From Tokyo to Hakone

Hakone is one of the most popular destinations for a sweet escape.

Interesting facts about Hakone:

• Known as onsen town
• Scenic view of Mt.Fuji and Lake Ashi is mesmerizing
• Hakone Tozan Railway is Japan's oldest mountain railway
• Owakudani black eggs is believed to extend 7 years of your life

You can get to Hakone by train or bus departing from the Airport (Haneda, Narita) or Station (Yokohama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Otemachi).

To narrow down the options, decide if you are going to use JR Pass. JR Pass is only available from Tokyo Station. Otherwise, the fastest route will be Limited Express Romancecar which takes 73 mins.

Where to stay

Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika

How to get to Hakone

From Haneda Airport

From Narita Airport

From Yokohama Station

From Shinjuku Station (Odakyu Line):

1. Limited Express Romancecar (Fastest way)
2. Shinjuku Station - Odawara Station - Hakone-Yumoto Station: Around 1 hour 10 mins

Limited Express Romancecar

Shinjuku Station - Odawara Station - Hakone-Yumoto Station

From Tokyo Station or Otemachi Station 

*This is the route we took with JR Pass (Tokyo Sta. - Odawara Sta. - Hakone-Yumoto Sta.)

Since we are stopping by Odawara, we explored Odawara Castle as well.

Odawara Castle

👣10 min walk from Odawara Station East Exit

After exploring Odawara Castle, we went back to Odawara Station to purchase 2-day Hakone Freepass at Odakyu Sightseeing Centre for 4,600 yen per person. They offer 2 or 3 day pass that covers 8 modes of trasportation in Hakone, which makes it easy for us to travel around town.

1. Hakone Tozan Train
2. Hakone Tozan Cable Car
3. Hakone Ropeway
4. Hakonw Sightseeing Cruise
5. Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus (designated areas)
6. Tokai Bus Orange Shuttle (designated areas)
7. Hakone Tozan Bus/ Kanko Shisetsu Meguri Bus (Tourist Sightseeing Bus)

A detailed version of places to go with the modes of transportation in Hakone:

Places we explored with Hakone Freepass:

Hakone Tozan Train: From Hakone-Yumoto station to Gora station (Ard 40 mins ride)
Hakone Tozan Cable Car: From Gora station to Naka Gora station

Hakone Tozan Cable Car: From Gora station to Sounzan station (Ard 10 mins ride)

Hakone Ropeway: From Sounzan station to Togendai-ko

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise: From Togendai-ko to Hakonemachi-ko (Ard 30 mins)

We took the Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Togendai-ko (Lake Ashinoko). Along the trip, we saw Owakudani. Once we reached the bottom, we hop on to Hakone Sightseeing Cruise for a tour along the beautiful Lake Ashinoko.

Hakone Ropeway: View of Mount Fuji

 

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise: From Togendai-ko to Hakonemachi-ko

You'll have to show your Hakone Freepass before boarding the cruise. 

View from the cruise along Lake Ashi

Arrived at Hakonemachi-ko after 30 mins cruise ride

We would definitely spend 3 days in Hakone next time as we didn't get to explore Owakudani.

Off to KYOTO next!