Hakone Travel Guide

How to get to Hakone

Wondering how to get to Hakone? Hakone can be the best resort for many reasons, but one is its easy accessibility via Hakone transportation. You can get to almost any destination in Hakone by public transportation. The gateway station for the area is Hakone-Yumoto. From there, you can take the Hakone Tozan Railway and Ropeway to head to the higher altitude area. (For the best value, travelers highly recommend getting the Hakone free pass for unlimited rides on local transit!).

Tokyo to Hakone

If you are asking how to get to Hakone from Tokyo or how to get from Tokyo to Hakone, here are the main transportation options. For those wondering how to get from Tokyo to Hakone by train, the most popular way is to take the Odakyu Romancecar express train. Not only is it convenient and fast, but this express train has wider windows that offer clearer views of the city, the sea, and the mountains. Even with the budget option, if you ask how long does it take to get from Tokyo to Hakone (or how long does it take to get to Hakone from Tokyo), you’ll be in the Hakone area for around 2 hours on a train to Hakone.

• 1) Odakyu Romancecar (Direct & easiest)

• Duration: ~85–90 minutes

• Price: ~¥2,400–¥2,500

• Notes: Direct train from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, no transfers

• 2) Shinkansen + Hakone Tozan Railway (Fastest)

• Duration: ~90 minutes

• Price: ~¥3,500–¥4,500

• Notes: Tokyo → Odawara by train to Tokyo lines, then local train

• 3) Local Odakyu train (Budget option)

• Duration: ~2–2.5 hours

• Price: ~¥1,300

(Note: Planning your return trip and wondering how to get from Hakone to Tokyo? The routes and times are exactly the same in reverse!)

Kyoto to Hakone

How to get from Kyoto to Hakone? From Kyoto to Hakone, you’ll need to take the Shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto Station to Odawara Station. If you are looking specifically at how to get to Hakone from Kyoto or how to get from Kyoto to Hakone by train, you just change to the Hakone Tozan Railway to get to Hakone Yumoto Station. Shinkansen Nozomi doesn’t stop at Odawara Station, so take Hikari or Kodama instead.

• Shinkansen (Hikari or Kodama) + Hakone Tozan Railway
• Duration: ~2 hours 15 minutes – 2.5 hours
• Price: ~¥11,000–¥13,000
• Transfers: 1 (at Odawara)

(Note: If you need to know how to get to Kyoto from Hakone, how to get from Hakone to Kyoto, or how to get from Hakone to Kyoto by train to catch a train to Kyoto, you can take this exact same route backwards).

Osaka to Hakone

Need to know how to get from Osaka to Hakone or how to get to Hakone from Osaka? It takes about 2.5 hours to get to Hakone Yumoto Station from Shin-Osaka Station. You’ll need to take either the Hikari or Kodama Shinkansen express to Odawara Station, then change to the Hakone Tozan Railway.

• Shinkansen + Hakone Tozan Railway
• Duration: ~2.5–3 hours
• Price: ~¥12,000–¥14,000
• Transfers: 1 (at Odawara)

If you are travelling back, catching a train to Osaka lets you explore the food capital of the Kansai region with ease.

Popular routes from Hakone

Hakone to Mt. Fuji (Kawaguchiko area)

Hakone offers a stunning view of Mt Fuji, but if you want to get closer to Japan's highest mountain, you can easily reach it. How to get from Hakone to Mt Fuji, how to get to Mt Fuji from Hakone, or how to get to Mount Fuji from Hakone? You can easily reach it by highway buses or train. The train option requires one or two transfers, but it’s reliable as it’s traffic-jam-free.

• 1) Bus (Direct & easiest)
• Route: Hakone (Togendai / Motohakone) → Kawaguchiko
• Duration: ~2–2.5 hours
• Price: ~¥2,000–¥2,500
• 2) Train (via Gotemba)
• Route: Hakone-Yumoto → Gotemba → Kawaguchiko
• Duration: ~2.5–3.5 hours
• Price: ~¥2,500–¥4,000
• Transfers: 1–2

Hakone to Takayama

Surrounded by the deep forest, Takayama has preserved its historical street and architecture for centuries. Almost fairytale-like traditional houses in Hida-no-sato offer you a glimpse of life in the olden days. How to get from Hakone to Takayama? The most common way to get from Hakone to Takayama in the Chubu region is to take the Shinkansen and the Limited Express via Nagoya.

• 1) Shinkansen + Limited Express (via Nagoya)

• Route: Odawara → Nagoya (Shinkansen) → Takayama (Hida Limited Express)

• Duration: ~4.5–5 hours

• Price: ~¥14,000–¥16,000

• Transfers: 1 (Nagoya)

• 2) Train via Tokyo (alternative)

• Route: Odawara → Tokyo → Takayama

• Duration: ~5.5–6 hours

• Price: ~¥15,000–¥18,000

• Transfers: 2

• Notes: Less efficient, but useful depending on the schedule

More Ways to Explore Japan

Whether you want to speed across the country on a train, soar the skies with domestic flights, or save money on buses (like the popular Willer Express), Omio has you covered. Arriving from abroad? Check out seamless airport Japan transfers.

Once you leave Hakone, you might want to venture further to the wilderness of Hokkaido or the Tohoku region. If you prefer the sea, catch a train to Hiroshima to visit the history of Hiroshima and the beautiful islands of Setouchi. Further south lies the tropical paradise of Okinawa and the coastal beauty of Kyushu.

Best time to visit Hakone

The best time to visit Hakone depends entirely on what you want to experience during your stay.

Hakone Travel Tips

Follow these Hakone travel tips for a smooth journey:

• It will be very crowded during Japanese holidays: One of Japan's most sought-after resorts, Hakone, can be quite busy during the Japanese holiday seasons. From the end of April to early May, Japan has a week-long holiday called Golden Week, and the New Year holidays are probably the most crowded time of the year. It’ll be wise to avoid these times if possible.
• Don’t get stuck in the car: As the area is located in the mountains, the narrow roads will be jammed with cars. Especially during weekends and holiday seasons, you might end up in the car for a really long time. How to get around Hakone without a car? It’s best to get to Hakone by public transportation. If you are figuring out how to get around Hakone or how to get around in Hakone, the local trains and buses are highly efficient.
• Get an IC card: To get to and around Hakone, you’ll use different transportation providers; however, most accept IC cards, such as Suica and Pasmo. You can use them on Hakone Tozan Railway, Cable cars, Ropeways, and buses.

Watch & Learn Before You Go

Mastering the Japanese railway system can feel intimidating at first, but we've got you covered. Grab a matcha and check out our quick video guides:

Navigate train Networks in Japan: A visual guide to making sense of the magnificent (but vast) railway web so you can navigate busy transit hubs like Odawara or Tokyo Station like a pro.

JR Pass Explained: Find out exactly how the Japan Rail Pass works, when it makes sense to buy one, and how it applies to regional travel to places like Hakone.

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