♨ Kanagawa · 1–2 days
Hakone & the Tanzawa Mountains: Kanagawa by Car
A car escape from Tokyo into Kanagawa’s mountains: the onsen and Lake Ashi views of Hakone, the Ashigara foothills and the wild Tanzawa range above Lake Miyagase — 3 michi-no-eki with Mt Fuji in view.
Almost everyone does Hakone by train, bus and the Hakone Free Pass — and never sees the rest of Kanagawa’s mountains. With a car you can pair Japan’s most famous onsen town with the Tanzawa range right behind it: a quiet wall of peaks, gorges and dammed lakes barely 90 minutes from Tokyo, yet a world away from the Hakone crowds.
This short drive starts high at the Hakone Pass above Lake Ashi, drops through the Ashigara foothills at Sanpoku — where a clear day frames Mt Fuji straight down the valley — and crosses to Kiyokawa, Kanagawa’s only village, at the foot of the Tanzawa mountains by Lake Miyagase. The michi-no-eki here trade in wasabi, mountain vegetables and Ashigara tea, and every one has free parking and Fuji or forest views.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Hakone Touge 道の駅 箱根峠 · Kanagawa
Michi-no-Eki Hakone Touge (道の駅 箱根峠) is a government-designated roadside station in 足柄下郡箱根町, Kanagawa, Japan, registered in 1996 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging, a tourist-information desk and an observation deck. There is free parking for about 23 cars and 8 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00 (食堂L.O.15:50). Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kanto road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Izu Geetouei Kannami, Fujioyama and Izu Noheso.
Nearby: 🏛Forest touch tone Museum (0.3 km) · 🏖Shirahama Beach (0.4 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Sanpoku 道の駅 山北 · Kanagawa
Michi-no-Eki Sanpoku (道の駅 山北) is a government-designated roadside station in 足柄上郡山北町, Kanagawa, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 27 cars and 1 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kanto road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Fujioyama, Doushi and Subashiri.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Ōno (1.7 km) · 🏯生土城 (4 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Kiyokawa 道の駅 清川 · Kanagawa
Michi-no-Eki Kiyokawa (道の駅 清川) is a government-designated roadside station in 愛甲郡清川村, Kanagawa, Japan, registered in 2015 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a local-products shop, EV charging, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and a baby room. There is free parking for about 77 cars and 2 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 10:00–18:00＜休 1/1–3＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kanto road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Hachiouji Takiyama, Sanpoku and Doushi.
Nearby: 📸発句石 (1.8 km) · 🌄白山展望台 (2.3 km)
Make this route yours — load all 3 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Do the Hakone Pass and Lake Ashi early — the Fuji view clouds over by late morning, and the Hakone valley roads jam on weekends.
- Michi-no-Eki Sanpoku has a dedicated Mt Fuji viewpoint and sits beside the Tanzawa forest park — the best free Fuji photo stop on the route.
- Lake Miyagase behind Kiyokawa lights up with winter illuminations and has one of the biggest dam-release spectacles in the Kanto region.
- Pair the drive with an onsen night in Hakone or Miyagase — both are classic Tokyo weekend soaks, far easier to reach by car than the mountain villages beyond.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Hakone & Tanzawa
How many days do you need for the Hakone & Tanzawa route?
1–2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 60 km of driving with 3 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Hakone (or Odawara) and ends at Miyagase / Atsugi. Load all 3 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
Year-round; clearest Mt Fuji views November–February, foliage mid-November.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →