lake
Beautiful landscape and giant bamboo trees but very short. It came to a sudden end and you had to rejoin the path next to the road. I did walk around looking for it to go on but had no luck.
A good place to take pictures and it didn't have many tourist.
I would suggest doing it after you get of the pirate ship at Motohake and then jump back to the ship to go back to the other side of the lake
Written November 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Calleryana
Singapore, Singapore81 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
Wanted to do something at hakone different and found that you can hike through the old tokaido. However, we seemed to have chosen the more challenging path, as we wanted to get to Amachaya teahouse. The walk was very quiet and tranquil, we went there right before sunset at about 310pm, and reached the teahouse at 350pm. The path is paved with large stones which should have been eroded over time, so some are slippery, some are steep, there were a lot of up and down hills which made it diffoult to walk. Definitely recommend good shoes and start the walk before sunset as there are no lights or any rest stops in the journey.
We exited and walked about 5min to Amachaya and had a lovely amasake with some mochi sweets. Amasake (means sweet wine) does not contain alcohol, its white colour with some bits of sweet things in the drink. It tastes like holicks for those who know.
The bus is right outside the teahouse which can bring you to Hakone Yumoto via bus K.
We exited and walked about 5min to Amachaya and had a lovely amasake with some mochi sweets. Amasake (means sweet wine) does not contain alcohol, its white colour with some bits of sweet things in the drink. It tastes like holicks for those who know.
The bus is right outside the teahouse which can bring you to Hakone Yumoto via bus K.
Written December 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RonFritz
Bend, OR145 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
I strongly recommend this trail for a special experience of Japan
The trail begins at the checkpoint museum, which is worth a stop-in to see. It's a bit hard to keep with the trail while in the town, but the Cedar Grove is a very nice little stretch. We lost the trail when we were diverted onto the road, but managed to eventually find it again. It was very much worth the search since it transported us back in time and got us off the beaten path. It would be hard to describe how we lost it and found it, but when you get to the first major intersection headed right (uphill) take it. I think you'll re-find the trail there.
Be warned the stones can be quite slippery if they are even slightly wet (which they are), so expect it to be slow going and use caution.
I recommend going as far as Amazake Chaya tea-house, which was a real treat to visit. From there you can hop on a bus down to the town. I don't really recommend hiking the whole 11km unless you are really determined. It switches between the slick rocks, steep stairs and stretches of road....all of it pretty steeply downhill. If you stop at Amazake Chaya and take the bus the rest of the way you will have experienced the best section of it.
The trail begins at the checkpoint museum, which is worth a stop-in to see. It's a bit hard to keep with the trail while in the town, but the Cedar Grove is a very nice little stretch. We lost the trail when we were diverted onto the road, but managed to eventually find it again. It was very much worth the search since it transported us back in time and got us off the beaten path. It would be hard to describe how we lost it and found it, but when you get to the first major intersection headed right (uphill) take it. I think you'll re-find the trail there.
Be warned the stones can be quite slippery if they are even slightly wet (which they are), so expect it to be slow going and use caution.
I recommend going as far as Amazake Chaya tea-house, which was a real treat to visit. From there you can hop on a bus down to the town. I don't really recommend hiking the whole 11km unless you are really determined. It switches between the slick rocks, steep stairs and stretches of road....all of it pretty steeply downhill. If you stop at Amazake Chaya and take the bus the rest of the way you will have experienced the best section of it.
Written June 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boho1979
Deal, UK595 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
This is a nice walk and if there’s no one else about you can get some pretty photos however it was a lot shorter than expected and I certainly wouldn’t go to this location for this walk / attraction alone however if you are combining it with the boat trip and cable cars it makes a nice day trip.
Written April 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
barneyinkaz
Hong Kong, China131 contributions
Oct 2017 • Family
This is such a wonderful little slice of history - in a perfect setting. It may not be easy to find but the path is in good condition and a pleasure to walk along under the bamboo and cedar canopy.
Definitely worth making the time to do it as a highlight for the trip - but do it in the motohakone to hakone direction (not the other way) as it gets pretty steep in one part.
Finish up at the ancient old cafe and then bus into town. Perfect
Definitely worth making the time to do it as a highlight for the trip - but do it in the motohakone to hakone direction (not the other way) as it gets pretty steep in one part.
Finish up at the ancient old cafe and then bus into town. Perfect
Written October 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dana P
London, United Kingdom114 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
After we visited the Hakone Shrine, I wanted to take a walk on the stone paved road, since I read other reviews and sounded great. To find the trail as you are coming from the Shrine towards Moto-Hakone, turn left at the Tourist Office, walk to the petrol station and turn right. You'll see the entrance is sign-posted and starts with some woden stairs.
Most of the trail markers are in Japanese only but a few mention the Amazake Chaya team house. We followed the road for a good 40 min and some parts were fairly difficult to negotiate, the stones uneven and slippery, the climb up and then down, but with a bit of care, it's manageable.
The forest is great, it was so peaceful, birds singing and just so lovely being in the middle of the nature thinking of the people who built the road around year 630 during Edo era, as well as those who travelled on it.
I was dreading having to go back the same way, when just before reaching the tea house we saw the K bus stop and timetable, which would have taken us back to Hakone-Yumoto Station.
So, we carried on until we reached the tea house, had some snacks and took the bus back, there was a bus stop right in front of the tea house.
It was a very worthwhile adventure, made even more enjoyable by the discovery that we did not have to go back the same route.
Most of the trail markers are in Japanese only but a few mention the Amazake Chaya team house. We followed the road for a good 40 min and some parts were fairly difficult to negotiate, the stones uneven and slippery, the climb up and then down, but with a bit of care, it's manageable.
The forest is great, it was so peaceful, birds singing and just so lovely being in the middle of the nature thinking of the people who built the road around year 630 during Edo era, as well as those who travelled on it.
I was dreading having to go back the same way, when just before reaching the tea house we saw the K bus stop and timetable, which would have taken us back to Hakone-Yumoto Station.
So, we carried on until we reached the tea house, had some snacks and took the bus back, there was a bus stop right in front of the tea house.
It was a very worthwhile adventure, made even more enjoyable by the discovery that we did not have to go back the same route.
Written May 14, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabriel L
Stockholm, Sweden153 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
From Amazake Chaya and down to Moto-Hakone you can trek along the old Tokaido road which is full of history. It is stone paved almost all the way and not so difficult (we passed 4-5 pairs of elderly Japanese trekking). You walk through old woods with old stones in the ground and you can feel the historical presence. When you get to Moto-Hakone you can continue along the old cedar road which is beautifully lined with huge cedar trees. A great hidden gem in Hakone!!
Written July 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nancy V
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Hi
We are planning to be in Japan in February. Will it be safe to walk through the stone paved Road then?
thanks in advance
Nancy
Shinn
42 contributions
did you find out in the end? actually planning to go in Feb this year and would like to know your experience.
Nancy V
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Hi
We are planning to be in Japan in February. Will it be safe to walk through the stone paved Road then?
thanks in advance
Nancy
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Claim your listingHakone Stone‐paved Road - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Hakone Stone‐paved Road
- We recommend booking Hakone Stone‐paved Road tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Hakone Stone‐paved Road tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Hakone Stone‐paved Road:
- (0.48 mi) Toslove Hakone Wasorin
- (3.18 mi) Cozy Inn Hakoneno Yama
- (0.46 mi) Hotel Ra Kuun
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- (0.92 mi) Washintei Hogetsu
- Restaurants near Hakone Stone‐paved Road:
- (0.28 mi) Amazake Chaya
- (0.77 mi) Bakery & Table Hakone
- (0.76 mi) La Terrazza
- (0.75 mi) Hakone Karaage Karatto
- (3.86 mi) 808 Monsmare
- Attractions near Hakone Stone‐paved Road:
- (0.20 mi) Otamagaike
- (1.37 mi) Explore Hakone
- (0.78 mi) Narukawa Art Museum
- (1.07 mi) Hakone Shrine / Kuzuryu Shrine Singu
- (1.10 mi) Lake Ashinoko
Hakone Stone‐paved Road Information
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