All Reviews of Hakone Ropeway

It wasn’t until I visited Hakone that I realized the area has more types of transportation than I’d imagined! I took the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora, transferred to the funicular, and then switched to the ropeway to Owakudani. Just getting around felt like a fun adventure. As the ropeway slowly climbed, the view outside became more expansive, with layers of mountain ranges, and on clear days, you may even get a distant view of Mount Fuji. Along the way, an announcement in the gondola pointed out the prominent character “大” on the mountain across from us. It turns out that it’s part of the traditional Hakone Daimonji-yaki event, held every year during Obon, when fires are lit on the mountainside to form the spectacular character. I didn’t expect a ropeway ride to also teach me about the local culture, adding some unexpected fun to the journey to Owakudani!

The Hakone Ropeway is a part of traveling around Hakone that’s well worth experiencing, especially the ride from Sounzan to Owakudani, where the scenery along the way is truly beautiful. As the gondola slowly rises, you can look down over Hakone’s mountain scenery, and when the weather is good, you may even see Mt. Fuji. The views are very expansive.

As you approach Owakudani, the scenery becomes quite distinctive. You can see white smoke constantly rising from the valley and even smell a faint scent of sulfur, making it very different from the scenery on a typical ropeway. The mountains, forests, and volcanic terrain overlap along the way, and it’s also great for taking photos.

I think the Hakone Ropeway is more than just transportation—it’s an interesting travel experience in itself. If you plan it together with Owakudani, Togendai, and Lake Ashi, your whole Hakone itinerary will be even more varied. In particular, slowly crossing the valleys inside the gondola really gives you the feeling of traveling.

Riding the Hakone Ropeway was really fun! As the gondola slowly rises, you can look down from above and enjoy magnificent views of the Hakone mountains, with a chance to see Mt. Fuji too!
Passing over Owakudani was the most memorable part. You can see white smoke rising from the valley in the distance, and together with the volcanic landscape, it feels like entering another world. Seeing the natural scenery from above was truly breathtaking!

You have to ride the ropeway at least once when visiting Hakone! It's about 4 kilometers long and travels high above the valleys, with lush greenery all along the way and a bird's-eye view of the extremely popular Owakudani. As the gondola slowly moves along, the volcanic landscape with white smoke rising appears right before your eyes. It really feels like you're flying over Hakone!

The best part is that the Hakone Freepass includes the ropeway, so you can enjoy transportation and attractions together, making it a really great value! When the weather is good, the views are wide open, and you might even see Mount Fuji. This trip through the sky is absolutely worth it!

This is pretty much a classic Hakone itinerary, and it’s hard to go wrong with it. It does feel a bit touristy overall, but the scenery is genuinely worth seeing.

If you have the Hakone Free Pass, this ropeway ride is included—such a great deal!

Riding the Hakone Ropeway was such an amazing and delightful experience! The views from up high let you take in all the natural beauty of Hakone at a glance.

The ropeway ride is super smooth, and the views from the windows are pretty nice. When you pass over Owakudani, you can really smell the sulfur in the air.

The weather changed so quickly! It was perfectly clear when we were on the pirate ship, but by the time we took the ropeway, it was all foggy and the view was pretty bad.

Taking the Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Togendai is really convenient. You can get off at Owakudani, one of Hakone's famous spots, and then continue your ride. The views of the mountains, reeds, and lush forests from the gondola are so relaxing.