Hakone is 80 kilometres southwest of Tokyo in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The fastest and most convenient route is the Odakyu Limited Express Romance Car from Shinjuku. Here is the complete guide to every option and what to know on arrival.
Hakone is the most accessible mountain resort from Tokyo and one of the most visited day trips or overnight destinations in Japan. Getting there is straightforward,d but the choice of transport affects which part of the Hakone transport loop you access first and whether the Hakone Free Pass makes financial sense for your visit.
Option 1: Odakyu Romance Car from Shinjuku (Best Overall)
The Odakyu Romance Car is a limited express train with reserved seating and large panoramic windows, running from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto in the heart of Hakone.
Journey time: 1 hour 25 minutes from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto.
Fare: 1,270 yen base fare plus 1,200 yen limited express supplement = 2,470 yen one way. If purchased as part of the Hakone Free Pass (see below), the Romance Car supplement is included.
Frequency: Multiple departures per hour throughout the day. No need to book far in advance, but reserving a seat in the panoramic front car (1-go car) is recommended for the forward view.
Booking: At Shinjuku Station Odakyu ticket office, from Odakyu vending machines, or via the Odakyu Online reservation system. The Romancar Ticket can also be purchased on the day if seats remain.
Board at Odakyu Shinjuku Station, which is adjacent to (not inside) JR Shinjuku Station. Follow signs for the Odakyu Line in the south-west section of Shinjuku Station.
Option 2: JR Shinkansen to Odawara, then Local Train
JR Pass holders can take the Shinkansen to Odawara, then transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railway to reach Hakone-Yumoto.
Shinkansen from Tokyo/Shin-Yokohama to Odawara: Kodama or Hikari, about 35 minutes from Tokyo Station. JR Pass is valid.
Hakone Tozan Railway Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto: About 15 minutes, 320 yen. NOT covered by JR Pass.
Total: About 50 to 60 minutes from central Tokyo. Faster than the Romance Car, but the Hakone Tozan leg adds cost and a transfer.
Best for: JR Pass holders who value using their pass for the Shinkansen leg and are not buying the Hakone Free Pass.
Option 3: Highway Bus from Shinjuku
Odakyu Highway Bus runs from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to Hakone-en (on Lake Ashi) and to Hakone-Yumoto.
Journey time: About 2 hours to Lake Ashi, depending on traffic. The bus uses the Tomei Expressway and can be significantly delayed during peak periods.
Fare: About 1,950 yen one way to Hakone-en.
Best for: Travellers who want to start from Lake Ashi rather than Hakone-Yumoto, or those who prefer a direct seated bus to the train network.
The Hakone Free Pass
The Hakone Free Pass is the single most practical ticket for most Hakone visitors. Issued by Odakyu, it covers: Round-trip.
- Romance Car from Shinjuku to Hakone (supplement included)
- Unlimited use of the Hakone Tozan Railway (the mountain zigzag railway)
- Unlimited use of the Hakone Tozan Cable Car
- Unlimited use of the Hakone Ropeway (over the Owakudani volcano)
- Unlimited use of the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (across Lake Ashi)
- Unlimited use of the Hakone Tozan Bus
- Discounts at many Hakone attractions and restaurants
Price: 2-day pass 6,100 yen from Shinjuku. 3-day pass 6,500 yen. Purchased at Odakyu ticket windows at Shinjuku Station or online.
Is it worth it? If you are using the ropeway, cable car, and lake cruise (the typical Hakone loop), the pass saves money versus buying individual tickets. Calculate against your actual planned route before buying.
On Arrival at Hakone-Yumoto
Hakone-Yumoto is the gateway town with onsen hotels, restaurants, and the start of the Hakone Tozan Railway, which runs up into the mountains. From here, the typical loop continues with a zigzag railway to Gora, a cable car to Sounzan, a ropeway over Owakudani to Togendai on Lake Ashi, then a sightseeing cruise across the lake. See the Hakone guide for the full Hakone experience breakdown.
Day Trip vs Overnight
Hakone is a day trip from Tokyo (leave Shinjuku by 8 am, return by 7 pm), but it does not allow time for an onsen. An overnight stay in a Hakone ryokan is the recommended approach for anyone who wants the full experience: the private outdoor onsen bath, the kaiseki dinner, and the dawn view of Mount Fuji on a clear morning. See the Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto itinerary for the structured overnight approach.
