How to Get to Hakone from Tokyo (2026)
Getting to Hakone is easy; the only real decision is the pass. From Shinjuku, the Odakyu line takes you to Hakone-Yumoto, the gateway to the loop. Here's the cleanest way in and why almost everyone should buy the Hakone Free Pass before boarding.
The routes
- Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto on the Odakyu Romancecar: ~85 min, reserved seat, small limited-express surcharge
- Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto on the regular Odakyu express: a bit slower and cheaper, one easy transfer at Odawara
- From Tokyo Station: Shinkansen to Odawara (~35 min), then the Hakone Tozan line up to Yumoto
Get the Hakone Free Pass
Buy it at the Odakyu counter in Shinjuku. It bundles the round-trip from Tokyo with every leg of the loop — Tozan railway, cablecar, ropeway, pirate ship and local buses — so you tap through everything and never queue for tickets. For the standard loop it usually pays for itself by the ropeway, and the 2-day version costs only a little more if you stay over.
Do the loop as a day trip
Clockwise, early, crowd-free — the route that works.
Open the day-trip routeHow do you get to Hakone from Tokyo? +
Take the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto (~85 min) with a reserved seat, or the regular express with one transfer at Odawara. From Tokyo Station, Shinkansen to Odawara then the Tozan line.
Is the Hakone Free Pass worth it? +
For the standard loop, almost always yes — it covers the round trip plus the railway, cablecar, ropeway, boat and buses, and saves you queuing for tickets all day.
How long is Hakone from Tokyo? +
About 85 minutes from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto by Romancecar; the loop legs add up from there.