Your itinerary to Hakone

Hakone, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, is a very popular destination among Tokyoites, as well as tourists, for its gorgeous scenery around the Mount Fuji (for instance, the Ashi lakes and Owakudani), its many onsens and vacation resorts.

Below are the different ways to reach Hakone from Tokyo. 

With the Tokaido Shinkansen

With a Japan Rail Pass, the most economical way to reach Hakone is to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station on the Tokaido Line to Odawara Station. When taking the train, check the stops as few 'Hikari' Shinkansen stop in Odawara. To make sure you reach your destination it is advised to take a 'Kodama' Shinkansen.

In Odawara, transfer to the private Odakyu Railway ( Hakone Tozan Line) for the rest of the journey to Hakone-Yumoto. You can buy a Hakone Free Pass from Odawara. 

With the Odakyu Line

From Shinjuku Station you can take the Odakyu Railway to Hakone Yumoto. 

The Limited Express Romancecar is direct. With the classic express train, you will have to change in Odawara.

The Hakone Free Pass from Shinjuku includes unlimited travel on eight modes of transport in the area and discount tickets to around 50 tourist attractions and hot springs in the Hakone area.

Getting to Hakone from Kyoto

Hakone is also accessible from Kyoto Station in Kansai. The same Tokaido Line Shinkansen bullet trains going to Tokyo can be ridden from Kyoto to Odawara Station. Be aware that not all Shinkansen bullet trains on this line will stop at Odawara, such as Nozomi Trains, so we advise looking into Hikari and Kodama Train options. 

Discover Hakone

What to see ?

Hakone Shrine (Hakone Jinja)
At the foot of Mt Hakone, along the shores of Lake Ashi. One of ots Torii stands prominently in the lake.

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
Disembark from the HakoneTozan Railway at Kowakudani, and then take a 15-minute taxi orbus ride. The hot spring complex offers a range of indoor andoutdoor family baths. There is also the Mori No Yu area for more traditional bathing (Open daily, Mar-Oct, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; ¥2900; Mori No Yu, daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. all year, ¥1900; entry to both ¥4100).

Hakone Tozan Railway 
At Hakone-Yumoto take the scenic mountain railway (daily, 3/hr, 40 min). Dating from from 1919, it winds up the mountain to Gora. You can hop off at Chokokuno-Mori to visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum. The museum features works by Henry Moore and Picasso (Open daily, 9 a.m.to 5 p.m., ¥1600; ¥200 discount with the Hakone Free Pass).

Hakone Tozan Cable Car
Take the cable car at Gora (Open daily, 4/hr), for the 10-minute journey to Sounzan. Stop at Koen‑Kami for the Hakone Museum of Art, which displays Japanese pottery and ceramics (Fri-Wed, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Dec-Mar, 4 p.m., ¥900). Stop at Koen Shimo to visit the Gora Park (free with the Hakone Free Pass).

Hakone Ropeway 
Depart from Sounzan (Mar-Jul & Sept-Oct,8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Dec-Feb, 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), the journey over the mountain from Sounzan to Togendai takes 30 minutes.When accessible, you can stop at Owakudani, a station known for its sulfurous fumes and its black eggs cooked in the naturally hot waters.

Hakone Sightseing Cruise
An enjoyable cruise between the three ports on Lake Ashi : Moto Hakone, Hakone-machi and Togendi on a medieval style sailing ship (free with the Hakone Free Pass). From the lake you can enjoy beautiful views of Mt Fuji.