Hakone is the easiest mountain escape from Tokyo, about 80 minutes from Shinjuku by limited express. The challenge is not reaching it but choosing between the Odakyu Romancecar, JR and shinkansen via Odawara, a bus and the Hakone Free Pass. This guide compares those routes with 2026 fares and tells you when each makes sense. Once you arrive, see our Hakone getting around guide and Hakone city guide.
Quick Comparison
| Route | Time | Approx. cost (one way) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odakyu Romancecar, Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto | 80-85 min | ¥2,470 | Reserved seat, direct |
| Odakyu express (no surcharge) | 90-110 min | ¥1,000-1,300 | Change at Odawara |
| Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama to Odawara, then local | 60-75 min total | ¥4,000-4,500 | JR Pass covers Odawara only |
| JR Tokaido line to Odawara, then local | 95-110 min | ¥1,500-2,000 | Cheap, no reservation |
| Highway bus from Shinjuku | 100-120 min | ¥2,000-2,500 | Fewer departures |
Prices are approximate for 2026 and based on search checks of Odakyu and third-party fare pages. Treat them as guides and confirm on the Odakyu English site before you travel.
The Odakyu Romancecar
This is the standard choice. Romancecar limited expresses leave from Shinjuku several times an hour, and most services run through to Hakone-Yumoto, the gateway to the mountain railways. The fare is about ¥2,470, made up of a regular fare of roughly ¥1,270 and a limited express surcharge of about ¥1,200. A fast Super Hakone service, with the quickest Shinjuku to Odawara time of around 59 minutes, runs only on a few weekend and holiday departures in 2026. Reserve seats for weekends, autumn foliage and Golden Week.
The Hakone Free Pass
The Free Pass is a bundle ticket sold at Shinjuku and online. It includes a return trip Shinjuku to Odawara on an Odakyu line and unlimited use for 2 or 3 days of the Hakone Tozan Railway, cable car, ropeway, Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise and Tozan buses in the main area. As of 2026, from Shinjuku it costs approximately ¥7,100 for 2 days and ¥7,500 for 3 days, though some sources still show the pre-revision ¥6,100 and ¥6,500. The Romancecar surcharge is not included. A Hakone Free Pass pays off if you plan the classic loop: Tozan railway, Gora, ropeway over Owakudani, a cruise on Lake Ashi and a bus back. Adding it up separately comes to well over the pass price. If you only visit one or two sights, buy separate tickets with a Suica card, noting that the ropeway and cruise do not accept IC cards. See our Suica guide.
Shinkansen or JR via Odawara
If you are already at Tokyo or Shinagawa Station, the Kodama or Hikari shinkansen reaches Odawara in 35-45 minutes. From Odawara, local Odakyu and Tozan buses continue into the mountains. The JR route costs more and the saving in time is small once you transfer. This option mainly suits JR Pass holders, because the pass covers the shinkansen to Odawara. It does not cover anything past it. For more, see our Japan Rail Pass guide and JR Pass alternatives.
Bus and Day-Trip Packages
Direct highway buses run from Shinjuku (Busta Shinjuku) to Hakone, taking 100-120 minutes in good traffic. They are cheap and good for Lake Ashi but depend on road conditions. If you would rather skip the logistics, a guided Hakone tour from Tokyo bundles transport, the ropeway and a cruise; compare options in our best Hakone tours page.
Day Trip or Overnight?
You can see Hakone’s highlights in one long day, but it is a lot of transfers. A night at a ryokan with an onsen is the real reward; see where to stay in Hakone. Mount Fuji views depend on weather and are most reliable in the morning from late autumn to early spring. Check Mount Fuji and Hakone day trips and compare Hakone vs Nikko if you are deciding between destinations. Heading on after Hakone? The shinkansen at Odawara is on the way to Kyoto and Osaka.
Luggage and Tokyo Tips
Hakone’s buses and trains are awkward with large suitcases. Use luggage forwarding to send bags from your Tokyo hotel and travel with a day pack. Our Tokyo city guide and getting around Japan guide cover the Tokyo end.
Our Verdict
Take the Romancecar from Shinjuku, buy the Free Pass if you will ride the full loop, and stay one night if you can. JR Pass holders should still pay for the Hakone area separately.