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Before Visiting Owakudani: Volcanic Gas, Ropeway Rules and Trail Booking

The steam and mountain views at Owakudani come with volcanic-gas precautions. If you have asthma, another respiratory condition, heart disease or are feeling unwell, read the ropeway’s official restrictions before planning the route.

The volcanic valley and ropeway at Owakudani

Taking the ropeway to the station and joining the supervised nature trail have different conditions. Not securing a trail reservation does not, by itself, mean you cannot visit Owakudani.

Health restrictions on the ropeway

For the Sounzan–Ubako section, the official notice prohibits travel by people with allergic asthma, bronchial or other respiratory diseases, heart disease, a pacemaker, or poor health. It also advises pregnant visitors, newborns, infants, older people and those sensitive to allergens to refrain from riding.

If this applies to you or a companion, plan a route without Owakudani. Arriving by car or bus does not remove the gas exposure, so changing only the transport is not a suitable workaround.

Gas conditions can affect operations even in good weather. Open the official service notice before leaving and settle on the day’s destination while you are still in Yumoto or Gora.

The exterior of Owakudani ropeway station

The nature trail: a reserved 700-metre circuit

Check that you are booking the supervised nature circuit

This section concerns the short, reserved nature circuit at Owakudani, not every hike described online as an “Owakudani Trail”. A longer hiking route with a different start point is a separate plan. Match the reservation page, meeting place and participation rules before using any distance or journey estimate from another guide.

The trail is approximately 700 metres and takes around 40 minutes. Current sessions start at 10am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm, with a maximum of 30 participants per session and advance web booking. Participation costs ¥800 per person, with cashless payment only.

Registration opens 30 minutes before the meeting time and closes five minutes before it. The official guidance asks visitors to arrive at least 20 minutes early. Allow for ropeway queues rather than timing your station arrival to the meeting itself.

You must understand the Japanese safety instructions

Understanding Japanese instructions is a participation condition. This is a supervised route where visitors need to follow directions during an emergency, not an unrestricted viewpoint walk. A Japanese-speaking companion does not automatically establish your own eligibility; use the reservation terms.

Preschool children, pregnant visitors, people with respiratory or heart conditions, people using a cane and those unable to run unaided to evacuate cannot participate, among other restrictions. The route has 82 steps and a 37-metre height difference.

Umbrellas and pets are not allowed. Rain requiring an umbrella, strong winds, thick fog, ice, lightning or gas conditions can lead to cancellation. Wear suitable walking shoes and read the day’s operating notice even after booking.

A different Hakone day

From a Gora base, switch to Pola or the Open-Air Museum. If Lake Ashi is the goal, use official route information to choose transport that does not pass through Owakudani and match it to the right boat port. Spending longer at your accommodation’s baths is another very Hakone way to use the day.

Owakudani is not a compulsory stop to get value from a Freepass. Let the health conditions and that day’s operations shape the route instead.

Information checked: October 5, 2026.

Official information
Photo credits

Structure and selected guidance updated: October 15, 2026.