Owakudani and the Hakone Ropeway

Owakudani, the Great Boiling Valley, is the dramatic heart of the Hakone circuit. It is an active volcanic zone where sulphurous steam hisses from the hillside, the air carries a rotten-egg smell, and the rocks are streaked in yellow and white. The Hakone Ropeway crosses the valley about 130 metres above the ground between Sounzan and Owakudani, so you look straight down into the steaming vents before arriving at the station, where black eggs are sold at two shops. The shells turn black from the mineral-rich hot water they are boiled in, and local lore says eating one adds seven years to your life. The station also has a restaurant on the second floor, Owakudani Kitchen, which opened on 17 July 2026 with no regular holidays. From here, the ropeway continues to Ubako and Togendai on Lake Ashi in roughly fifteen-minute legs, with Fuji visible between the stations on clear days. Gondolas holding eighteen people run about every minute, and the stations are barrier-free for wheelchair users.

Safety is part of the visit. Owakudani is an active steaming vent, and the official guidance warns that precautions can be taken because of weather or gas release, and the ropeway can be suspended in extreme weather or hazardous situations. People with respiratory conditions should take advice before visiting, and you should follow signs about restricted areas. In the past, volcanic activity has closed sections of the ropeway for months, which is why checking the live status before you go matters.\n\nLogistics: the ropeway runs from about nine in the morning to five in the afternoon from February to November, and shorter from December to January, when it closes around a quarter past four. Annual maintenance closures are also scheduled, usually in the quieter months, with replacement buses substituting for the gondolas, so check Hakone Navi's notices when you plan a winter trip. Access is by cable car from Gora to Sounzan, then the ropeway; it also sits on the Hakone Golden Route that continues to Lake Ashi.\n\nMaking the most: go in the morning for lighter crowds and the best chance of a Fuji view, wear sturdy shoes for the short walk around the vents, and carry a jacket because the altitude brings cooler air. Coin lockers and station offices can store luggage, which helps if you are travelling between hotels. Children enjoy the gondola ride, though the sulphur smell can be strong for sensitive noses. Eat a black egg for the novelty and the souvenir photo, then continue to the lake for the cruise.