The Hakone Freepass is one of the most useful transport passes for travellers visiting Hakone from Tokyo, especially if you plan to follow the classic sightseeing loop. Issued by Odakyu, it combines round-trip transport from Shinjuku to Hakone with unlimited rides on eight local transport options, including trains, buses, cable cars, ropeways, and boats within the Hakone area.
Because Hakone sightseeing often involves several transfers, the pass can be convenient and cost-effective, but it is not automatically the best choice for every itinerary. This guide explains what the Hakone Freepass costs, what it covers, how the transport network works, and whether the maths make sense for your trip.
What the Hakone Freepass Covers
The pass covers all of the following from the purchase date for 2 or 3 days:
- Round-trip Odakyu train from Shinjuku to Odawara (base fare, Romance Car express supplement sold separately but discounted)
- Hakone Tozan Railway from Odawara to Gora (zigzag mountain railway)
- Hakone Tozan Cable Car from Gora to Sounzan
- Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Togendai over Owakudani
- Hakone Sightseeing Cruise across Lake Ashi
- Hakone Tozan Bus (all routes within the Hakone area)
- Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus on designated routes
- Discounts at 40+ facilities, including museums, hot springs,and restaurants
The Romance Car limited express supplement (approximately 1,200 yen each way) is not included in the base Freepass price but can be added at a discount compared to buying separately.
Price
2-day Freepass: 6,100 yen from Shinjuku. 5,000 yen from Odawara (if arriving by other means, such as JR Pass Shinkansen to Odawara).
3-day Freepass: 6,500 yen from Shinjuku.
Where to buy: Odakyu ticket windows at Shinjuku Station (the Odakyu entrance, not the JR entrance). Also available at Odakyu travel service centers and online at the Odakyu website with booking. The IC card (Suica/Pasmo) version cannot be used for the Freepass.
Is It Worth It?
To calculate: add up the individual fares for what you plan to use.
- Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto return (Odakyu base fare): 2,540 yen
- Hakone Tozan Railway (Odawara to Gora return): 1,680 yen
- Cable Car (Gora to Sounzan return): 460 yen
- Ropeway (Sounzan to Togendai return): 2,900 yen
- Lake Ashi Cruise (one way): 1,200 yen
- Bus (Hakone-machi to Hakone-Yumoto): 1,050 yen
Total individual fares for the standard Hakone loop: approximately 9,830 yen. Compared with the 2-day Freepass at 6,100 yen, the savings are approximately 3,730 yen (about 38 percent). If you do the full loop, including the ropeway and cruise, the pass saves significant money.
The pass is NOT worth it if you plan to spend most of your time in one area (e.g, staying only in Hakone-Yumoto for a ryokan and onsen without doing the loop).
The Standard Hakone Loop Route
The recommended use of the Freepass follows the classic Hakone loop:
- Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto by Odakyu Romance Car
- Hakone-Yumoto to Gora by Hakone Tozan zigzag railway (stopping at Miyanoshita or Chokoku-no-Mori Sculpture Museum if time allows)
- Gora to Sounzan by cable car
- Sounzan to Togendai by Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani volcano
- Lake Ashi cruise from Togendai to Hakone-machi or Moto-Hakone
- Bus from Hakone-machi back to Hakone-Yumoto, or directly to Odawara for the return train
The full loop takes approximately 5 to 7 hours, depending on stops. See the Hakone guide and the Tokyo-to-Hakone transport guide for the complete picture.
