What other travelers are saying about Owakudani Valley
Owakudani is one of the most memorable spots in Hakone. The moment you arrive, you can see the steam rising from the volcanic vents and smell the sulfur in the air—it’s like stepping onto another planet. On a clear day, the view of Mt. Fuji is breathtaking.
The highlight for us was trying the famous black eggs (kuro-tamago), sold in warm 5-packs—delicious and fun with the local legend that each egg adds seven years to your life. The shops are clean and organized, and staff were kind. It’s also family-friendly: we had no issues with our stroller, and there are elevators in the main building to make it easier.
Pro tips:
• Weekdays = calmer → fewer crowds, easier for families.
• Check the weather → Mt. Fuji views only appear on clear days.
• Black eggs → come in 5-packs—perfect for sharing.
• Bring a jacket → cooler and windier up here.
• Ropeway status → check ahead, as it sometimes closes due to volcanic gases or strong winds.
• Strollers → use the elevator inside; outdoor paths are better with a compact stroller.
A unique, 10/10 experience that blends nature, culture, and a little bit of fun.
We stopped at Owakudani while riding the Hakone Ropeway—definitely worth it for the views and the novelty. Tried the famous black eggs (kuro tamago), which are said to add seven years to your life. No idea if that’s true, but we’re counting on it.
Caught a nice glimpse of Mt. Fuji from the gondola—it looked totally different without snow on top. Still impressive, just a little less postcard-y.
The area smells like sulfur (because, volcano), but you get used to it quickly. We took some photos, ate the eggs, and browsed the gift shop—which was absolutely packed with tourists. Lots of cute souvenirs though, if you’re into that.
It’s a quick stop, but a fun one. Just don’t expect peace and quiet—it’s more of a “snack and selfie” kind of vibe.
For me, this attraction was not worth visiting. If you take the cable car it's 2000¥ for a one way trip up and 3000¥ for one up then down, which seems wildly overpriced. If you take the bus it will take much longer than expected because there is one lane in and out with limited parking (so cars are blocked from entering until someone leaves, which blocks the buses). At the top of the mountain there are a few shops and quick eats restaurants including the famous black eggs and ice cream, but the actual reason you are there, the vents themselves, were not particularly impressive. There are maybe a half-dozen pipes in the ground where most steam comes from (versus something more natural) and that's all that there is to see. I understand that on clear days you can see Mt Fuji so maybe that would have made this more worthwhile but for me this was a "visit once then never again" kind of place.
The mountain that smokes. Well, this place was not on my wishlist, but it will always be part of my stories. After a short trip to Fuji Safari, we reached this place after a half-hour ride, and the guide told us it is the second most famous mountain in Japan after Mount Fuji. The natural sulfuric smoke rising from the mountain gives the illusion of a smoking peak. The area was crowded with tourists, even though rain was forecast.
You descend the mountain via a ropeway, which has two stops: one that drops you onto the road, and a deeper one that takes you to the lakeshore. Of course, we took “The Ropeway Not Taken” and reached the lake for an overpriced boat ride.
Also, a warning about the myth of the black egg: it is just a normal egg boiled in tea water to darken the shell. Don’t fall for the trap as we did. I suppose even Japan, one of the most honest countries, is not untouched by tourism scams.
It was our memorable trip.
Even though the weather wasn’t very good, we still enjoyed it a lot.
Everyone believes that eating one black egg can increase your life by seven years, so we also tried the famous Hakone black egg.
We had a wonderful time, enjoyed many moments together, and made great memories.
Looking forward to our next trip as well.
Yes, it is generally safe to visit Owakudani Valley. However, as it is an active volcanic zone, there may be times when access is restricted due to increased volcanic activity. Visitors should check the latest information before planning their visit.
No, there is no accommodation in Owakudani Valley itself. However, there are numerous hotels and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) in the surrounding Hakone region where visitors can stay.
Despite the harsh volcanic environment, you might spot some local wildlife like the Japanese kestrel and various species of butterflies.
Owakudani Valley can be visited year-round. However, the views of Mount Fuji are particularly clear during the colder seasons, from late autumn to early spring.
Yes, there are hiking trails that allow visitors to explore the area around Owakudani. However, due to the volcanic activity, these trails may sometimes be closed for safety reasons.
