Essentials
- City
- Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
- Population
- Approx. 11,000
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps (Average fiber/5G availability)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JPY ≈ 0.0067 USD, 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Highly rated mountain spring water)
- Power
- 100V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Ubigi (eSIM), Sakura Mobile, Mobal
- Banking for Expats
- 7-Eleven ATM (International cards), Japan Post Bank, Wise/Revolut
- Accommodation
- Ryokans, Guesthouses, and Roopt Sharehouses
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; major hotels and tourist spots accept cards/Suica, but local shops prefer cash
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com (Ryokans), StayJapan
- Budget Accommodation
- Hakone Tent Guesthouse (Approx. ¥5,000/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Hakone-Yumoto (Gateway and transit hub)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Gora (Central, quieter, better work-friendly cafes)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Owakudani Volcanic Valley
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Lake Ashi (Ashinoko)
- National Parks Nearby
- Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Old Tokaido Road (Cedar Avenue)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Hakone Visitor Center / Kojiri Woods
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Ashinoko Camp Village
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- HAKONATURE BASE (Near Hakone-Yumoto, ¥2,200/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee Camp (Gora) - Reliable WiFi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- None locally; nomads network via 'Digital Nomads Japan' Facebook group
- Social Events for Expats
- Hakone Guesthouse 'En' social nights
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- JapanTaxi / GO App (Uber is limited to premium cars)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Hakone Town Rental Cycle (Hakone-Yumoto Station)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Odawara Beach (20 mins by train)
- Top Regional Airline
- Peach Aviation (via Haneda Airport)
- Top International Airline
- ANA, JAL (via Haneda or Narita)
- Highway Access
- Hakone Turnpike, Odawara-Hakone Road
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Hakone-Yumoto Station / Odawara Station (Shinkansen hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- Hakone Free Pass (¥6,100 for 2 days, includes all local transport)
- Regional Travel
- Odakyu Romancecar to Shinjuku, Tokyo (75-90 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hakone Town Hospital (Miyanoshita)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Hakone Retra Forest Yoga (Private retreats)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gora Park Wellness facilities / Odawara Arena (Nearby)
- Laundry Services
- Coin Laundry 'Araieru' (Near Hakone-Miyanoshita)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Demae-can (Limited coverage; most order local sushi/soba)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Kuro-Tamago (Black Eggs from Owakudani)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Box Burger (Hakone-Miyanoshita) - Offers veggie patties
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hakone Cheesecake at Sagamiya (Hakone-Yumoto)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- MaxValu Supermarket (Odawara/Hakone border)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon Japan, Rakuten
- Grocery Delivery
- Aeon Net Super
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Bar Hotel Hakone Kazan (High-end nightlife)
- Local Brewery
- Hakone Kohan Beer (Gora)
- Wine Bars
- Itoh Dining by Nobu
- Street Food Stalls
- Hakone-Yumoto Shopping Street
- Popular International Cuisine
- La Terrazza Ashinoko (Italian, Lake Ashi)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Hakone Shrine (Torii gate in water)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Historical Sites
- Hakone Checkpoint (Hakone Sekisho)
- Religious Sites
- Choanji Temple
- Annual Events
- Daimyo Gyoretsu (Feudal Lord's Procession) in November
- Cultural Districts
- Motohakone-ko
- Theater Venues
- None; traditional performances often held at large Ryokans
- Local Markets
- Odawara Morning Market (Nearby)
- Music Scene
- Acoustic nights at Hakone Tent
- Street Art
- Limited; focus is on traditional Yosegi-zaiku woodcraft
- Cooking Classes
- Yosegi-zaiku workshops (Traditional wood inlay)
- Art Galleries
- POLA Museum of Art
- Historic Buildings
- Fujiya Hotel (Meiji-era architecture)
- Local Heritage
- Yosegi-zaiku (Handcrafted mosaic woodwork)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko)
- Tech Repair Services
- Bic Camera Odawara (Tech repairs)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Most Ryokans (Onsen Ping Pong is a tradition)
- Language Classes
- Online (JapaTalk); no physical schools in town
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Hakone Town Library (Miyanoshita)
- Community Centers
- Hakone Town Social Center
- Gaming Lounges
- None; focus is on traditional gaming
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pachinko Parlors in Odawara (Nearby)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥450,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ¥11,250,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥300,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ¥7,500,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥420,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = ¥18,900,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥280,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = ¥12,600,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥380,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥26,600,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥250,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥17,500,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30.6% (Combined effective rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.42% (Standard for non-residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (Over 1 year residency)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (Plus 10% inhabitant tax)
- VAT
- 10% (Consumption Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to 20% or less tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- 1.4% Fixed Assets Tax (Annual)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 3-4% (Registration and License tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific 0% status; Japan Digital Nomad Visa allows 6-month stay but no path to residence/tax residency