Best Autumn Spots in Hakone: Exploring Sengokuhara’s Nature

Discovering the Hidden Beauty of Hakone

Hakone is one of the most popular destinations for a day trip or weekend getaway from Tokyo. Most travellers follow a classic route — from Hakone Yumoto or Moto-Hakone, take the Hakone Pirate Ship across Lake Ashi to Togendai Station, then ride the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani to see the volcanic valley and take photos with the famous Black Egg mascot.

Afterwards, many visitors spend time around Gora Station or enjoy the scenic Hakone Tozan Railway.I followed the same route — but added one extra spot that made the trip even more meaningful: the Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields (すすき草原).

Pampas grass lines both sides of the path, with a narrow walkway in the middle. It’s crowded at the beginning, but once you reach the end, you can truly enjoy the calm nature.

A Perfect Autumn Destination

The Sengokuhara Silver Grass Field is one of the most breathtaking autumn landscapes in Hakone. It’s a seasonal attraction — visible only in autumn — when the vast field turns into shimmering waves of silver and gold under the autumn wind.

If you’re planning to visit Hakone in autumn, this is an absolute must-see.

Getting to Sengokuhara

From Togendai Station, instead of joining the crowds heading to the ropeway, go to Bus Platform 1 and take the Hakone Tozan Bus (T Line) toward Sengokuhara Kogen. The ride takes around 15 minutes.

For the most accurate and up-to-date bus schedule, check:

• Togendai → Sengokuhara Timetable [Here]

• Sengokuhara → Togendai Timetable [Here]

If you’re coming directly from Hakone-Yumoto Station, you can also catch the T Bus straight to Sengokuhara, which takes about 30 minutes.

How to Pay for the Bus

The Hakone Tozan Bus accepts both cash and IC cards (Suica, PASMO, etc.).

• If using an IC card: tap when boarding and again when getting off — the fare will be automatically calculated.

• If paying by cash: take a ticket when boarding, and check the fare number on the screen before paying when you get off.

⚠️ Note: These days, most buses will accept IC cards. However, just in case, make sure to check for the IC card logo on the bus before boarding.

The Walk Through Silver Waves

The Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field is a one-way walking path, easy to follow and impossible to get lost. The trail isn’t fully paved, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

When we visited, it was slightly windy — but the breeze made the silver grass sway beautifully, glimmering like silver and gold under the light. The sound of the wind through the grass was calming, creating a feeling of peace and connection with nature.

From different angles, the grass reflected different hues — from white silver to golden yellow. The contrast between the golden field and the dark green mountain ridge behind made the scenery even more stunning.

In the background, you can see part of the Outer Rim of Mt. Hakone Caldera, including Kamiyama (神山), Komagatake (駒ヶ岳), and Daimeiji-dake (台峯山).

Silver, gold, or yellow — the colours all look different as the pampas grass waves in the wind.

Entrance path of Sengokuhara pampas grass field with visitors, gradually becoming quieter.

Time-lapse of autumn Sengokuhara village view from pampas grass fields.

Pampas grass in Sengokuhara waving in the wind, colors shifting with breeze sounds

A Short Yet Memorable Visit

• You’ll need about an hour to walk through and take photos.

• The best viewing season is from late September to early November.

• We visited toward the end of the peak season — yet it was still incredibly beautiful. Even though the sky was overcast, the field still shimmered softly in the diffused light. I can imagine it looking even more magical under bright sunshine.

A Landscape Shaped by Nature and History

The Sengokuhara grasslands were naturally formed in volcanic soil. In the past, the area’s volcanic ash and high humidity made it unsuitable for farming. Instead, local people harvested silver grass (susuki) to use as roofing material for traditional Japanese houses.

Today, it’s carefully maintained as a natural landscape and beloved by both locals and visitors from around the world.

Nearby Attractions

We didn’t stop by any nearby attractions and went straight back to Togendai to catch the ropeway to Owakudani. If you have more time in the area, consider visiting:

• Hakone Glass Forest Museum (Hakone Venetian Glass Museum)

1. Take the Hakone Tozan Bus (bus lines like T, S, or W, depending on your exact location).

2. Get off at Pola Bijutsukan-mae (ポーラ美術館前) bus stop. - It will take around 10 minutes. 

3. From the bus stop, it’s just a 1–2 minute walk to the entrance.

• Hakone Lalique Museum

1. Go to the “Sengoku-Kogen (仙石高原)” bus stop

2. Take the T Line Bus (Hakone Tozan Bus) toward Hakone-Yumoto or Togendai — either direction works, depending on which stop you catch it from.

3. Get off at Sengoku-Annaisho-mae (仙石案内所前) and walk for 2 minutes.

These are all easily accessible from Sengokuhara by the Hakone Tozan Bus, and the bus fare is covered by the Hakone Free Pass. 

Final Thoughts

For travellers coming from Tokyo, a short escape to Sengokuhara is the perfect way to recharge — far from the crowds and city noise.

Luckily, we visited Sengokuhara on a weekday (Monday) around 1 p.m., which is still lunchtime, so it wasn’t too busy. But be prepared — it can get quite crowded on weekends.

Even though the field is busy near the entrance, the deeper you go, the quieter it gets. The gentle wind, the golden light, and the vast open field create a perfect autumn healing spot in Hakone.

👉If you plan to stay in the Hakone-Yumoto area, check [here] for a review of the traditional Hakone ryokan, "Yaeikan".

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.