The most pleasant route is the Odakyu Romancecar limited express from Shinjuku direct to Hakone-Yumoto, with all seats reserved. The fastest, and the one for Japan Rail Pass holders, is the Tokaido Shinkansen (Kodama, and some Hikari services) from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Odawara, changing to the Hakone Tozan line. The Odakyu Hakone Freepass, sold for two or three days, covers the return trip from Shinjuku on ordinary Odakyu trains (Romancecar surcharge extra) and nearly all transport within Hakone. Fares are approximate; check the current Freepass price.
Routes at a glance
| From | Best route | Time | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinjuku | Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto, direct, reserved seats | About 85–90 min | Around ¥2,500 |
| Shinjuku | Odakyu express to Odawara, then Hakone Tozan train (covered by the Freepass) | About 2 h | Around ¥1,300 |
| Tokyo Station | Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara, then Hakone Tozan train | About 55–65 min | Around ¥4,000 |
| Narita / Haneda Airport | Train to Shinjuku, Shinagawa or Tokyo, then as above | About 2 h 30 min–3 h 30 min | Around ¥4,000–7,000 |
| Kawaguchiko (Mount Fuji) | Bus to Gotemba, then bus to Sengokuhara, Togendai or Gora | About 2–2 h 30 min | Around ¥2,500 |
| Kamakura | JR to Ofuna or Fujisawa, then JR Tokaido Line to Odawara | About 1 h 15 min | Around ¥1,200 |
Getting around Hakone
The classic loop: Hakone-Yumoto → Tozan Railway to Gora → cable car to Sounzan → ropeway via Owakudani to Togendai → boat to Moto-Hakone (Hakone Shrine) → bus back to Hakone-Yumoto. It works equally well in reverse, which is often less crowded in the morning.
Buses fill the gaps and are covered by the Freepass, but roads clog on weekends and in autumn; allow extra time for the last leg.
Luggage: a same-day delivery service at Hakone-Yumoto Station sends bags on to most hotels, so you can do the loop unencumbered.
