Hakone: Access and Orientation

How to travel between Hakone and Tokyo

By Odakyu Railway

Odakyu Railway operates between Tokyo's Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station. The one way journey by the "Romance Car" limited express takes about 85 minutes and costs 2330 yen. By slower express trains (kyuko), the journey takes about two hours, requires one transfer at Odawara Station, but costs only 1220 yen.

Odakyu also offers the Hakone Free Pass, which includes the round trip from Tokyo to Hakone and unlimited use of selected trains, cablecars, ropeways, boats and buses in the Hakone area.

By JR (Japan Railways)

With JR trains you can only get as far as Odawara, from where you will have to use non-JR trains or buses into the Hakone area. The above mentioned Hakone Free Pass is also available for use from Odawara Station.

By JR Tokaido Shinkansen you can access Odawara in about half an hour from Tokyo or Shinagawa Station (about 3500 yen one way, fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but not covered by the JR Tokyo Wide Area Pass, JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass). Note that only Kodama trains and selected Hikari trains stop at Odawara Station.

Alternatively, you can access Odawara from Tokyo in about 70-90 minutes by local or rapid trains on the JR Tokaido Main Line (stopping at Tokyo, Shimbashi and Shinagawa Stations) or the JR Shonan Shinjuku Line (stopping at Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya Stations) for about 1500 yen one way. These trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR Tokyo Wide Pass, JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass.

By Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus

Direct highway buses operate every 30 minutes between Tokyo's Shinjuku Station and the Lake Ashi area in Hakone (among other places the buses stop at Togendai and the Hakone Prince Hotel). The one way journey costs about 2000 yen and under good traffic conditions takes about two hours.

The same company also operates less frequent direct buses between Haneda Airport and Hakone, which stop at Yokohama Station along the way. The one way journey costs about 2300 yen and under good traffic conditions takes about 2.5 hours.

How to travel between Hakone and Kyoto

By shinkansen

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Kyoto to Mishima (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2 hours), Atami (served by kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2-3 hours) or Odawara Station (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2-5 hours).

The one way trip takes about two hours and costs about 11,000 yen. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on Kodama and Hikari trains, but not on Nozomi trains.

From Mishima Station you can access the Lake Ashi area by Numazu Tozan Tokai Bus. The one way journey from Mishima to Moto-Hakone takes 50 minutes and costs 1050 yen. There is one bus per hour. The Hakone Free Pass can be purchased at Mishima Station and used on the buses to Moto-Hakone.

From Atami Station you can access the Lake Ashi area by Izuhakone Bus. The one way journey from Atami to Moto-Hakone takes about one hour and costs 1200 yen. There are 1-2 buses per hour. The Hakone Free Pass is not valid on Izuhakone buses.

From Odawara Station you can access the Hakone area by Hakone Tozan Railway and various bus lines. The Hakone Free Pass can be purchased and used from Odawara. Odawara is the most convenient entry point for accessing Hakone-Yumoto and destinations along the Hakone Tozan Railway Line.

Via Tokyo

Despite being a detour, travel via Tokyo can be cheaper if using an overnight bus between Tokyo and Kyoto:
- how to travel between Hakone and Tokyo
- how to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto

How to travel between Hakone and Osaka

By shinkansen

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Osaka to Mishima (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2 hours), Atami (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2-3 hours) or Odawara Station (served by Kodama trains and one direct Hikari train every 2-5 hours).

The one way trip takes about 2.5 hours and costs about 12,000 yen. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on Kodama and Hikari trains, but not on nozomi trains.

From Mishima Station you can access the Lake Ashi area by Numazu Tozan Tokai Bus. The one way journey from Mishima to Moto-Hakone takes 50 minutes and costs 1050 yen. There is one bus per hour. The Hakone Free Pass can be purchased at Mishima Station and used on the buses to Moto-Hakone.

From Atami Station you can access the Lake Ashi area by Izuhakone Bus. The one way journey from Atami to Moto-Hakone takes about one hour and costs 1200 yen. There are 1-2 buses per hour. The Hakone Free Pass is not valid on Izuhakone buses.

From Odawara Station you can access the Hakone area by Hakone Tozan Railway and various bus lines. The Hakone Free Pass can be purchased and used from Odawara. Odawara is the most convenient entry point for accessing Hakone-Yumoto and destinations along the Hakone Tozan Railway Line.

Via Tokyo

Despite being a detour, travel via Tokyo can be cheaper if using an overnight bus between Tokyo and Osaka:
- how to travel between Hakone and Tokyo
- how to travel between Tokyo and Osaka

How to travel between Hakone and Fuji Five Lakes

Take the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus from Togendai or Sengoku in the Hakone area to Gotemba Station (25-35 minutes, 720-1040 yen, 2 buses per hour) and then the Fujikyu Bus from Gotemba Station to Kawaguchiko Station in the Fuji Five Lake area (1 hour, 1540 yen, 1-2 buses per hour, see timetable).

The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on either bus, while the Hakone Free Pass is valid on the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus until Gotemba but not on the Fujikyu Bus.