Is the Lake Ashi Cruise in Hakone Worth It? (Mt Fuji View)

Chances are, when searching for things to do in Hakone, you’ve seen a rather interesting-looking pirate boat on a picturesque lake with Mount Fuji towering in the background.

That is Hakone’s popular Sightseeing Cruise that you take across Lake Ashi (also known as Ashinoko or Hakone Lake) which is perhaps one of the busiest attractions in the Hakone area—aside from its signature hot springs—along with the Hakone Shrine the Owakudani black egg.

But the Lake Ashi Cruise is much more than a tourist trap; it’s one of the eight modes of public transport included in the Hakone Freepass (also read — is the Hakone Freepass worth it?).

In this guide, I’ll share my tips and experience of the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise—is it worth it for that photo of Mount Fuji with the Hakone Shrine’s red torii gate rising out of the water?

And what should you expect?

Here’s everything you need to know, including how to get to Motohakone-ko bus station, where to purchase a ticket, and more! (All info I wish I would have rounded up for me before I visited!)

Taking the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Ashi

Lake Ashi Boat Tour Tickets + Tours

If you have the Hakone Freepass and are already in Hakone, you can just get in line and show your freepass to the agent when boarding.

If you don’t have the freepass, then you can separately purchase the boat cruise ticket online here.

Note: There is a VIP section of the boat if you’d like to get away from the crowds, but there is an additional cost of around ¥500 per person.

And if you’re not in Hakone and trying to plan your trip as a day trip from Tokyo and will not be using the 2-day or 3-day Hakone Freepass, you can still purchase your cruise ticket online here or opt to take an all-inclusive Hakone tour from Tokyo.

Where Is Lake Ashi and Why Is It Famous?

When most people visit Hakone, they tend to think of one concentrated town or destination.

But in fact, Hakone refers to not just the main town (Hakone-Yumoto) but an expansive area inside the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park populated with multiple towns and attractions—all spread out.

One such “must-see” place to visit is Lake Ashi.

🤩 Lake Ashi is a crater lake that was formed over 3,000 years ago when Mount Hakone erupted in the 12th century. It is located southwest of Hakone-Yumoto and is reachable via a 40-minute bus ride from Yumoto station.

While this lake is not particularly special or majestic in its own right compared to other crater lakes in the world, it is a highly sought-after destination due to its iconic view of Mt Fuji from aboard—you guessed it—a motorized “pirate cruise” that takes passengers across the lake from Motohakone to Togendai (and back).

If it sounds Disney-esque, it’s because it feels that way.

Note: You can also board at Hakonemachi-ko which is a bit further south than Motohakone-ko.

Is the Lake Ashi Cruise the Best View of Mt Fuji in Hakone?

I don’t think the pirate boat gives you the BEST view of Mount Fuji that you can have in the Hakone area, but it certainly does impress first-timers! 🗻

What might come as a surprise is that Mt Fuji isn’t visible for the entirety of the 30-minute crossing.

Instead, you have just mere minutes when the boat leaves the port on the Motohakone side to snap a “picture-perfect” shot of Mt Fuji and the red Torii gate in the same frame.

✨ When buying your mobile ticket, make sure to select the correct direction going one-way (Motohakone > Togendai, if you wish to start on the Fuji viewing and the Hakone shrine side of the lake).

During my time in Hakone, I did the Mount Kintoki hike, and—had the weather not turned sour at the top—the view from the summit would have provided a much better, unhampered, and longer-lasting view of Mt Fuji. Alas!

The hike isn’t for the faint-hearted, though, which is why hundreds of tourists crowd the pirate boat instead of scaling Mt Kintoki.

Should You Skip the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise?

With the Hakone Freepass, you can cross Lake Ashi an unlimited number of times. But, do you need to?

What if you’ve already seen Mt Fuji from every possible angle? In that case, do you need to see it from the cruise deck?

I would say… no. While the view of Mt Fuji from the Lake Ashi cruise is certainly pretty and worthwhile, it’s not the only reason why you should hop aboard.

In truth, the cruise just makes it easy to get to the other side without doing double the bus route.

You could go either way, truthfully!

If starting in Motohakone, the cruise takes you to Togendai. (But you could also cross from Togendai if visiting Hakone counter-clockwise).

If you’re starting with and crossing the lake from Motoohakone-ko first, then Togendai is where you will board the Hakone Ropeway which transports you to Owakudani.

Owakudani is known as “Hell’s Valley” due to its volcanic activity.

Here, you can see the volcanic sulfur fields and “smoking vents” as well as try the famous Owakudani black egg that is said to extend your life by seven years if you eat one.

So whether it’s to get a glimpse of Mt Fuji (because it’s truly a glimpse—and if you’re lucky, on a clear day!) or to simply cross the lake for practical reasons (and complete the “Hakone loop”) then I’d say the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise is worth it.

👀 Want to know of another attraction that I think is worth it in Hakone? The Tenzan Onsen!

The Lake Ashi boat cruise costs ¥1,200 per adult for a one-way crossing and ¥2,400 for a round-trip. Most visitors have the Hakone Freepass which grants an unlimited use of all of Hakone’s modes of transport.

That said, if you have the free pass, you might as well make use of it and ride the boat.

However, if you don’t, the cost to cross one-way will only set you back ¥1,200 which is roughly the equivalent of $8 (get your e-ticket here).

What to Know Before You Hop on the Lake Ashi Cruise

Don’t make the mistake of immediately rushing on board the next departing boat cruise when getting off the bus in Motohakone-ko. (Unless it’s the last departure of the day, then maybe!)

Instead (and if you have time), make sure to first visit the other things to do in the Motohakone-ko and Hakonemachi areas.

This includes:

• The Hakone Shrine and Torii Gate (a 10-minute walk from the boat port)
• Onshi-Hakone-Koen Park in Hakonemachi
• Hakone Checkpoint (one of the best-preserved military checkpoints from the Edo period)
• Kyukaido Ishidatami (the Old Tokaido Highway, which you can hike!)
• Mishima Skywalk (the longest rope bridge in Japan; a 20-minute bus ride from Motohakone-ko)

Another tip to note is that you don’t necessarily need to queue early to board the boat.

Each time, I boarded last (at the end of a very, very long line) and they allowed all passengers on (the cruise is quite big, after all!).

Finally, have your camera ready and stick around the outer right edge of the upper dock for the best chance at photographing the gat and Mt Fuji in one go.

🎟️ Don’t forget to buy your Lake Ashi Cruise e-ticket on Klook!

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