Getting from Tokyo to Hakone is surprisingly easy once you understand the different train options.

For most first-time visitors, the best route is the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku directly to Hakone-Yumoto.

It takes around 80–85 minutes, has reserved seats and avoids the need to change trains.

But it isn’t always the best choice.

If you’re staying near Tokyo Station, travelling with a Japan Rail Pass or continuing directly toward another part of Hakone, taking the Shinkansen to Odawara can make more sense.

And if you’re travelling on a tighter budget, regular Odakyu trains from Shinjuku are cheaper.

This guide explains exactly how to travel from Tokyo to Hakone in 2026, including the Romancecar, Shinkansen, Hakone Freepass, costs, luggage and which option is best for your trip.

Quick Answer: What Is the Best Way From Tokyo to Hakone?

Tokyo to Hakone at a Glance

Route	Approx. Time	Transfers	Best For
Romancecar from Shinjuku	80–85 min	0	Most first-time visitors
Regular Odakyu train	Around 2 hours	Usually 1	Budget travellers
Shinkansen to Odawara	Around 35 min to Odawara	1+	Tokyo Station / JR users
Regular JR train to Odawara	Around 70–90 min	1+	JR travellers
Highway bus	Varies	0	Certain Hakone areas

For most travellers, the choice comes down to:

Romancecar from Shinjuku

or

Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara

Option 1: Romancecar From Shinjuku to Hakone

Best for: Most First-Time Visitors

The Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar is the easiest way to travel from central Tokyo to Hakone.

It runs from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station, with direct services taking roughly 80–85 minutes.

All Romancecar seats are reserved.

That means no fighting for a seat with luggage and no standing for a long journey.

For most tourists, this is the route I’d choose.

Why Take the Romancecar?

You get:

• Reserved seating
• Direct services to Hakone-Yumoto
• Comfortable seats
• Large windows
• Luggage storage depending on train type
• No complicated transfers
• Easy access from Shinjuku

It also feels more like the start of a holiday than an ordinary commuter train.

Once you board in Shinjuku, you can sit down and relax until Hakone.

How Long Does the Romancecar Take?

Allow approximately:

80–85 minutes

between Shinjuku and Hakone-Yumoto on a direct service.

Some journeys can vary slightly depending on the service.

That’s considerably more convenient than taking regular Odakyu trains, which can take around two hours and generally require a transfer.

How Much Does the Romancecar Cost?

The Romancecar requires two components:

1. Your normal/base fare

and

2. A Limited Express Romancecar ticket

The current Limited Express surcharge from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto is approximately:

¥1,200 one way

If you’re using a Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku, the base transport component is covered, but you still need to purchase the additional Romancecar limited-express ticket.

This is one of the most common things first-time visitors misunderstand.

Important

The Hakone Freepass does not automatically include the Romancecar reserved-seat surcharge.

You still need the additional Romancecar ticket.

Do You Need to Reserve the Romancecar?

Yes.

All Romancecar seats are reserved.

You can’t simply board and choose an empty seat like you would on a regular train.

Romancecar tickets normally become available one month before departure.

If you’re travelling during:

• Cherry blossom season
• Golden Week
• Weekends
• Autumn foliage
• Japanese holidays
• Christmas/New Year

I’d reserve ahead.

For ordinary weekdays outside peak periods, you may have more flexibility.

Where Does the Romancecar Leave From?

The Romancecar leaves from:

Odakyu Shinjuku Station

This is part of the enormous Shinjuku Station complex.

Don’t simply search for a random JR platform when you arrive.

Follow signs for:

Odakyu Line

and then for the:

Limited Express Romancecar

Give yourself extra time if you’ve never used Shinjuku Station before.

It is one of the busiest and most complicated railway stations in the world.

Where Does the Romancecar Arrive?

You’ll arrive at:

Hakone-Yumoto Station

This is essentially the main gateway into Hakone.

From here you can:

• Check into a Hakone-Yumoto ryokan
• Take the Hakone Tozan Train toward Gora
• Take buses toward Lake Ashi
• Continue toward Sengokuhara
• Start exploring Hakone

If you’re staying in Hakone-Yumoto, your journey is basically finished.

If you’re staying elsewhere in Hakone, you’ll continue from here.

👉 Where to Stay in Hakone

Option 2: Shinkansen From Tokyo Station to Odawara

Best for: Travellers Staying Near Tokyo Station

The second major option is taking the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara.

This can be extremely convenient if you’re staying around:

• Tokyo Station
• Ginza
• Marunouchi
• Nihombashi
• Shimbashi

Instead of travelling across Tokyo to Shinjuku, you can head toward Odawara from Tokyo Station.

The Shinkansen journey itself can take only around 35 minutes depending on the service.

However:

Odawara is not Hakone-Yumoto.

You’ll still need to continue into Hakone.

Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto

From Odawara, you can continue to Hakone-Yumoto using the local Hakone/Odakyu transport network.

The journey isn’t difficult.

But it means the Shinkansen isn’t actually a direct Tokyo-to-Hakone solution.

Think of it as:

Tokyo → Odawara → Hakone

rather than:

Tokyo → Hakone

Romancecar vs Shinkansen: Which Is Better?

This is the big decision.

Factor	Romancecar	Shinkansen
Departure	Shinjuku	Tokyo / Shinagawa
Destination	Hakone-Yumoto	Odawara
Direct to Hakone	Yes	No
Reserved seating	Yes	Available
Convenience	Excellent	Excellent from Tokyo Station
Transfers	Usually none	At least one
Best for	Most tourists	Tokyo Station / JR travellers

Choose the Romancecar If:

• You’re staying in Shinjuku
• You’re a first-time visitor
• You want the simplest journey
• You’re travelling with luggage
• You want to arrive directly at Hakone-Yumoto
• You’re using the Hakone Freepass

Choose the Shinkansen If:

• You’re staying near Tokyo Station
• You’re staying near Shinagawa
• You’re using eligible JR transport
• You’re comfortable changing at Odawara
• You’re travelling onward through Japan

For most tourists:

Romancecar wins for simplicity.

Option 3: Regular Odakyu Train From Shinjuku

Best for: Budget Travellers

You don’t have to take the Romancecar.

Regular Odakyu trains also travel from Shinjuku toward Odawara.

They’re considerably cheaper because you don’t pay the Romancecar limited-express surcharge.

However, the journey can take around two hours and normally involves changing trains.

Seats also aren’t guaranteed.

That can become annoying if you’re carrying luggage.

Should You Take the Regular Train?

I’d consider it if:

• You’re travelling on a tight budget
• You’re not in a hurry
• You don’t mind changing trains
• You aren’t carrying much luggage

For a holiday where you’ve already spent thousands of dollars flying to Japan, I think the additional cost of the Romancecar is usually worthwhile.

What Is the Hakone Freepass?

The Hakone Freepass is one of the most useful transport passes for tourists visiting Hakone.

Rather than buying individual tickets for every train, bus, cable car, ropeway and boat, the pass covers a large part of Hakone’s sightseeing transport network.

It includes unlimited rides on several major forms of transportation around Hakone.

These include:

• Hakone Tozan Train
• Hakone Tozan Cable Car
• Hakone Ropeway
• Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
• Designated Hakone buses
• Other selected local transport

The Shinjuku version also includes transport between Shinjuku and the Hakone area.

How Much Is the Hakone Freepass?

As of 2026, the 2-day Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku costs approximately ¥7,100 for an adult.

Prices can change, so check the current fare when purchasing.

There’s also a version starting from Odawara, which can make more sense if you’re reaching Odawara separately using JR or the Shinkansen.

Does the Hakone Freepass Include the Romancecar?

Not completely.

This is important.

The Shinjuku Hakone Freepass covers the regular transport fare between Shinjuku and Odawara.

But if you want to use the Limited Express Romancecar, you need to purchase the additional reserved-seat limited-express ticket.

Currently that’s approximately:

¥1,200 each way

So you can combine:

Hakone Freepass + Romancecar Limited Express ticket

This is the setup I’d recommend for many first-time visitors.

Is the Hakone Freepass Worth It?

It often is if you’re doing the classic Hakone sightseeing route.

Especially if you’re planning to use several of these:

• Hakone Tozan Train
• Cable Car
• Ropeway
• Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise
• Buses

It also removes the hassle of repeatedly buying individual tickets.

For a simple trip where you’re going directly to a hotel, spending the night and returning without much sightseeing, the value is less obvious.

But for a normal first-time Hakone sightseeing trip:

I’d strongly consider it.

Tokyo to Hakone With a Japan Rail Pass

This causes plenty of confusion.

JR does not operate the entire journey into Hakone.

You can use JR services as far as:

Odawara

From Odawara, you’ll need to use non-JR transport to continue into the Hakone area.

So even if you’re travelling with JR coverage, you still need to think about transport within Hakone.

For travellers arriving at Odawara using JR, consider the Hakone Freepass starting from Odawara rather than buying the version from Shinjuku.

Tokyo to Hakone With Luggage

Hakone is one destination where I’d think carefully about luggage.

The problem isn’t getting from Tokyo to Hakone.

The problem is moving a huge suitcase around Hakone.

You may encounter:

• Small trains
• Buses
• Cable cars
• Ropeways
• Hills
• Stairs
• Busy sightseeing areas

Dragging a 25 kg suitcase through all of that isn’t enjoyable.

Best Luggage Strategy

If you’re doing:

Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto

consider sending your large suitcase from Tokyo directly to Kyoto using luggage forwarding.

Then take a small overnight bag to Hakone.

This makes an enormous difference.

Alternatively, Hakone-Yumoto has baggage services that can deliver luggage to participating accommodation around Hakone.

Tokyo to Hakone for One Night

This is one of the most common Japan itineraries.

I’d do:

Morning

Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto by Romancecar

Late morning

Start sightseeing

Afternoon

Continue toward your ryokan

Around 3:00–4:00 pm

Check in

Late afternoon

Onsen

Evening

Ryokan dinner

Next morning

Breakfast + remaining Hakone sightseeing

Then continue toward Tokyo or Kyoto.

Try not to arrive at your expensive ryokan at 8 pm.

Part of what you’re paying for is the ryokan experience itself.

Tokyo to Hakone as a Day Trip

Hakone can be done as a day trip.

But it makes for a long day.

If you’re doing it, leave Tokyo early.

I’d aim to be travelling from Shinjuku at roughly:

7:00–8:00 am

rather than starting at 10:30 am.

That gives you much more time for:

• Owakudani
• Ropeway
• Lake Ashi
• Hakone Shrine
• Open-Air Museum
• Gora

You probably won’t comfortably do every major attraction in one day.

Prioritise.

Is It Better to Stay Overnight?

For most travellers who can afford it:

Yes.

Hakone is particularly suited to an overnight trip because the accommodation is part of the experience.

You can:

• Stay in a ryokan
• Use an onsen
• Wear a yukata
• Have a traditional dinner
• Wake up in the mountains
• Have a Japanese breakfast

That’s a very different experience from rushing back to Tokyo at the end of the afternoon.

👉 Where to Stay in Hakone

Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto

This is one of my favourite ways to fit Hakone into a first Japan trip.

Instead of:

Tokyo → Hakone → Tokyo → Kyoto

do:

Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto

You avoid unnecessary backtracking.

Day 1

Tokyo → Hakone

Sightsee

Stay overnight

Day 2

Finish Hakone sightseeing

Travel to Odawara

Take the Shinkansen toward Kyoto

This works particularly well if you forward your large suitcase from Tokyo to Kyoto and take only a small overnight bag into Hakone.

Tokyo → Hakone → Osaka

The same strategy works if Osaka is your next destination.

Travel:

Hakone → Odawara → Osaka

rather than returning to Tokyo first.

Again, Odawara is the key long-distance rail connection.

Which Tokyo Station Should You Leave From?

This depends on where you’re staying.

Staying in Shinjuku

Take the Romancecar.

Easy decision.

Staying in Shibuya

I’d generally travel to Shinjuku and take the Romancecar.

Staying in Ginza

Tokyo Station + Shinkansen to Odawara can make more sense.

Staying Near Tokyo Station

Take the Shinkansen to Odawara.

Staying in Asakusa

Both options require travelling across Tokyo.

I’d compare the journey to Shinjuku versus Tokyo Station from your exact hotel.

Staying in Shinagawa

Shinkansen toward Odawara can be very convenient.

How to Get From Tokyo to Gora

If your hotel is in Gora, don’t think of Hakone-Yumoto as the end of the journey.

Your route will usually look something like:

Tokyo → Hakone-Yumoto → Gora

From Hakone-Yumoto, take the Hakone Tozan Train toward Gora.

Allow extra travel time.

This is why arriving in Hakone earlier in the day is helpful.

👉 Where to Stay in Hakone

How to Get From Tokyo to Lake Ashi

Lake Ashi is farther into Hakone.

Depending on exactly where you’re staying, you’ll usually use buses or travel through Hakone’s mountain transport network.

Don’t choose a hotel purely by looking at its distance from Tokyo on Google Maps.

Hakone’s geography makes travel times very different from straight-line distances.

How to Get From Tokyo to Hakone-Yumoto

This is the easiest route.

Take:

Odakyu Romancecar

from:

Shinjuku

to:

Hakone-Yumoto

No transfer is required on direct services.

For most first-time visitors, this is the easiest Tokyo-to-Hakone journey.

Should You Book Tokyo to Hakone in Advance?

For the Romancecar:

Yes, I’d book ahead.

Especially during popular travel periods.

Reservations generally open one month before travel.

For ordinary local trains:

Advance reservations aren’t necessary.

For the Shinkansen:

How far ahead you need to reserve depends on the date and service.

Peak Japanese holiday periods require more planning than an ordinary weekday.

Best Time to Leave Tokyo for Hakone

If you’re staying overnight:

I’d aim to leave Tokyo around:

8:00–9:00 am

That gives you most of the day in Hakone before checking into your accommodation.

If you’re doing a day trip:

Leave earlier.

Around:

7:00–8:00 am

is better.

If you’re simply travelling to a ryokan and aren’t sightseeing first, you can leave later.

But check your ryokan’s dinner and check-in requirements.

What Happens if You Miss the Romancecar?

Don’t treat it like an ordinary flexible train ticket.

If your reserved Romancecar departs without you, changes and refunds generally aren’t available after departure.

So don’t schedule:

international flight arrival → 20 minutes → Romancecar

Give yourself enough time.

Is the Romancecar Worth It?

For most tourists:

Yes.

You’re paying a relatively small additional amount for:

• Reserved seating
• Faster journey
• Greater comfort
• Fewer transfers
• Easier luggage handling
• Direct access to Hakone-Yumoto

For a first Japan trip, I’d pay the difference.

Is the Shinkansen Faster?

Technically, the Shinkansen can get you from Tokyo Station to Odawara extremely quickly.

But Odawara isn’t your final Hakone destination.

Once you add:

• Transfer time
• Waiting
• Odawara → Hakone transport

the difference becomes less dramatic.

That’s why the Romancecar remains so convenient despite being slower than the Shinkansen itself.

Cheapest Way From Tokyo to Hakone

Regular Odakyu trains from Shinjuku are generally the budget option.

Expect roughly two hours of travel and usually a transfer.

If saving money is the priority, this works perfectly well.

If convenience is more important:

Take the Romancecar.

Fastest vs Easiest vs Cheapest

Priority	Best Choice
Easiest	Romancecar
Best first trip	Romancecar
Cheapest	Regular Odakyu
Best from Tokyo Station	Shinkansen
Best from Shinjuku	Romancecar
Best with JR travel	Shinkansen to Odawara
Best with luggage	Romancecar
Best for Hakone sightseeing	Freepass + Romancecar

Common Tokyo to Hakone Mistakes

1. Thinking Odawara Is Hakone-Yumoto

It’s not.

You’ll still need onward transport.

2. Assuming the Hakone Freepass Includes the Romancecar Seat

It doesn’t.

You need the additional limited-express ticket.

3. Taking Huge Luggage Around the Hakone Loop

Avoid this if possible.

4. Leaving Tokyo Too Late

Hakone attractions don’t operate all night.

Start early.

5. Returning to Tokyo Before Going to Kyoto

Usually unnecessary.

Continue from Hakone to Odawara and take the Shinkansen west.

6. Booking a Ryokan Without Checking Dinner Time

Some ryokans have relatively early dinner schedules.

Arriving late can mean missing part of the experience you’ve paid for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take from Tokyo to Hakone?

The direct Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto takes approximately 80–85 minutes.

Other routes can take longer depending on transfers and your final destination in Hakone.

What is the easiest way from Tokyo to Hakone?

For most visitors, the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto is the easiest option.

What is the cheapest way from Tokyo to Hakone?

Regular Odakyu trains from Shinjuku are cheaper than the Romancecar because they don’t require the additional limited-express surcharge.

Is there a direct train from Tokyo to Hakone?

There are direct Romancecar services from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto.

If you’re departing from Tokyo Station, you’ll generally travel to Odawara first and then continue into Hakone.

How much is the Romancecar?

The Limited Express Romancecar surcharge from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto is currently around ¥1,200 one way, in addition to the normal/base fare or appropriate pass.

Does the Hakone Freepass include the Romancecar?

The Freepass does not include the Romancecar limited-express reserved-seat surcharge.

You need to purchase that separately.

How much is the Hakone Freepass?

The 2-day Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku currently costs approximately ¥7,100 for an adult.

Always check current pricing before travelling.

Should I buy the Hakone Freepass?

If you’re planning to explore Hakone using trains, buses, the cable car, ropeway and Lake Ashi cruise, it can be very useful.

Can I use Suica from Tokyo to Hakone?

IC cards such as Suica can be used for many transport journeys, but they don’t replace the required limited-express reservation if you’re taking the Romancecar.

Should I stay overnight in Hakone?

I recommend it if your itinerary and budget allow.

A ryokan and onsen stay is one of the main reasons to visit Hakone.

Can I travel from Hakone directly to Kyoto?

Yes.

Travel from Hakone toward Odawara Station, then take the Shinkansen west toward Kyoto.

There’s normally no reason to return to Tokyo first.

Final Thoughts

For most first-time visitors travelling from Tokyo to Hakone, I’d keep things simple:

Go to Shinjuku.

Take the Romancecar.

Arrive at Hakone-Yumoto.

If you’re sightseeing around Hakone, consider combining the journey with a Hakone Freepass.

If you’re staying near Tokyo Station or Shinagawa, taking the Shinkansen to Odawara can be a better alternative.

And if your itinerary continues to Kyoto or Osaka, don’t return to Tokyo unnecessarily.

A very efficient first-time Japan route is:

Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Osaka

Stay overnight in Hakone, enjoy a ryokan and onsen, then continue from Odawara toward Kyoto the following day.

It’s straightforward, avoids backtracking and gives you a completely different experience between Japan’s major cities.

Continue Planning Your Trip

👉 Where to Stay in Hakone

👉 Hakone Travel Guide

👉 Best Ryokan in Japan

👉 Mount Fuji Day Trip Guide

👉 Lake Kawaguchi Guide

👉 Tokyo to Kyoto

👉 Japan 7 Day Itinerary