If you are taking the train to Hakone and intend to take the rail / incline rail / cablecar / boat / bus / rail circuit tour of the area, purchase a Hakone Free 3 day pass (there are no 1 or 2 day passes) at Odawara Station where you get off the Japan Rail train. JR passes do not cover transport from there. The Hakone pass will cover your return journey to Hakone and all the segments in the circuit. It is significantly cheaper than buying all the segments separately, and much easier to use.
Also, try to sit near the front of the smaller trains. You can quite a good view looking forward.
Update 2011: someone on VT forums had problems with this; they had gotten a "2-3 day passes" which apparently is something completely different. Furthermore, the link I had no longer works. Double-check what you buy.
Updated Sep 20, 2011
A modern cable car that whisks people across the Hakone region (from Sounzan to the shores of Lake Ashi. It will stop at Owakudani.
Apparently, Hakone Ropeway at 4,035 m distance between Sounzan and Togendai, is the longest in Japan and the second longest in the world behind Kriens Bahn in Switzerland. It takes about 28 mins from Sounzan to Togendai (shores of Lake Ashi).
Unlimited usage if you use Hakone Freepass.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Hakone Tozan Railways operates the bus lines from Hakone-Yumoto Station, the entrance to the Hakone Park Area for Hakonemachi, Moto-Hakone, Gora, Sengoku-bara and Togendai. These bus lines, together with Railways, Cable Cars, Ropeway and Pirate Boats, make a convenient traffic network in Hakone. The Sightseeing Bus Lines are also available from Odawara stn. and Atami stn. to the popular spots in Hakone.
Excerpt from Odakyu Group webpage.
Unlimited usage if you use the Hakone Freepass.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Hakone Sightseeing Ship are sailing in Lake Ashi between Togendai, Hakonemachi and Moto-Hakone. These three ship are Pirate Boats. "Vasa" with its emerald green body, was built after "Vasa (or the first king of Sweden)", built by the king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in the first half of the 17th century. "Royal" with its red body and a white line, was built after the sailing warship " le Soleil Royal (King of the Sun)" in the 17th century. "Victoria" with its blue and red body curved in golden color, was built after a warship "Sovereign of the seas( or Emperor of the sea)" in England in the 17th century. On "the Pirate Boats in the wonderland", you will have wonderful scenes of Lake Ashi, like a virgin forest, hotels lined and a red torii or a gateway at the entrance to Hakone Shrine along the lake side. You will have a more luxurious time in first class for an additional charge. In the fall of 1996, "Frontier", the side-wheeler in the Mississippi, has made its debut on the line, which is quite different from the three pirate boats. Enjoy cruising in these boats.
It takes about 40 mins from Togendai to Moto-Hakone.
Excerpt from Odakyu Group webpage.
Unlimited usage by using Hakone Freepass.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
For a small surcharge, you can travel in style and comfort on board the Odakyu Romance Car from Shinjuku Station to Hakone Yumoto. The advantage of this special Limited Express Train is that you have a reserved seat and this means that during popular travel seasons, you will be guaranteed a seat and not risk having to stand all the way.
Reservations are essential and you can reserve the time of the outward and inward bound journey of your trip to Hakone Yumoto at the time of purchase of the Hakone Free Pass. Go to the Odakyu Travel Center located at Shinjuku Station.
Written Apr 27, 2008
Website: http://www.odakyu.jp/english/rc/index.html
We took the speed train from Hakone as we wanted to experience riding the bullet train or shinkansen and we were glad we did!
The speed train is awesome, especially when we were waiting to ride one. We tried to take photos as it sped past us!It was part of the day trip - more expensive than returning to Tokyo by train but it is worth it for the sheer experience alone! At least we can say we rode in a bullet train in Japan even if it took only around 40 minutes! We wished we could have traveled longer on one!
Updated Apr 24, 2008
Don't forget to take a plan of where the ticket office is in the station - it's in Shinjuku station for the 3 day pass and it's outside the Odyaku department store.
Don't end up walking around the station for 2 hours, tired and jetlagged like I did, it was terrible!!!! Nearly killed my boyfriend and the well meaning japanese people who wrongly directed us several times!!!
Written Apr 5, 2007
The Hakone Free Pass is an all-inclusive 2-day pass that includes return ticket from/to Shinjuku station. All modes of transport operated by Odakyu Group, including Lake Ashi sightseeing ships, Hakone Ropeway and Hakone-Tozan Railway are included in the pass. The pass costs Y4700 and is valid on weekdays. I took the Odakyu line from Shinjuku station to Hakone-Yumoto, a journey that took about 70 minutes. From Hakone-Yumoto, a 20-minute bus ride on the Tozan Bus brought me to Togendai. Along the way, I passed by various hotels and ryokans, all offering onsens. The Hakone Ropeway was closed on that cold winter day so I decided to go on the Lake Ashi boat. The boat took me from Togendai to Hakonemachi. From Hakonemachi, another bus took me back to Hakone-Yumoto where I caught the return train back to Shinjuku - all in a day's trip.
Written Feb 6, 2006
An all-inclusive 2-day pass that includes return ticket from/to Shinjuku station. All modes of transport operated by Odakyu Group, including Lake Ashi pirate ships, Hakone Ropeway and Hakone-Tozan Railway. The pass costs 4700 yen and is valid only on Mon-Fri. For an additional 870 yen one-way, you can take the Romance Car from Shinjuku to Hakone-yumoto.
Written Jun 21, 2004
Phone: 81-3-5321-7887
Website: www.odakyu-group.co.jp
Get the pass which allows you to use the buses around Hakone, gondola and ferry at Lake Ashi. You can buy it at the tourist information office around Moto Hakone station.
It's much more convenient and allows you to backtrack on places you want to visit over and over again.
The ferry plying Lake Ashi stops at a few villages, from where there are numerous sights of interest.
Written Dec 27, 2003
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