Getting to Hakone from Tokyo
The quickest way from Tokyo to Hakone is the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku: about 80 minutes to Hakone-Yumoto, for a ¥1,270 fare plus a ¥1,200 limited express fee, with every seat reserved. From Tokyo Station, the Shinkansen reaches Odawara in about 35 minutes, and the Hakone Tozan train takes about 15 more to Hakone-Yumoto.
The Japan Rail Pass covers the Shinkansen to Odawara but nothing inside Hakone. The Hakone Freepass covers the trains, ropeway, lake cruise and most buses inside Hakone, but not the Romancecar fee.
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Routes from Tokyo compared
| Route | From | Time | Adult fare, one way | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odakyu Romancecar | Shinjuku | About 80 minutes to Hakone-Yumoto, 75 to 107 by train | ¥2,470: ¥1,270 fare plus ¥1,200 limited express fee | All seats reserved. Online booking opens at 10:00 a month ahead. 16 trains on weekdays, 24 at weekends. |
| Odakyu Rapid Express, then Hakone Tozan train | Shinjuku | 86 to 96 minutes to Odawara, then 14 to 16 to Hakone-Yumoto | ¥1,270 (¥910 to Odawara, ¥360 on) | No reservation. Every 20 minutes in the daytime. Change at Odawara. |
| Tokaido Shinkansen, then Hakone Tozan train | Tokyo Station | 32 to 35 minutes to Odawara, then 14 to 16 to Hakone-Yumoto | ¥3,280 unreserved or ¥3,610 reserved (smartEX), plus ¥360 | Kodama and Hikari only; Nozomi does not stop at Odawara. The Japan Rail Pass covers this train. |
| JR Tokaido Line, then Hakone Tozan train | Tokyo Station | 76 to 92 minutes to Odawara, then 14 to 16 to Hakone-Yumoto | ¥1,600, plus ¥360 | No reservation. Fare since JR East’s revision of 14 March 2026. |
| Odakyu highway bus | Busta Shinjuku | 2 hours 25 minutes to Togendai on Lake Ashi | ¥2,560 | Book online from 10:00 a month ahead. Stops at Sengokuhara on the way; does not serve Hakone-Yumoto or Gora. |
From Odakyu, JR East, smartEX, Odakyu Highway Bus and Hakone Tozan pages, read on October 20, 2026. Time ranges are from the timetable for October 21, 2026. Shinkansen prices are smartEX prices. Tomei Expressway works run from 24 September to 18 December 2026; check the bus operator's notices.
The Hakone Freepass
The pass covers the Hakone Tozan train and cable car, the ropeway, the Lake Ashi cruise and most buses inside Hakone, with discounts at about 70 sights. The Romancecar limited express fee is extra, and the Izu Hakone Bus is not included. A digital version is sold through Odakyu's EMot app.
| Starting from | 2 days | 3 days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Shinjuku | ¥7,100 (child ¥1,600) | ¥7,500 (child ¥1,850) | Includes one round trip on the Odakyu Line to Odawara |
| From Odawara | ¥6,000 (child ¥1,500) | ¥6,400 (child ¥1,750) | Starts at Odawara |
Inside Hakone
The Hakone Tozan train climbs from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora in about 40 minutes (¥460), with switchbacks on the way. At Gora the cable car takes about 10 minutes up to Sounzan (¥430), where the ropeway leaves for Owakudani and Lake Ashi. From Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto the train costs ¥360.
The last leg to each Hakone ryokan
Hakone Yumoto Onsen Tsuki no Yado Sara, Hatsuhana, Hotel Senkei and Ryokan Aura Tachibana are reached from Hakone-Yumoto, the end of the Romancecar line. The rest are farther in, by the Hakone Tozan train, cable car or bus, and several send a car to the station.
| Ryokan | Nearest station or stop | From there | Getting to that station | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gora KadanGora | Gora Station | 3 minutes on foot, or a free car on request | To Hakone-Yumoto, then the Hakone Tozan train, about 40 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| Hakone Kowakien TEN-YUNinotaira | Gora Station | about 10 minutes by free shuttle bus | To Hakone-Yumoto, then the Hakone Tozan train, about 40 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| Natural SPA Auberge gen Hakone GoraGora | Gora Station | about 5 minutes by free pickup car | To Hakone-Yumoto, then the Hakone Tozan train, about 40 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| SuiunGora | Gora Station | 5 minutes on foot | To Hakone-Yumoto, then the Hakone Tozan train, about 40 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| YoshimatsuLake Ashi | Hakone-machi-ko bus stop | pickup by the inn, 15:00 to 17:00; phone ahead | Bus from Hakone-Yumoto or Odawara to the Hakone-machi-ko terminus | See Prices on Agoda |
| Hakone Yumoto Onsen Tsuki no Yado SaraHakone-Yumoto | Hakone-Yumoto Station | about 10 minutes on foot, or a ¥200 shuttle bus | Romancecar direct from Shinjuku, about 80 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| HatsuhanaSukumogawa | Hakone-Yumoto Station | about 10 minutes by free hotel car or bus | Romancecar direct from Shinjuku, about 80 minutes | See Prices |
| Hotel SenkeiHakone-Yumoto | Hakone-Yumoto Station | 10 to 15 minutes on foot, or a paid shuttle bus | Romancecar direct from Shinjuku, about 80 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| Ryokan Aura TachibanaHakone-Yumoto | Hakone-Yumoto Station | 10 to 15 minutes on foot, or a free shuttle on request | Romancecar direct from Shinjuku, about 80 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| Hakone Gora ByakudanNinotaira | Kowakidani Station | pickup by the inn if you ask when booking | To Hakone-Yumoto, then the Hakone Tozan train towards Gora | See Prices on Agoda |
| Ryokan RyugudenMoto-Hakone | Odawara Station | about 50 minutes by free shuttle, three runs a day, booking required | Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, about 35 minutes, or Odakyu from Shinjuku | See Prices on Agoda |
| Fuji-Hakone Guest HouseSengokuhara | Senkyoro-mae bus stop | 1 minute on foot; about 30 minutes by bus from Hakone-Yumoto | To Hakone-Yumoto, then the Hakone Tozan bus T line, about 30 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| Gora HanaougiGora | Sounzan Station | about 1 minute on foot | To Gora, then the cable car, about 10 minutes | See Prices on Agoda |
| Ryokan Motoyu KansuiroTonosawa | Tonosawa Station | 5 minutes on foot | To Hakone-Yumoto, then the Hakone Tozan train towards Gora | See Prices on Agoda |
Stations and transfers are as each inn states them on its own site. Shuttles often need a call or a booking ahead.
To compare every place to stay in Hakone, hotels included, search Agoda directly.
Questions
How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Hakone?
About 80 minutes from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto on the Odakyu Romancecar; the fastest weekend train takes 75 minutes. From Tokyo Station, the Shinkansen reaches Odawara in 32 to 35 minutes, and the Hakone Tozan train takes 14 to 16 minutes more to Hakone-Yumoto.
How much is the Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone?
¥2,470 for an adult one way: the ¥1,270 fare plus a ¥1,200 limited express fee. Buying the limited express ticket online through Odakyu costs ¥50 less. All seats are reserved, and seats go on sale at 10:00 one month before.
Does the Japan Rail Pass cover the trip to Hakone?
As far as Odawara, on the Kodama or Hikari Shinkansen or the JR Tokaido Line. It does not cover the Nozomi, the Odakyu Romancecar, or the Hakone Tozan trains and buses inside Hakone, which are not JR lines.
Does the Hakone Freepass cover the Romancecar?
Only the fare. The pass from Shinjuku includes a round trip on the Odakyu Line, but the Romancecar limited express fee is extra: ¥1,200 each way from Shinjuku, or ¥200 between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto. Odakyu’s own example puts a 2-day pass with the Romancecar both ways at ¥9,500.
What does the Hakone Freepass cover?
The Hakone Tozan train and cable car, the Hakone Ropeway, the Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise, Hakone Tozan buses and other buses in designated areas, and from Shinjuku one round trip on the Odakyu Line. It does not cover the Izu Hakone Bus. Prices since 1 October 2025: ¥7,100 for two days or ¥7,500 for three from Shinjuku; ¥6,000 or ¥6,400 from Odawara.
Can I send my luggage to my Hakone ryokan?
Yes, to inns that take part in the Hakone Carry Service. Leave bags at the counter in Hakone-Yumoto Station between 08:30 and 12:00 and they reach the inn from 15:00; book online by 11:30 the same day. It costs ¥1,500 a bag, or ¥2,500 for a large one. For the trip back, hand bags to the inn by 10:00 and collect them at the station from 13:30.
How do I get from Haneda or Narita to Hakone?
There is no direct bus from either airport at present: since 1 April 2026 the bus from Haneda runs only as far as Gotemba. From Haneda, take the Keikyu Line to Yokohama (about 30 minutes), the JR Tokaido Line to Odawara (about 60) and the Hakone Tozan train to Hakone-Yumoto (about 15). From Narita, go to Shinjuku first by Narita Express or airport limousine, then take one of the routes above.