January in Hakone — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 8/10January averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 47 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 25 sunny days and 10.1 hours of daylight.
It scores 8/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
February in Hakone — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.8/10February averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 120 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 20 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 6.8/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Hakone — 1.7 points higher on the same scale.
March in Hakone — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7.2/10March averages 10°C (51°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 192 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 24 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.2/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
April in Hakone — reliably good (7th best month)
Good · 7/10April averages 15°C (59°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
233 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 19 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 7/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Hakone — 1.5 points higher on the same scale.
May in Hakone — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 7.1/10May averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
247 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 22 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 7.1/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
June in Hakone — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.8/10June averages 22°C (71°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
316 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 20 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 6.8/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Hakone — 1.7 points higher on the same scale.
July in Hakone — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.6/10July averages 26°C (79°F) with humidity around 84%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
At 136 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 24 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.6/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Hakone — 2.9 points higher on the same scale.
August in Hakone — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.9/10August averages 27°C (80°F) with humidity around 84%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
205 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 28 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 4.9/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Hakone — 3.6 points higher on the same scale.
September in Hakone — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.8/10September averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
206 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 24 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 5.8/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Hakone — 2.7 points higher on the same scale.
October in Hakone — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 7.4/10October averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 155 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 22 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.4/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
November in Hakone — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 7.7/10November averages 14°C (57°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 119 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 22 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.7/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
December in Hakone — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.5/10December averages 8°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 39 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 27 sunny days and 9.8 daylight hours.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Hakone at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, footwear you can get muddy.
