Hakone Lake Ashi Cruise: Ultimate guide for the perfect trip
The Hakone Lake Ashi Cruise is one of the best ways to enjoy Lake Ashi and its surrounding beauty. That beauty, of course, includes Mount Fuji!
It’s part of the Hakone Loop – which covers most of the must-see spots in the Fuji-Hakone National Park and uses no less than five different types of transportation.
But on a Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, you get to cruise Lake Ashi on a pirate ship! And if you’re lucky, you might see Mount Fuji in all its glory. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t see the volcano, as the northern end of the lake was all in clouds.
But we still enjoyed the views from the cruise.
What is the Hakone Lake Ashi Cruise?
Hakone Lake Ashi Cruise is a short cruise that runs on Lake Ashi, which is one of the Fuji Five lakes. It’s 25 to 40 minutes long, depending on which port you board the ship.
You go on this “cruise” to get from one end of the lake to another, enjoying the unique views from the water. On clear days, you can see the snowy top of Mount Fuji from the boats. And if you find a good spot on the boat, you get to see the Hakone-jinja shrine’s floating torii together with the Queen Fuji.
Companies running the Hakone Cruises
Two companies run cruises on Lake Ashi: The Hakone Sightseeing Cruise and the Hakone Yuransen.
The one really worth it is the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise boats, and that’s for more than one reason. The first and main one is, the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise is included in the Hakone FreePass. And second, it’s Pirate ships!
So if you’re wondering which Hakone boat to choose, let me suggest the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise boats.
Hakone Pirate ships
Three different Hakone Sightseeing boats look like the Pirate ships don’t just look like pirate ships. The details on those ships are honestly incredible. The colours, the goddesses on bows, and of course, the interior.
The viewing area is quite big so a lot of people can enjoy the views. If you like to do some photography, though, make sure to get a spot by the railings so that you’re not blocked.
Even inside, there’s the subtle – or not-so-subtle – luxury. On at least one of the ship’s walls have ōkawakumiko latticework and other decorative elements. For an extra fee, you can choose the First class cabin or the “Special room”. There are limited tickets available so you get to enjoy the extra luxury without the crowds.
I enjoyed the economy room – for me, it seemed good enough. It’s like a fancy version of a normal ferry with more comfortable seats. And there are even different pirate “objects” and 3d art inside the ship!
What I didn’t enjoy as much was the outside – it was really cold, as we were surprised by snow in Hakone. I hadn’t packed enough warm things with me, unfortunately, because it was supposed to be rather warm.
The Pirate ships can even be chartered, if you feel like having a special event in a unique setting.
Different ports on Lake Ashi
The Hakone Sightseeing Cruise boats run from Togendai Port to Hakone Machi Port to Moto-Hakone Port and back to Togendai Port. If you want to do a Hakone Loop like we did, you’d be taking the Pirate ship from the Togendai port to Moto-Hakone.
At the Togendai Port, which is at the north of the lake, you can enjoy several restaurants. This is the port you arrive at if you’re taking the Hakone Ropeway from Owakudani station. If you’re doing the traditional Hakone circle, you’ll be boarding the Pirate ship here to go to the Hakone Mochi port. You can go to Moto-Hakone, too, as the ports are only 20 minutes’ walk apart.
The Hakone Machi port has some interesting things to see. The most famous are probably the Hakone Checkpoint and the entrance to the Old Tokkaido Highway. The Hakone Checkpoint Exhibition Hall and Hakone Ekiden Museum are right by the Hakone Mochi port, too.
By Moto-Hakone, which is just a tiny bit further, you’ll find the Hakone Shrine with the famous Torii gate, the Narukawa art museum, as well as a number of shops and restaurants. One of the best-preserved parts of the old Tokkaido highway is here, too.
Where to get tickets for the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
If you’re doing the Hakone Loop or are planning to take other public transport in the area, the best idea is to get the Hakone FreePass. That way, you have the boat cruise included in the ticket – unlimited times during the validity of the ticket.
If you wish, tickets for the Hakone sightseeing cruises can be bought separately, too. You can do it at the Sightseeing cruise/ropeway platform. You can pay for the tickets by card as well, not just cash.
If you’d like to use the “first-class” room, you need to purchase an upgrade – that’s whether you’re buying tickets for the cruise separately or using the Hakone Freepass.
Hakone Lake Cruise: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hakone cruise worth it?
Yes, I think the Hakone lake Ashi cruise is worth it. It’s quite a special experience, and both the boats and the views are magnificent.
How much does the Hakone sightseeing cruise cost?
You can get on the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise boat with your Hakone FreePass. If you don’t have the Freepass, check this website for up-to-date prices.
How long is the Hakone Pirate cruise?
The boat ride lasts 25 to 40 minutes. The trip from Motohakone port to Tōgendai takes around 25 minutes and Tōgendai port to Hakone-machi takes around 25 minutes, too.
How to get to Lake Ashi from Hakone?
The best way is to do the Hakone Loop, so take Cablecar from Gora to Sounzan and the Hakone ropeway from Sounzan to Owakudani. Afterwards, take the Hakone ropeway from Owakudani to Togendai.
How long does it take to do the Hakone loop?
You can easily do the Hakone Loop in a day, even as a day trip from Tokyo. Although we do recommend staying two nights in a Ryokan in the Hakone area, as that’s an experience that should be on your Japan bucket list.
Wrap up: Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
Hakone Lake Ashi cruises are quite an interesting experience. You get to enjoy going on a pirate ship – it’s quite unique to ride a pirate ship on a crater lake in Japan.
If you were wondering if to do it or not, I definitely recommend including this boat ride in your Japan itinerary!
Found this post interesting? Share it!
