I’ve done my fair share of sightseeing in the rain, and it’s often not a big deal.
Some attractions are actually better when it’s wet, thanks to smaller crowds and moody vibes. When I saw the grim forecast for my pre-booked Hakone day tour from Tokyo, I figured I’d just rug up, grab an umbrella, and make the most of it.
Well… I discovered that not every rainy day is charming.
The weather turned this trip into a cold, soggy struggle, and I left feeling disappointed that I hadn’t been able to see Hakone as most tourists would hope to see it (bathed in sunshine with an impressive Mt Fuji backdrop). Instead of views, I mostly saw cloud, cloud, and more cloud.
Despite my gloomy experience, I still believe this tour could be worth it another day, even if the weather isn’t perfect. Hakone is meant to make a lovely day trip from Tokyo, and from what I could tell, the attractions that I visited would be pretty enjoyable if the rain stayed at bay.
So if you’re planning to hop on a Hakone day tour and want to know what to expect with an imperfect weather forecast, here’s an honest breakdown of my experience, plus some tips on how to prepare if you find yourself in the same dreary situation.
Quick summary:
I jumped on a bus tour to Hakone from Tokyo hoping for views of Mt Fuji — and got stuck in the rain instead. While the weather made it a bit of a washout, the tour itself was a good intro to Hakone’s top sights.
Recommended tour:
I booked the Hakone & Mt Fuji full-day bus tour through Viator. This tour includes transport from Tokyo and stops at a handful of scenic locations in the Fuji Five Lakes district and Hakone area.
About the Hakone day tour
I booked a full-day guided tour to Mt Fuji & Hakone with Japan Panoramic Tours, which I found through Viator.
It included bus transport from Shinjuku in Tokyo (which was conveniently very near to my hotel!), a visit to Mt Fuji’s 5th Station (weather permitting) or alternatively at Oshino Hakkai village, lunch at a Ninja Village, a ride on the Hakone Ropeway, a boat cruise on Lake Ashi, and a return to Tokyo by bullet train.
One of the best parts of taking a guided tour is not having to figure out the tricky transport connections between stops. When I did some research on how to visit Hakone from Tokyo, it looked rather confusing to navigate, so it was great to leave all those logistics to someone else.
That said, it also meant we had limited time at each stop and couldn’t linger or explore off the beaten path. I would have loved to spend a bit longer at some of the locations, but when you’re trying to fit all the top Hakone attractions into one day, that sacrifice has to be made.
Oshino Hakkai village
Our first stop was originally supposed to be the 5th Station on Mt Fuji, but due to road closures from the weather, it was swapped out for Oshino Hakkai in the Fuji Five Lakes area.
This small traditional village is meant to be a scenic place with charming thatched-roof buildings, koi-filled ponds that are fed by Mt Fuji’s spring water, and views of Mt Fuji in the background.
With no mountain in sight and rain soaking through my sneakers and socks within minutes, I spent most of my time here huddled in the souvenir shop (which was actually quite impressively large) trying to seek shelter from the weather.
I braced myself for the rain and took my umbrella for a quick walk up some of the narrow streets, and discovered that Oshino Hakkai also has some cute shops and street food stalls. The soft serve ice cream stand looked as though it would be lovely to enjoy on a more pleasant day.
Ninja Village
Weirdly, this lunch stop was actually one of my favourite parts of the tour (maybe because it was dry and warm inside?). On the way to Hakone, we took a break at the Shinobi No Sato Ninja Village for a buffet lunch.
I was slightly concerned that there wouldn’t be many vegetarian options, but it was actually ok — the tempura lotus root was amazing. They also had the usual selection of meat dishes, sides, soups, bread, and a yummy matcha ice cream to top it off.
We had some free time to walk around after eating, and I found the Ninja Village to be surprisingly fun. There were a few displays of armour and ninja stars (so cool!) plus a heap of little kiddos who were running about in rented ninja costumes (so cute!).
The rain prompted most of our tour group to stay indoors, so I did a few rounds of the souvenir shop, picking up a few pairs of themed Mt Fuji socks for myself and my husband (I planned to change in to the dry socks later once I’d finished up all the outdoor activities for the day!).
In nice weather, I also think the Japanese gardens here would be a stellar place to wander around. They looked really gorgeous from what we could see out of the rain-splattered windows in our lunch room.
Hakone Ropeway
After lunch, we headed to Hakone Ropeway, which is part of the Hakone sightseeing loop and connects several volcanic hot spring areas. On a clear day, you are meant to get panoramic views over Lake Ashi along with incredible views of Mt Fuji and the surrounding national park.
Unfortunately, the views were nowhere to be seen during my visit. The gondola rose into a thick fog, and we spent most of the ride inside a heavy cloud. But I will say this: floating quietly over the treetops was still a cool experience. The forest looked lush and misty, and I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in autumn when the leaves change colour.
At the top station, Owakudani, there were strong sulphur smells from the geothermal activity. The area is famous for its volcanic vents and black eggs boiled in naturally hot sulfur springs. The guide mentioned you can eat one for longevity (an extra seven years, apparently!).
There are also free geothermal foot baths available here for visitors to soak their feet and warm up, but we didn’t get time to use them on our tour. Bit of a shame, as it sounded like the perfect fix for our cold feet.
Lake Ashi cruise
The last activity before heading back to Tokyo was a boat cruise across Lake Ashi. Visibility was better down at the lake than it was higher up — we could at least see the surrounding hills — though Mt Fuji was still out of sight.
We boarded a large catamaran-style boat, which thankfully had loads of indoor seating and heating, and the cruise itself was smooth and scenic (well, as scenic as a rainy day allows). It was nice to rest and warm up after being out in the wet all day. Definitely a cozy highlight.
One of the most iconic sights in the area is Hakone Shrine, with its striking red torii gate standing in the water near the shore. We caught a glimpse of it from the boat — it looked atmospheric in the mist — but that’s as close as we got. The tour didn’t include a stop there, which was a shame.
I could see from the boat that there was a small queue of people waiting at the torii gate to get that shot that everyone has seen in the pictures. I thought those folks were either crazy or courageous for their dedication to get the photo in the pouring rain. I imagine that on a nice day, it could get very busy there.
This is one of the trade-offs with doing a structured bus tour. While it’s super convenient for hitting the top sights without worrying about transport, the downside is that you don’t get much time to explore at your own pace or do bonus activities — like stopping at the shrine to wander around, snap some photos, or just soak in the scenery. If that’s high on your list, you might want to look for a tour that includes a stop there, or consider visiting Hakone independently.
Bullet train return to Tokyo
After the last stop, the tour bus dropped us off at nearby Odawara Station (about 30 minutes drive from Lake Ashi) to hop on the Shinkansen (bullet train) back to Tokyo. Although some people on the tour were confused by this, the guide old us that traffic in Tokyo can be a nightmare in the evenings, which would make the bus ride a lengthier option. I was actually really excited about catching the bullet train again and thought it was a great way to end the tour.
My tour booking included the cost of the bullet train ticket back to Tokyo Station (though I ended up getting off a few stops earlier to transfer to the Tokyo metro back to my hotel in Shinjuku). The train ride was fast, smooth, and is a bit of a novelty if you haven’t experienced Japan’s high-speed rail before. It was definitely a more fun option than spending another two hours on the bus.
Final thoughts: Should you take a Hakone day tour in the rain?
So, would I recommend a Hakone day tour from Tokyo in the rain? Honestly, no — not if you can avoid it. Hakone is one of those places that really shines when the skies are clear. The views are the main draw, and without them, it’s just not the same. Plus, it gets chilly and damp, especially higher up in the mountains.
But if you do find yourself locked into a rainy-day tour (like I did), here’s my advice on how to prepare:
- Dress very warmly — layers are essential.
- Bring proper rain gear — umbrellas, rain jackets, and waterproof shoes.
- Manage your expectations — you might not see Fuji, or any of the panoramic views.
- Appreciate the cozy moments — like warming up on the boat or shopping at a souvenir shop.
And while the weather didn’t do me any favours, the tour itself was comfortable and stress-free, which is ideal if you want to visit Hakone without worrying about how to get from A to B.
On a sunny day? I imagine this same tour would be absolutely stunning.
*My day tour to Hakone was sponsored by Viator. I’m proud to be an honest and transparent blogger, so every opinion expressed on AGWT is a true review of my experience.
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