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Guide 03 FILE 03 · Tokyo & Kanto

Hakone Freepass: When It Pays Off, Pass Types and the Romancecar Fee

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When the Hakone Freepass beats single tickets and when it doesn't, which pass covers what, the loop route, the Romancecar fee and refund terms.

A red Hakone Tozan train running through forest

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The Hakone Freepass is a 2-day or 3-day ticket for the trains, cable car, ropeway, cruise boats and buses of the Hakone area.

A Hakone Ropeway gondola passing above cherry trees
Hakone Ropeway Photo: Daderot / CC0

When the pass pays off

The pass is cheaper for the full loop or a ropeway round trip
  1. Full Hakone loop

    Pass is cheaper by ¥1,130

    Singles ¥8,230 ★ Pass ¥7,100
  2. Owakudani round trip

    Pass is cheaper by ¥120

    Singles ¥7,220 ★ Pass ¥7,100
  3. Loop from Odawara

    Pass is cheaper by ¥410

    Singles ¥6,410 ★ Odawara pass ¥6,000
  4. Gora round trip

    Singles are cheaper by ¥3,740

    ★ Singles ¥3,360 Pass ¥7,100
  5. Yumoto onsen round trip

    Singles are cheaper by ¥4,560

    ★ Singles ¥2,540 Pass ¥7,100

One adult, with single tickets bought the cheapest way, changing at Odawara. Odakyu is by ordinary train between Shinjuku and Odawara, and the bus runs from Moto-Hakone port to Odawara Station. From each operator's official fares and Ekitan.

Choosing a pass

Hakone alone needs the 2-day pass; Kamakura or Fuji needs an extended one

One adult from Shinjuku, at Odakyu's official prices. The Kamakura and Fuji passes are valid for 3 days.

The passes differ on the Odakyu Line, Enoden and Fujikyu

Included Not included

OdakyuEnodenFujikyu
Freepass from Shinjuku
Freepass from Odawara
Hakone Kamakura Pass
Fuji Hakone Pass

From Odakyu's pass pages. All four include transport inside Hakone, and the Romancecar express ticket is always extra.

Transport inside Hakone means the Tozan train, Tozan cable car, ropeway, cruise boats, and in designated areas the Tozan buses, Odakyu Highway Bus, Tokai Bus and the sightseeing facility bus. Izu-Hakone buses are not covered.

The loop, in order

Up by train, across the lake, back to Yumoto by bus
Up by train, across the lake, back to Yumoto by bus

Train, cable car and busRopewayCruise

A sketch with stations from Wikipedia and the lake simplified from OpenStreetMap. Lines are straight, not the real routes.

The loop from Yumoto takes about 2.5 hours of riding

Waiting and sightseeing not included

  • Tozan train 35 min
  • Cable car 10 min
  • Ropeway 30–45 min
  • Cruise 30–35 min
  • Bus 35 min

Leg times from Hakone Navi and japan-guide. Crowds and weather change them.

The Romancecar

The Romancecar saves about 35 minutes for ¥1,200 each way

Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto

Ordinary trains Time 120 min Price ¥0
Romancecar Time 85 min Price ¥1,200

Extra fee and approximate travel time for one adult holding the pass. Ordinary trains change once at Odawara. From Odakyu and japan-guide.

Tickets and conditions

QR ticket Paper ticket
How you get it QR code on your phone; needs a connection, screenshots are not accepted Exchanged at the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center at Shinjuku West Exit or Odawara
At the gate Scanned on the Odakyu Line, at Hakone-Yumoto and Gora (cable car included), on the cruise and ropeway; shown to staff elsewhere Shown to staff, or inserted in the automatic gate at some stations
Stopping off on the Odakyu Line Shown to staff without scanning at stations between Shinjuku and Odawara; a second scan expires the ticket Shown to staff
In a group All on one phone or shared to each phone; passes shown on one phone activate together One ticket each
Condition Details
Validity The start date counts as day 1 and the pass ends with the last service on the final day; it is not counted in 48 hours
Children Ages 6–11 ¥1,600 (2-day from Shinjuku); under 6 need no ticket
Shinjuku–Gotemba highway bus ¥1,000 one way with the pass
Facility discounts About 70 museums, hot springs, restaurants and more
JR Pass Not valid inside Hakone

Paper tickets cannot be exchanged in Hakone, Gotemba or Lake Kawaguchi.

Suspensions and refunds

Item Details
Ropeway hours February–November 9:00–17:00, December–January 9:00–16:15
Reasons for suspension Wind of 30 m/s or more, bad weather, mechanical trouble, yearly inspection
Refund when suspended Officially sold tickets refund only the transport not used; the product on the booking button gives a partial refund only if both days are suspended
Booking cancellation Free until 3:00 on the day of use, then a ¥220 fee

Sources

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