In Hakone, a familiar fictional world begins with the shape of the hills.

Look across Lake Ashi from Togendai. Water fills the space between wooded slopes, and the distant shore seems to fold into the mountains. For an Evangelion fan, that geography can carry an extra charge of recognition. Hakone is the anime’s setting, and its official tourism guide identifies both Lake Ashi and Owakudani among the places that appear in the series.¹

A rewarding first visit follows three parts of that landscape: Sengokuhara, the lakeshore and the volcanic valley. Give yourself a full day, with space to shorten the route. The pleasure comes from seeing how these places fit together—and from noticing what the camera cannot bring home, such as wind moving through the grass.

Sengokuhara: begin around Tokyo-3

Hakone’s official material places the fictional Tokyo-3 around Sengokuhara.² That makes this area a useful starting point for understanding the setting, even when the real view contains grass and hills rather than the city you remember on screen.

The Sengokuhara pampas grass fields offer an especially striking introduction in autumn. A single path runs into tall grass, whose pale heads catch the light against darker slopes. Hakone’s tourism guide highlights the autumn colour and the views towards surrounding mountains and wetlands.³ The photograph below shows the fields in November 2025.

Treat this stop as a way to experience the area’s landscape. The grass path is not identified here as an exact anime frame. Stay on the designated route, leave the plants undisturbed and pause where others can pass. A few minutes watching the light shift can be more memorable than searching for a perfect match on your phone.

For access, the official guide lists the Hakone Tozan Bus T line towards Togendai from Hakone-Yumoto. Get off at Sengoku-kogen for the fields.³ Check onward departures before beginning your walk.

Lake Ashi: leave room for the view

Continue towards Togendai, at the lake’s northern end. Its station and port bring together buses, the Hakone Ropeway and sightseeing boats.⁵ For this trip, it is a practical place to take a break and decide how much more you want to do.

You can enjoy the lakeside without turning every available connection into another activity. Find a public viewpoint, look along the shoreline and let the scale of the setting settle in. A cruise can be an extra outing if your schedule allows; it need not compete with the mountain section for the last hour of daylight.

Owakudani: the landscape becomes restless

From Togendai, the Hakone Ropeway runs via Ubako to Owakudani, with the line continuing towards Sounzan. The operator describes lake views on the Togendai side and a close view of the volcanic landscape around Owakudani. Mount Fuji may be visible in fine weather.⁴

The change in scenery gives this stop its force. Wooded slopes give way to exposed ground and rising steam. Owakudani’s connection to Evangelion adds recognition, while the valley itself supplies plenty to look at.¹ Our December 2016 photograph records that landscape; facilities and visitor arrangements may look different today.

A small Evangelion stop at Hakone-Yumoto

For a direct connection to the series, EVA-YA is an official Evangelion store a short walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station. The tourism guide lists Hakone-themed goods, including towels and teacups, alongside refreshments.¹ It makes a convenient stop near the beginning or end of the day. Check the shop’s opening information and available items before planning around a particular purchase.

Take care with older fan itineraries. Branded decorations and special events may belong to a past campaign. The 2020 official release used here confirms the Sengokuhara setting; its temporary attractions are not presented as things you can visit today.

Plan a comfortable day from Tokyo

The Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku is one option for reaching Hakone-Yumoto.⁷ Book and check current services before fixing your sightseeing plans.

1. Start at Hakone-Yumoto: allow for EVA-YA if its hours fit, then take the T-line bus towards Togendai.
2. Pause in Sengokuhara: walk through the grass fields from Sengoku-kogen, then continue by bus to Togendai.
3. Choose your afternoon: spend time beside Lake Ashi and add the ropeway to Owakudani if conditions, operating hours and your energy allow.
4. Keep the return clear: for a simple out-and-back plan, return to Togendai for a bus towards Hakone-Yumoto. Check both the ropeway’s last service and your onward bus in advance.⁵

These stops need transport between them, and mountain weather can reshape the day. Consult Hakone’s current service information before departure. If time grows tight, keep two places and enjoy them properly. The landscape will still make sense with one fewer connection.