Just a 1.5-hour train ride from Tokyo's bustling Shinjuku district, Hakone is one of the most famous hot spring destinations in Kanagawa Prefecture. This mountainous region is divided into several key areas including Hakone-Yumoto, Miyanoshita and Kowakudani, Gora, Sengokuhara, Owakudani and Togendai, and Motohakone and Hakone-machi (around Lake Ashi). Getting around is easy, thanks to the well-connected Hakone Tozan buses, mountain railway, cable car, and even sightseeing cruises on Lake Ashi.

Hakone is home to many onsen resorts, with the most famous being the "Hakone Nanayu" — a group of seven historic hot spring areas. Whether you're staying overnight at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) or just stopping by for a day-trip soak, you'll find plenty of ways to enjoy the region's natural hot springs. And of course, no trip to Hakone is complete without exploring its amazing food scene!

Now, let's dive into the best places to eat in each area!

Hakone-Yumoto Station is a major transportation hub and the historical heart of the area. With plenty of accommodations, souvenir shops, and, of course, a great selection of restaurants, it's the perfect place to enjoy some delicious local cuisine.

Located on the 3rd floor of a building just across from Hakone-Yumoto Station, Deli & Cafe Mitsuki is easily accessible — just follow the covered walkway from the station's 2nd-floor exit. No need to worry about the scorching sun or rainy days!

With about 70 seats, this spacious café offers a variety of dishes, including the Hakone Sanroku Pork Menchi Katsu Burger, ramen, and pork cutlet sandwiches. But the real highlight is their signature tofu milkshake, available in five flavors: vanilla, strawberry, mango, blueberry, and matcha. If you're in the mood for a refreshing draft beer, they've got that too!

Note: Tofu milkshake flavors may vary seasonally. Check the in-store menu for the latest offerings.

If you're craving authentic Japanese cuisine, don't miss Yubadon Naokichi, just a 5-minute walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station. "Yuba" is tofu skin, and this restaurant specializes in yuba rice bowls, using delicious local water to make their yuba, and serving each bowl in a charming, individual-sized earthenware pot. The dish is cooked to order with a rich broth, served piping hot, and as delightful to look at as it is to eat.

For fans of soy-based products, you can also choose a set meal with fresh yuba, silky tofu, and a sweet dessert. If you're dining with little ones, they even offer a kid-friendly menu, making it a great choice for families!

Just a 2-minute walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station, Hakone Jinenjo Yamasoba is a charming two-story soba restaurant with a nostalgic Japanese atmosphere. With over 90 seats, it's a great choice for group meals.

They offer more than ten types of soba, with some unique options like jinenjo (mountain yam) soba, six-mushroom soba, and mountain vegetable soba. You can enjoy your noodles either cold or hot, depending on your preference. If you're not in the mood for soba, there are also options like tempura bowls, pork cutlet bowls, and oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl).

Some restaurants in Hakone are only open for lunch, so if you're looking to ensure a spot for dinner, be sure to check out Nisshintei, just a 5-minute walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station!

At Nisshintei, the ramen is made with hand-pulled noodles that take three hours to prepare in-house. These noodles have a higher moisture content compared to machine-made ones, giving them a delightful chewy texture. They offer classic soy sauce, salt, and miso ramen, but if you're lucky, you might get to try their limited-edition braised pork ramen (Kakuni Ramen). There are only twenty servings available per day, so don't miss out if it's still available!

Just across from Hakone-Yumoto Station, near the Yumoto Bridge, you'll find a charming three-story building that houses Shika Jaya - Hakone Yumoto. Once a villa and onsen ryokan, the restaurant now offers a cozy dining experience on the first floor for regular guests, while the second floor is reserved for private dining in a traditional ryokan-style setting, available by reservation only.

The menu focuses on creative dishes featuring tofu and yam, with the standout being their signature Soun Tofu. The dish features tofu heated in a kelp-based broth, then topped with a rich, piping-hot yam paste with as miso soup as its base. The final touch includes a sprinkle of green onions and nori, creating a perfect balance of flavors in every bite.

Founded during the Meiji era, the historic Fujiya Hotel was once a popular resort for foreigners and has left behind a charming retro atmosphere in the surrounding Miyanoshita area. Just a short distance away in the Kowakudani area, you'll find attractions like the hot spring theme park Hakone Kowakien Yunessun and the scenic Horai-en Garden.

Kikkaso is one of the restaurants located within the Fujiya Hotel, a building originally constructed for the Japanese imperial family. Its design is a stunning example of traditional Japanese architecture, and the highlight of the restaurant is the beautiful Japanese garden, where you can enjoy the changing seasons. Inside, you'll also find elegant touches, like the chrysanthemum emblem, symbolizing the Japanese imperial family.

The menu offers a variety of traditional Japanese set meals and luxurious kaiseki cuisine. For a more refined experience, consider reserving a private room for lunch. You'll be treated to nearly ten courses, from appetizers to dessert, all carefully prepared to offer a true taste of Japan. This could very well be the most unforgettable dining experience of your Hakone trip!

Teppanyaki & Shabu-Shabu Geihinkan is one of the restaurants at the popular hot spring resort, Hakone Kowakien Yunessun. The building itself is registered as a national tangible cultural asset of Japan. On the first floor, you'll find a teppanyaki restaurant with bar-style seating, where you can watch the chef prepare delicious dishes like Matsusaka beef and seasonal seafood right in front of you.

On the second floor, they offer shabu-shabu set meals, featuring two types of broth, a refined appetizer platter, and a choice of crab porridge or Sanuki udon noodles to finish, topped off with a sweet dessert. If you're looking to add a touch of luxury to your Hakone trip, this is the perfect spot!

Soba Kihinkan is another restaurant located within Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, housed in a building with over a century of history and also registered as a Japanese national tangible cultural asset. Along with such a rich cultural significance, the food here is affordable and approachable.

During lunch, they offer a variety of dishes, including soba noodles, tempura set meals, and duck hot pot soba. The restaurant also provides a reservation-only option for a private dining experience, offering a delicious Japanese set meal in a cozy room. If you're interested, be sure to make your reservation at least three days in advance.

The Gora area is a popular tourist destination centered around attractions like the Hakone Open-Air Museum and Gora Park. Once an upscale villa area, Gora still carries the romantic atmosphere of the past.

A bit higher in elevation, the Sengokuhara area is home to more art museums and cozy cafes. In the fall, you can also enjoy the stunning golden pampas grass fields, making it a beautiful time to visit!

Riverside Kitchen & Bar is a restaurant located within the Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora. It offers dining options throughout the day, including breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner.

For breakfast, they offer a buffet with a variety of breads, ham, and toppings for you to create the perfect sandwich, along with Japanese dishes, fresh fruit, and desserts. During lunch, you can enjoy light meals like American-style burgers, sandwiches, salads, and hearty soups. In the afternoon, indulge in eye-catching sundaes and parfaits and beautifully crafted coffee with intricate latte art. For dinner, treat yourself to a full-course charcoal-grilled Barbecue, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients carefully prepared by the chef.

if you're looking for a relaxed spot for lunch after visiting the Hakone Lalique Museum or the Hakone Glass no Mori Museum in the Sengokuhara area, head over to Azure Moon, an Indian restaurant. Enjoy authentic Indian curry in an elegant setting, either inside the restaurant or in the beautiful garden. In addition to their eight signature curries, they also offer seasonal, limited-time varieties. And the best part? You can enjoy a hearty lunch set for under 2,000 yen!

Owakudani is one of the most iconic natural attractions in the Hakone area. You can take a cable car ride and enjoy a bird's-eye view of the volcanic landscape with steam rising from the geothermal vents. This area is also known for its geothermal attractions and local hot spring delicacies, like the famous "onsen tamago" (hot spring eggs).

From the higher altitudes of Sounzan and Owakudani, take the cable car to Togendai Station by Lake Ashi. From there, you can board the Hakone Pirate Ship and head back to Motohakone Port, near the famous Hakone Shrine.

First up is Takeyabu Hakone, a well-known soba restaurant that originated in Kashiwa City, Chiba. The Hakone location comes highly recommended! It's about a 13-minute walk from Ubako Station on the Hakone Ropeway. The restaurant was founded by the previous owner, Takao Abe, and the craftsmanship is evident everywhere, from the sign to the interior design. One of the most popular spots is the spacious outdoor terrace, where you can enjoy your soba surrounded by the refreshing scents of nature on a sunny day.

But the real star here is the soba itself, made with carefully selected buckwheat grown specifically for the restaurant. The menu features classic soba dishes, like seiro soba (cold soba served in a bamboo tray) and tempura soba, each showcasing the pure, simple deliciousness of freshly made noodles.

Just a 5-minute walk from Togendai Station on the Hakone Ropeway, Amimoto Oba specializes in freshly caught fish from Lake Ashi, particularly wakasagi (Japanese smelt). At lunch, the restaurant serves a limited number of wakasagi lunch sets and tea rice, along with a variety of fish set meals. Other options include tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), salmon katsu, fried shrimp, as well as udon, soba, and beef rice bowls. The restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m. every day and closes once the fish runs out, so it's best to get there early to ensure you can enjoy the fresh catch!

It takes about 35 minutes by bus from Hakone Yumoto Station to Motohakone Port near Hakone Shrine. Not only can you enjoy a beautiful view of Mount Fuji here, but it's also a prime spot to watch the Hakone Fireworks Festival every summer.

Before boarding the Hakone Pirate Ship at Motohakone Port, you can grab a bite at local favorite Shinsho Soba, just a 1-minute walk from the port. They serve soba and udon noodles as well as set meals. For a seasonal twist, the summer soba and udon feature sakura shrimp, while the winter option features Japanese mountain yam (jinenjo). If you're looking for a full meal, try the soba set with tempura rice bowl, tonkatsu rice bowl, or chicken and egg rice bowl (oyakodon). Don't forget to finish with their unique soba grain ice cream for dessert!

The pet-friendly café Hakone Karaage Karatto specializes in delicious fried chicken that pairs perfectly with bread and wine. The fried chicken platter with a drink includes a salad, bread, fried chicken, fruit, and the soup of the day. In addition to non-alcoholic beverages like tea and coffee, you can also choose from red wine, white wine, lemon sour, and craft beer. If you're looking to enjoy a relaxing time by Lake Ashi, Hakone Karaage Karatto is perfect for lunch or afternoon tea!

The beef stew and curry restaurant Mizuumi Tei is also located by Lake Ashi, about a 7-minute walk from the Hakone Ropeway's Togendai Station. Their signature dishes are the melt-in-your-mouth beef stew and curry rice made with 14 different spices. The beef stew is limited to 30 servings per day (quantity may vary), so it's best to arrive early if you want to try it. For the curry rice, you can choose from chicken, seafood, or spinach and mushroom varieties, and if you feel extra hungry, you can upgrade to a larger portion.

That's a wrap on our Hakone dining guide! Have you taken note of all the delicious spots? Since Hakone covers a large area with attractions spread out, you'll need to plan for quite a bit of travel time between places. If you've already decided on your sightseeing spots or route, check out nearby restaurants you might want to try, and have a few backup options in mind to make sure the 'food' part of your trip stays fun, even if you run into closures or crowded spots!