Tokyo to Hakone Travel Guide: Best Transport & Day Trip Itinerary
Hakone is a premier hot spring resort town famous for its views of Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi cruises, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum. Nestled in Kanagawa Prefecture, it serves as the ultimate nature getaway from central Tokyo.
Trip Details
- OriginTokyo
- DestinationHakone
- Travel Time75–90 minutes via Romancecar, 35 minutes via Shinkansen to Odawara
- Recommended Stay1 to 2 days
- Best Transport ModeOdakyu Romancecar (Direct, comfortable, and scenic)
- Cheapest ModeOdakyu Highway Bus or Regular Odakyu Rapid Train
- Day Trip PossibleYes (Highly Recommended)
Travel Recommendation
For the smoothest experience, take the direct Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku Station straight to Hakone-Yumoto Station. Pair it with a digital Hakone Freepass to cover all your local mountain transport seamlessly.
📍 Destination Highlights
- Hakone Shrine (Hakone Jinja)
- Owakudani Valley
- Hakone Open-Air Museum
Transport Options Breakdown
| Transport Mode | Travel Time | One-Way Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Odakyu Romancecar | 80–90 minutes | ¥2,420 – ¥2,470 |
| Tokaido Shinkansen + Local | 50–60 minutes total | ¥3,530 – ¥4,580 |
| Odakyu Highway Bus | 135 minutes | ¥2,000 – ¥2,200 |
| Regular Odakyu Train | 100–120 minutes | ¥1,270 |
Odakyu Romancecar
Direct to Hakone-Yumoto; assigned seating; scenic observation cars.
Not covered by the JR Pass; requires advance seat reservations.
Tokaido Shinkansen + Local
Fastest option to Odawara; bullet train portion fully covered by JR Pass.
Requires a transfer at Odawara Station; local train leg to Hakone is not JR-eligible.
Odakyu Highway Bus
Direct connection from Shinjuku to Lake Ashi (Togendai); cheap option.
Highly susceptible to highway traffic delays; fewer departures per day.
Regular Odakyu Train
The absolute cheapest rail option available.
Slower speed; commuter-style cars with no luggage racks or seat reservations.
🎟️ Buy Local Passes & Entry Tickets Online
Compare packages and book local passes or attraction tickets in advance.
🚀 Getting There Guide
- To travel by the primary route, head to Shinjuku Station and board the Odakyu Romancecar Limited Express.
- This line travels directly to Hakone-Yumoto Station without requiring any transfers.
- Ensure you purchase both the base fare ticket and the limited express surcharge ticket before boarding.
- If you choose the secondary route, take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa Station to Odawara Station via the Hikari or Kodama lines.
- At Odawara, transfer directly to the local Hakone Tozan Railway to reach the resort area.
↩️ Return Journey Guide
- For your return, catch the Odakyu Romancecar directly from Hakone-Yumoto Station back to Shinjuku.
- Alternatively, take the local Hakone Tozan Line back to Odawara Station, where you can easily transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen heading to Tokyo Station, or take the JR Tokaido Main Line for a more affordable commute back to central Tokyo hubs.
🚌 Local Loop Transport Guide
- Hakone features a highly integrated transport loop.
- Visitors typically take the Hakone Tozan Railway up the mountain switchbacks to Gora, switch to the Hakone Tozan Cable Car, and then transition to the Hakone Ropeway over the volcanic Owakudani valley.
- The loop finishes with a ride on the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise pirate ship across Lake Ashi, followed by Hakone Tozan Buses back to the main train stations.
- Buying the Hakone Freepass provides unlimited rides across all 8 of these local transport networks.
Suggested Day Trip Itinerary
Start your morning by taking a 9:00 AM Romancecar from Shinjuku, arriving at Hakone-Yumoto by 10:30 AM.
Immediately jump onto the Hakone Tozan Railway up to Gora Station, then ride the Cable Car and Ropeway to Owakudani to try the famous black eggs boiled in volcanic waters.
By 2:00 PM, take the Ropeway down to Togendai and cruise across Lake Ashi on a pirate ship to Hakone-machi.
Walk along the ancient Cedar Avenue to the iconic lakeside torii gate of Hakone Shrine.
Grab dinner at a local soba restaurant near Hakone-Yumoto before taking an 8:00 PM train back to Tokyo.
Must-Visit Attractions in Hakone
Hakone Shrine (Hakone Jinja)
A historic Shinto shrine hidden in a dense forest, famous for its massive red 'Torii of Peace' gate standing directly inside the waters of Lake Ashi.
Owakudani Valley
An active volcanic zone formed thousands of years ago, featuring bubbling pools, steam vents, and the legendary kuro-tamago (black eggs) said to prolong life.
Hakone Open-Air Museum
A beautiful harmonic outdoor space showcasing masterwork sculptures by artists like Picasso, Rodin, and Miro against a rolling mountain backdrop.
Which Option is Best For You?
🥇 First-Time Visitors
The iconic Hakone Classic Loop itinerary seamlessly strings together trains, cable cars, a ropeway, and a lake cruise, keeping logistics simple for newcomers.
📸 Photographers
The floating red torii gate of Hakone Shrine on Lake Ashi provides a picture-perfect view, frameable beautifully with Mount Fuji on a clear day.
👨👩👧👦 Families & Strollers
Kids love riding the uniquely themed Hakone Sightseeing Cruise pirate ships and soaring above active hot springs on the wide-windowed Hakone Ropeway.
🌲 Nature Lovers
Sulphuric vents hiss across the volcanic landscape of Owakudani Valley, contrasting beautifully with the lush, serene hiking trails around Lake Ashi.
Popular Experiences in Hakone
Top-rated tours & activities — book directly with confidence
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Japan Rail Pass valid on the Odakyu Romancecar?
No. The Odakyu Railway is a private railway network. The JR Pass does not cover any portion of the Romancecar or the local transport lines within Hakone.
Is a day trip from Tokyo to Hakone rushed?
While a day trip is completely feasible if you stick to the main transport loop, staying overnight in a traditional ryokan with hot spring onsens offers a much more relaxed experience.
Can I use an IC Card like Suica or Pasmo to pay for the Romancecar?
You can use an IC card to cover the base fare portion of the ride, but you must purchase a separate, physical or digital limited express seat reservation ticket before boarding.