Romance Car vs Odakyu Line

Hi, I am planning a day trip to Hakone from Tokyo.

The Romance Car is more expensive than the Odakyu Line, and the duration to Hakone from Shinjuku station is comparable.

I wish to save money, but will I be missing any sights if I don't take the Romance Car? The Romance Car seems to be popular among tourists.

Romance car goes straight to Hakone-Yumoto station, takes approx 85 mins with comfortable specially designed train. Where as Odakyu line doesn't go to Hakone-Yumoto station, stops at Odawara station(the end of line). You will need to use Hakone-Tozan train at Odawara station if you need to go to Hakone-Yumoto station. Shinjuku - Odawara takes 90 mins, Odawara - Hakone Yumoto takes 15 mins.
Odakyu line is a normal train service for people commute to school, work or go shopping daily, thus there is no reservation seat.
I don't think you will miss any of sights when you get on Odakyu line but when train is crowded you can't even see outside from the train.

Simple difference

Odakyu Line:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Inside_of_OER_8000-...

Odakyu Romance Car:
http://userdisk.webry.biglobe.ne.jp/004/777/72/N000/000/007/1369805240...

Wait! Romance Car vs "Odakyu Line" is Not right.
Romance Car is LtdExp of Odakyu Line.
So Romance Car vs "regular comuuter type" right.

But Romance Car are not expensive bc with travelers service most comforrable seats,with attendant and Wagon service(food and more)
http://www.odakyu-restaurant.jp/romaate.html
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/foods/

So regular comuuter type No special service for travelers Just cheap.
But all trains Eng announce when all stations stop before after Japanese announce like this.
http://youtu.be/8jPAOm-FCoA

Also Don't forget morning and evening rush on weekday.
Shinjuku sta(all lines) user over 3.5 million/day most crowd in the world records on guinnes :D
This is evening rush of JR part but not baddest very smooth.
http://youtu.be/9M6yvRzVg9M
All Romance car are No standind travelers No straps.
http://www.odakyu.jp/company/ad/faq/vol02/
[note]
"shige" posted link photo with standing "Blue jacket" man.
But he is just Odakyu staff(not train or security) for some events assist ride with.
Not always :D

Please allow me to tap on to this topic. My hotel is near Asakusa/Tawaramachi stations. Do I have to go all the way from this area to Shinjuku just to take the Odakyu line to Hakone? Would I be missing anything? Or should I just follow the suggested routes from hyperdia? I also do not see any suggestion of Romance Car in hyperdia.. If I do not go to Shinjuku, where else can I buy the Hakone Free Pass?

Thank you very much.

mee

Hyperdia right No "Romance Car" name trains.
"Romance Car" is "nick" of Odakyu line's LtdExp trains.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/lineup/

Odakyu lines LtdExp trains names are
- Super Hakone [S‚Í‚±‚Ë/ƒX�[ƒp�[‚Í‚±‚Ë]
- Hakone [‚Í‚±‚Ë]
- Sagami [‚³‚ª‚Ý]
- Homeway [ƒz�[ƒ€ƒEƒFƒC]
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/timetable/a01.html

Do I have to go all the way from this area to Shinjuku just to take the Odakyu line to Hakone?

Yes. Because Odakyu line starts at Shinjuku, you must go there to get the train.

Would I be missing anything?

No.

Or should I just follow the suggested routes from hyperdia?

Yes, I think so.

If I do not go to Shinjuku, where else can I buy the Hakone Free Pass?

Shinjuku is the nearest station on the way to Hakone, if you stay at Asakusa. You can buy the Hakone Free Pass at the Odakyu Shinjuku station. I do not have any experience to take the Odakyu line to Hakone, but I think it very easy if you follow the sign in the Shinjuku area (written in English, of course). Odakyu provides very instructive guide for buying tickets.

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/traffic/howto/ticket/

See "How to purchase a Freepass" section.

By the way, this instruction might be perfect, since it does not seem to provide the information how to use the credit card. But I think if you choose the credit card payment, the screen will tell you how to use it.

Sorry.

this instruction might be perfect,

I wanted to write "this instruction might NOT be perfect,...

mee
If you have JRpass, you needn't take odakyu line. Go to Tokyo station and take Shinkansen to Odawara. Buy a 3900yen or 4400yen freepass at Odawara station and take Hakone-Tozan train to Hakone Yumoto.

Thank you for the replies, MNs, frog1954 & H. They are really helpful.

H. - I would not have a JR Pass

Can I just board the romance car for only one way; either to or from Hakone?
FYI I will buy the Free Pass for the normal transport at Hakone.

Is JR Kanto 3 day pass usable on the Shinkansen to Odawarwa?

-myopiczin

All Romance car(some types) are just regular operate everyday.


-mmt

Not covered JR Tokaido Shinkansen.
Tokaido Shinkansen on JR Tokai's line only.
JR Kanto area pass is JR-East line only.
So take LTdExp Odoriko(Not Shinkansen) fastest.
Also regular rapid a lot not so slow.

Search "Hyperdia".

Can the free pass be purchased at Tokyo Station? I hear there is a universal travel shop for all companies there.