Japan — Kanagawa
Is it safe to travel to Hakone?
Yes — Hakone is a quiet hot-spring region with negligible crime. The things to know are about volcanic gas zones, onsen etiquette and mountain roads.
Reviewed 16 September 2026 · iLuxuryTravels Editorial
Hakone is a small, rural, tightly regulated resort area within a national park; crime is close to non-existent and visitors are looked after carefully. The single genuine hazard is volcanic: Owakudani is an active sulphur field, and the authorities periodically restrict access or close sections when gas levels rise. Those closures are published and enforced — observe them, and skip the area entirely if you have asthma or a heart condition.
Onsen bathing has its own safety rules. Hot-spring water sits near 42C; long soaks cause fainting, and alcohol before bathing makes it likelier. Twenty minutes, plenty of water, and no bathing straight after dinner and drinks is the local rule. Guests with tattoos should book a room with a private bath rather than relying on communal facilities.
The roads are the last consideration: steep, tight switchbacks with fog rolling in during the afternoon and snow in midwinter. Use the trains, the Romancecar and taxis rather than a hire car, particularly at night.
Hakone safety: the questions people actually ask
- Is it safe to travel to Hakone?
- Yes. Hakone is a quiet national-park resort area with almost no crime. Respect volcanic access restrictions at Owakudani, follow onsen bathing rules and prefer trains and taxis to driving.
- Is the volcanic activity in Hakone dangerous?
- It is monitored continuously and access is restricted when gas or seismic readings rise. Follow posted closures at Owakudani and avoid the area if you have respiratory or heart conditions.
- Is onsen bathing safe?
- Yes, with sense: limit soaks to around twenty minutes, drink water before and after, avoid bathing after alcohol, and step out at the first sign of light-headedness.
- Can I use a Hakone onsen with tattoos?
- Many communal baths still refuse tattoos. Book a room or ryokan with a private open-air bath, which is standard at the upper end of the market and removes the issue.
- Is Hakone safe to visit in winter?
- Yes, and it is the clearest season for Mount Fuji. Roads can ice over and fog is common, so travel by train and Romancecar and leave the driving to local taxis.