Before purchasing the Hakone freepass, please ask for the Hakone freepass brochure and read the fine print on the bottom of the front page. There is a rule that says, "The Hakone Freepass (including those valid for multiple days) cannot be used after returning to your departure station." Basically, the freepass is encourages people to stay in Hakone to fully benefit from it. It doesn't matter if two or three days pass once you return back to Shinjuku station, the freepass cannot be reused again. In our case the station staff took away our two-day pass which was only used for one day. Anyway, I think I should put it out there to let everyone know there is a rule they need to know about it. Love your videos.
Hi, thank you for watching. :) You mean all in Japanese? I haven't thought about it but maybe I can put more meaning of Japanese in the video, like Kuro Tamago =black egg? Sometimes I'm not sure if people wants to know that or not. 😅 Thank you for your request!
Hi Kenchan, thanks for yet another very informative video! I am thinking of doing a 2D1N trip to Kawaguchiko and Hakone. staying at a ryokan at Kawaguchiko to see My Fuji in the morning. Do you think I should go to Kawaguchiko first then Hakone or the other way round? Any advice is appreciated!
I think you can enjoy Kawaguchiko more when you sleep there that night, so you can go to Hakone next day? I also think you can't enjoy Hakone if you feel you have to go all the way to Kawaguchiko after this. It's just my thought though. :)
Yes. Not just in Hakone, but I usually set the number of guest “ 1 “ and “meals included “ and search. I just booked one in that way in another place. Some Ryokan comes up. I hope you can find a good one. :)
Amazing guide ! I plan on taking your advice on traveling from Shinjuku at 07:00 to Arrive 08:12 in Odawara. Do you have any more information on the "Local" train you spoke about at 7:58 ? Thank you ! Are you referring to the Hakone Tozan Railway?
Thank you for watching. Oh great. You can avoid the big wave of crowd from the next romance car. :) The local train at 7:58 is the train from Odawara at 8:24 arrives Hakone Yumoto at 8:39. It leaves from near the carriage no.1 of Romance Car. Yes, It is part of Tozan Railway, but the Odakyu's car is used between Odawara - Yumoto.
I wanted to say a huge thank you again :) We took your advice and used the Hakone Freepass to get all around ! Made little travel vlogs about it @@tokyokenchan
how long do you think is sufficient to complete the hakone counter clockwise loop? I also want to visit gotemba outlet and plan to do all in one day from Tokyo. what time do you recommend to start at Hakone Station and the last transport going back from Hakone Station to Odawara and transfer to Shinkansen back to Tokyo? Thanks!
Hi Kenchan san This video is very helpful. Buying the Hakone free pass definitely save us some money. We planning to take EXE from Shinjuku to Odawara. With the Hakone free pass, any idea if we can take the local train from Odawara to Hakone-Yomoto station? Or we have to buy the train ticket separately with extra cost?
Hello. This Hakone Free Pass gives you unlimited ride from Odawara and further, so you can get to Hakone-Yumoto without any extra cost. 👍I also took that way. The route between Odawara - Yumoto is Hakone mountain railway, even though they use Odakyu's car. Thank you for watching. :)
If you take bus to the station, either way is good. I think there are more frequent bus to Odawara, but Mishima is closer to Kyoto and ticket for Shinkansen is reasonable.
Your maps and your explanations, are super thorough. I appreciate your hard work! Even when you spoke about the wall partitions at 6:27 for getting the better train seat, that was very very helpful! Please continue making great videos for all of us!!
Can not imagine how people manage to visit Hakone and Kawaguchiko in one day. We visited Kawaguchiko as a one day trip in March and we did not have enough time. I used your video to plan our trip. Love your channel.
Thank you for watching and your message. If it's first time visit to Tokyo, it might look closer on the map. But as you know, it's almost impossible unless you like to stay on the bus all day. :)
I'm a live in the moment type of person so I barely take any pictures. I manage to visit both sites and went back to Yokohama in the evening because I'm done exploring.
Thank you so much for the concise travel information, Kenchan. I've only recently found and subscribed to your channel, and I'm so pleased that I have. I feel quite confident that I won't get hopelessly lost in transit -fingers crossed🤞😊 - when I plan my journey to your beautiful country, sometime in the near future! Thank you once again🇬🇧🇯🇵
Thank you so much for watching from UK and such a nice message. I'm glad you found my videos helpful for your future trip. 😄 I hope you come up with a great travel plan to Japan, and I wish you not to get lost. 🤝
@@tokyokenchan👍😊...My intention is to have an extended stay, perhaps 3 months or more, if this is at all possible, Kenchan? That way I can experience as much of the spectacular scenery, culture, and places of interest Japan has to offer. And, even if I do become a little lost in transit, time would be on my side😄
Hi! I have a Hakone Free Pass (Hakone Area Only) which will be valid from Odawara station onwards. I have also purchased a Limited Express "Romancecar" ticket from Shinjuku to Odwara. I understand that I now have to also purchase a separate ticket to use the romancecar. Could you please help me understand which ticket to book? Thanks so much for all you help. Your videos have been immensely helpful!
Hi. In that case, you can just purchase tickets at the station to Odawara or use IC card (in this case you need to leave once in Odawara). Have a great trip to Hakone!
@@tokyokenchan Thanks so much! Just so I have understood correctly, I can go to Shinkjuku station and purchase basic tictet to Odaware. Then I can board romancecar (since I have basic ticket + limited express ticket)? Is that right? Grateful for all the help
Hi, I was under the impression that one only has to purchase the Hakone Free Pass and Romance car limited express ticket to board the Romance car at Shinjuku ?
Hello. I bought 2 separate online hakone pass (using 2 smartphones) which includes a round trip from Shinjuku. Can you explain how to upgrade the tickets to romance car ahead of time? Or do I have to do it at the station on the day of activation? The Emot website I’m on allows me to purchase new tickets from shinjuku station but I want to upgrade and pay the difference. Thank you so much!
Hi. The free pass doesn't included Romance Car tickerts, so you can purchase Romance Car tickets either online or at the station. It might be better to buy online. www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/
Thank you very much for creating this video! Very informative, specific and detailed in every manner. I loved that you included the comparison and benefit of purchasing a Hakone pass and without any pass, which compelled me to buy one to get my money's worth!
I've been there in August, it was amazing! Especially as an evangelion fan. We walked around lake ashi instead of taking the ferry. The scenery was beautiful :)
The easiest way is to get on the bus to Gotemba statoin from Togendai (by Lake Ashi where the ferry terminal is) and change to the bus to Kawaguchiko. Depends on where around Mt.Fuji you like to go, but Togendai - Kawaguchiko takes 3 hours or so.
It's about how it goes with your planning after. I personally like to go up by the mountain railways and cable car as it's more fun going up, and also it feels like forever coming down by mountain railway. But if you go to museum or hotels along the railway after, taking ferry first and head to ropeway is a good idea. It's same, just depends on your plans after.
Hi Kenchan, i love watching your videos, so detailed information. , I am struggling to find the best option to travel from Shinjuku to Wyndham hotel in Gora Hakone. AI has given me this itinerary. Would be greateful if you could pls help me out and confirm if these options are good or I should change something: (Travelling in November : 1) Take the Odakyu Romance Car Limited Express to Hakone-Yumoto Station 2. Hakone-Yumoto Station to Gora Station- Transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railwa. Take the train bound for Gora station. 3) Take taxi from Gora Station to Wyndham Hakone Gora:
Is that Club Wyndham? It seems walking distance from Gora station. If not, taxi is good. But otherwise, everything AI told you sounds correct! Thank you for watching.
I'm traveling with a family of 4 from US , im planing to take the Romancecar From Tokyo and purchasing the 2 days Hakone pass after arrival to Odawara . Question : how do we handle the luggages ? there is a handfree luggage service in Odawara or YUMOTO station right ?
Hello. Just to clarify, you can take either Shinkansen from Tokyo station or RomanceCar from Shinjuku station in Tokyo. In case you take Romance car from Shinjuku (in Tokyo), it's better to purchase the Hakone Free Pass from Shinjuku. If you take Shinkansen from Tokyo station, you can purchase Hakone Free Pass from Odawara. As for the luggage, what I know is only the one in Hakone Yumoto station. Please see the link for pricing and details.➡︎ www.hakonenavi.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/hakone_baggage.pdf
Is it possible to use hakone free pass from Shinjuku to Odawara but not going to hakone on the second day, I want to go to fujinomiya instead by changing the train in odawara and pay the Rest from there to shin-fuji?
Do you mean you go to Hakone on the day 1 and Fujinomiya next day? If you go to Hakone, I think it's good to take advantage of the pass but if you are not going to Hakone, it might be cheaper to just get the tickets. I hope you enjoy the trip.
Hi, may I ask, if we use hakone free pass (for 2 days), can we use to make roundtrip from shinjuku everyday? I mean, can we use the free pass to go back to shinjuku on the first day in afternoon and going back again to hakone on the next morning? appreciate your feedback.
Thank you fort the helpful guide. I want to ask. Is it okay if i reserve the romance car reservation ticket first by online purchase to be able to reserve the seat first. And then buy the hakone free pass later on the departure date?
Hi Kenchan, I’m rewatching this video as I’m planning to do a 1 day trip from Tokyo. If things go as planned will be in Hakone on Jan 2 of next year but I just find out about “hakone ekiden” that will take place on the same day.. would be that a problem (I.e stores closed, public transportation) for someone how wants to visit the major tourist spots?
Hi. It can be busy and some places might have restriction of walking, but I don't think there will be a major disruption to your trip. I recommend you to book trains soon and you should be still use the discount on digital pass that I'm taking about in the previous video of this. Hope you have a great trip. :)
Hello. Thank you for watching. There is no direct bus unfortuantelly. You can change in Gotemba staiton or Gotemba Outlet Mall, but the not frequent service so I want you to be careful. You don't have to make reservation for the bus to Gotemba. hakone-japan.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around/areas-around-hakone/travel-between-hakone-and-kawaguchiko-lake/
Great question! You can send suitcases from Yumoto Station to your hotel. www.hakonenavi.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/hakone_baggage.pdf I saw people get on the cable car and ropeway with it, but it might be much easier without suitcases. Thank you for asking.
Hello Kenchan, thank you for this informative video! Can I ask for the Romancecar ride btw ~11am to 12pm from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto direction, which side of carriage seats gets more of the sun? Left (A/B) or right (C/D)? Thx in advance!
I was on train in the morning, so I think you don't get any strong sun light like this one I showed in the video. It might be still on the left side but I'm not sure. 😅 I hope you enjoy your ride.
If I’m coming from Yokohama and won’t be going to Shinjuku, can I buy separate tickets for the ferry, ropeway, etc? Thank you so much. I’m planning to go back in February.
Thanks Ken chan for making this very helpful video. However, I'm wondering which kind of train can I ride with Hakone Free Pass but without buying additional Romancecar ticket? I can see there are local train, express and rapid express train on Odakyu Line timetable. Can I ride all 3 types aside of the limited express one? Thanks in advance
Hello, thank you for watching. With the free pass, you can ride on any trains except Romance Car. The rapid express is the fastest one usually, followed by express. I hope you enjoy Hakone! :)
Hi! I think Hakone is a great place to stay in winter especially if you are going to stay over night. My recommendation is to stay at a hotel or Japanese style inn that you can enjoy hot-springs. ♨︎😄
@@tokyokenchanYour videos are always very clear and informative, it helped me a lot for my first trip back in March. And im glad you did Hakone day trip because Hakone has been in my to-do list for the next trip. So which one did you recommend if you only have one day and visit on golden week? Hakone or Kawaguchiko?
Nice vid, i only want to go to Hakone for a day trip, and i just want to ride the cable car and go to the wine onsen yunessun, is the hakone free pass better? Or should i just buy all the tickets for transportations seperate?
Thank you. If you just do a day trip to Yunessan from Shinjuku, it's better not to get the pass. Ropeway and the ship in Lake Ashi is about 4700 Yen round trip, so if you don't take them, it doesn't worth 6100 yen Hakone Free Pass.
@@tokyokenchan how far is Yunessan from after i go on the ropeway ride? Is it easy to get to? I dont want to go on yhe ship, just cable car and ropeway like on ur video then go to Yunessan then back to tokyo.
Kengo-San! Arigatou gozaimasu! Great video full of very useful information. Next trip perhaps I go Hakone, this past trip we went Kusatsu. Snowing and really enjoyed!!!
If coming from Tokyo via Romance Car Limited we are wanting to know best accommodation areas. Is Hakone Yumoto area a good place to stay for two nights? We want to be close to bus route to go around to the main sights. Or should we try places like Gora or by the lake? is it possible to catch a taxi from the train station even if it’s a short walk to our accommodation in Hakone Yumoto? Can we store our luggage at Hakone Yumoto station for the day before we check in later that day? Thanks
Again, very detail vlog. I'm using JR Pass shinkansen to Odawara and rent car there to Hakone n Kawaguchiko. I will park at Ryokan & will still buy Hakone free-pass to tour in Hakone! Good Job again Ken
Hi Edwinlee4904, able to share details how to rent a car at yumoto/odawara stn. Will be spending 4d in Hakone / kawaguchiko/gotemba area. Thanks in advance.
Personally, I think Hakone deserves more than a day trip. I visited in Mar (stayed overnight in Odawara, no cherry blossoms) and Apr (stayed 2 nights in Gora area, cherry blossoms every where 😍😍) this year, loved both trips If you're like me who likes to linger, the Open Air Museum needs at least 3 hours Took the ship cruise in Mar, it was one of my fave memories of our trip, it's so cold out in the lake! ❄❄ Unfortunately, I saw this video too late and didn't realize that I can see Mt Fuji from Hakone 😢😢, and that the mountain partially covered by clouds I saw from MotoHakone ko was Mt Fuji 😢😢😢
Thank you for your comment. 😀 Sounds like you had a great time in Hakone. I can imagine how nice it was during the cherry blossom season. I agree the main purpose of the trip should be the hot springs and the time at the accommodation itself. Haven't been on this route for a long time, but I enjoyed all the rides in Hakone. :)
@@MarlaClark-zz9bx that's a tough one 😅 I will probably choose the cruise because it involves less walking 😬😬 The Open Air Museum offers more photo taking opportunities though due to the many exhibits
Thank you Kenchan, a very helpful and informative video as always. Having watched this we are so glad that we are having a 2 day trip to Hakone in December, there is so much to see. Watching this we saw a few helpful tips that will make our visit even better, if by chance we see you in Tokyo we owe you a drink or two!
Thank you for watching Matt san! I think that would be a great experience. More than half of the experience rely on the time in your accommodation, so one night trip would be even better. :) haha, thank you! 🍺
Good day Sir , Thank you for this great video about Hakone. I have never been in a place where you could see volcanoes, or even the steam that comes from the Earth so this will be a great trip for me as I am planning on visiting Japan next year in May or June. I will add Hakone to my itinerary and yes I think you’re right it’s good to stay at least two days to see it . Thank you so much.
Thank you for watching. Yes, it's interesting volcano is laying right next to Tokyo. I think May and June will be a great season to visit with lots of greens. Staying there one night would be great. 👍:)
Hello Okka san! Yes, in that case you can get the pass from Odawara station without the part of Odakyu line (Shinjuku-Odawara). It's faster to take Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara from Tokyo station or Shinagawa station. Every "Kodama" stops, and "Hikari" trains also make a stop at Odawara every 2 hours in case you arrive from Kyoto or somewhere further. Please note with Emot, you need to be able to connect online with your smart phone. 👍
@rebeccalie8043 Yes it covers them. In that case the pass is 5000 Yen for 2 days (as of today without any discount.) In case you take bus one way back from Moto Hakone, the price is almost even with/without pass but it's great you can hop on and off with the pass. 👍
I love your videos, so informative. You even covered the bus routes, will need them to go to a Ryokan :))) I will be visiting Hakone in April so I've been watching this multiple times. haha By the way, is the ferry timetable from Togendai at @13:41? Thank you very much! :))
Thank you for watching. I'm glad to hear it's helpful for you. Yes, the timetable from Togendai is 13:38 on the wall. The paper at 13:41 is coming Hakonemachi port. Have a great stay in Hakone! :)
@@tokyokenchan thanks so much for the clarification :) I hope though it's okay to ask a few more things 🙏 1. Planning to buy a digital Hakone pass. Do I need to activate/scan it at the Odakyu Station at Nishi-Shinjuku on the day of my trip? I want to be at the station at 6AM, but I worry that the office might be close? Can I scan my pass on a machine outside the office by 6AM? 2. If the office is close and I need staff assistance to activate/scan the pass, can I activate the pass the day before? I have been looking for this info on their website but I must have missed it. I hope you can extend your help again. I also watched your video on Skyliner, such a lifesaver!!! I tend to get lost in train stations😅so thank you very much!
Fell in love with Hakone on my first trip to Japan in 2020 before pandemic. Stayed in Hakone guesthouse and it was amazing. It was beautiful even though it snowed so bad. 🥰
Thanks for this informative video. Is it possible to just buy limited express train ticket at hakone-Yumoto station before we ride the romancecar that travels back to Shinjuku? With a busy day trip itinerary, I don’t know what time we will be able to go back to hakone-Yumoto station to take the train going back to Shinjuku.
Yes. It can be busy in the evening especially on weekends, but probably you can purchase if you wait a bit strolling Yumoto. You can also book online when you know the approx time of leaving, instead of going to the station.
Kevin san, Dale san, thank you so much for your support for the video! I really appreciate it as you might already know Hakone very well. It was lots of explanation, but I hope you enjoyed the video. :) Thank you again.
@@tokyokenchan we are still learning about Tokyo and surrounding areas so your videos are very helpful. We will leave for KIX tomorrow so thank you for your videos on Kyoto and Kansai transportation information.
thank you for your information. if we took the romanecar to odawara station and then buy the hakone pass, would that be easier? there's a price difference of 1100 yen.
If you are taking Romance car from Shinjuku, it's cheaper to get Freepass from Shinjuku as you can save on the fare part of the Romance Car. Thank you for watching. :)
This is the best video I’ve watched on Hakone and it has all the details that first timers need. So glad I found your channel.
Before purchasing the Hakone freepass, please ask for the Hakone freepass brochure and read the fine print on the bottom of the front page. There is a rule that says, "The Hakone Freepass (including those valid for multiple days) cannot be used after returning to your departure station." Basically, the freepass is encourages people to stay in Hakone to fully benefit from it.
It doesn't matter if two or three days pass once you return back to Shinjuku station, the freepass cannot be reused again. In our case the station staff took away our two-day pass which was only used for one day. Anyway, I think I should put it out there to let everyone know there is a rule they need to know about it. Love your videos.
Awesome guide! love your channel, very informative
Thank you for watching! I’m glad you like it. :)
We just got back from Japan! Absolutely fantastic. We got some spectacular footage and more importantly created amazing memories!
Thank you very much for this great video :))))
You’re welcome. Thank you for watching. :)
Hi! Have you ever considered making the videos in Japanese as well? This will be so helpful for people like me, learning the language. Thank you!
Hi, thank you for watching. :) You mean all in Japanese? I haven't thought about it but maybe I can put more meaning of Japanese in the video, like Kuro Tamago =black egg? Sometimes I'm not sure if people wants to know that or not. 😅 Thank you for your request!
@tokyokenchan yes!!! Or maybe online lessons while traveling 🤔
your videos help me a lot! thank you!
Thank you for watching. I'm glad it was helpful!
箱根は東京からわずか2時間足ら。電車に乗ってしばらくすると田園風景に変わって行きます。
箱根は昔から、素敵な場所でしたが錆びれた時期もありました。
しかし今また賑やかになり世界中の方達を引き付けています。
Hi Kenchan, thanks for yet another very informative video! I am thinking of doing a 2D1N trip to Kawaguchiko and Hakone. staying at a ryokan at Kawaguchiko to see My Fuji in the morning. Do you think I should go to Kawaguchiko first then Hakone or the other way round? Any advice is appreciated!
I think you can enjoy Kawaguchiko more when you sleep there that night, so you can go to Hakone next day? I also think you can't enjoy Hakone if you feel you have to go all the way to Kawaguchiko after this. It's just my thought though. :)
Great intro to Hakone, plan to go in November. Any tips on finding a ryokan that allows solo travellers? Almost all ryokans need minimum 2 guests.
Yes. Not just in Hakone, but I usually set the number of guest “ 1 “ and “meals included “ and search. I just booked one in that way in another place. Some Ryokan comes up. I hope you can find a good one. :)
Amazing guide ! I plan on taking your advice on traveling from Shinjuku at 07:00 to
Arrive 08:12 in Odawara. Do you have any more information on the "Local" train you spoke about at 7:58 ? Thank you ! Are you referring to the Hakone Tozan Railway?
Thank you for watching. Oh great. You can avoid the big wave of crowd from the next romance car. :) The local train at 7:58 is the train from Odawara at 8:24 arrives Hakone Yumoto at 8:39. It leaves from near the carriage no.1 of Romance Car. Yes, It is part of Tozan Railway, but the Odakyu's car is used between Odawara - Yumoto.
Much appreciated ! @@tokyokenchan
I wanted to say a huge thank you again :) We took your advice and used the Hakone Freepass to get all around ! Made little travel vlogs about it @@tokyokenchan
Thanks
Thank you so much Okka san!
how long do you think is sufficient to complete the hakone counter clockwise loop? I also want to visit gotemba outlet and plan to do all in one day from Tokyo.
what time do you recommend to start at Hakone Station and the last transport going back from Hakone Station to Odawara and transfer to Shinkansen back to Tokyo? Thanks!
Hi Kenchan san
This video is very helpful.
Buying the Hakone free pass definitely save us some money.
We planning to take EXE from Shinjuku to Odawara.
With the Hakone free pass, any idea if we can take the local train from Odawara to Hakone-Yomoto station? Or we have to buy the train ticket separately with extra cost?
Hello. This Hakone Free Pass gives you unlimited ride from Odawara and further, so you can get to Hakone-Yumoto without any extra cost. 👍I also took that way. The route between Odawara - Yumoto is Hakone mountain railway, even though they use Odakyu's car. Thank you for watching. :)
If staying around Lake Ashi and heading to Kyoto after visiting Hakone, is it better to take the Shinkansen from Odawara or Mishima station?
If you take bus to the station, either way is good. I think there are more frequent bus to Odawara, but Mishima is closer to Kyoto and ticket for Shinkansen is reasonable.
Your maps and your explanations, are super thorough. I appreciate your hard work! Even when you spoke about the wall partitions at 6:27 for getting the better train seat, that was very very helpful! Please continue making great videos for all of us!!
Thank you so much for watching. I’m glad you liked the part of window partition. ^^ It’s important sometimes. I wish you have a good time in Hakone.
Can not imagine how people manage to visit Hakone and Kawaguchiko in one day. We visited Kawaguchiko as a one day trip in March and we did not have enough time. I used your video to plan our trip. Love your channel.
Thank you for watching and your message. If it's first time visit to Tokyo, it might look closer on the map. But as you know, it's almost impossible unless you like to stay on the bus all day. :)
I'm a live in the moment type of person so I barely take any pictures. I manage to visit both sites and went back to Yokohama in the evening because I'm done exploring.
Thank you so much for the concise travel information, Kenchan. I've only recently found and subscribed to your channel, and I'm so pleased that I have. I feel quite confident that I won't get hopelessly lost in transit -fingers crossed🤞😊 - when I plan my journey to your beautiful country, sometime in the near future! Thank you once again🇬🇧🇯🇵
Thank you so much for watching from UK and such a nice message. I'm glad you found my videos helpful for your future trip. 😄 I hope you come up with a great travel plan to Japan, and I wish you not to get lost. 🤝
@@tokyokenchan👍😊...My intention is to have an extended stay, perhaps 3 months or more, if this is at all possible, Kenchan? That way I can experience as much of the spectacular scenery, culture, and places of interest Japan has to offer. And, even if I do become a little lost in transit, time would be on my side😄
Hi! I have a Hakone Free Pass (Hakone Area Only) which will be valid from Odawara station onwards. I have also purchased a Limited Express "Romancecar" ticket from Shinjuku to Odwara. I understand that I now have to also purchase a separate ticket to use the romancecar. Could you please help me understand which ticket to book? Thanks so much for all you help. Your videos have been immensely helpful!
Hi. In that case, you can just purchase tickets at the station to Odawara or use IC card (in this case you need to leave once in Odawara). Have a great trip to Hakone!
@@tokyokenchan Thanks so much! Just so I have understood correctly, I can go to Shinkjuku station and purchase basic tictet to Odaware. Then I can board romancecar (since I have basic ticket + limited express ticket)? Is that right? Grateful for all the help
@@user-xf2vb4sd1i Yes, correct. You can puchase the ticket to Odawara at ticket machine. It's 910 yen from Shinjuku. :)
@@tokyokenchan Excellent. Thanks again :D
Hi, I was under the impression that one only has to purchase the Hakone Free Pass and Romance car limited express ticket to board the Romance car at Shinjuku ?
Can I go to hakone from narita Airport using hakone freepass ?
Hakone free pass is from Shinjuku, so you might be able to get to Shinjuku by Narita Express and use Hakone Free Pass from there.
Hello. I bought 2 separate online hakone pass (using 2 smartphones) which includes a round trip from Shinjuku. Can you explain how to upgrade the tickets to romance car ahead of time? Or do I have to do it at the station on the day of activation?
The Emot website I’m on allows me to purchase new tickets from shinjuku station but I want to upgrade and pay the difference.
Thank you so much!
Hi. The free pass doesn't included Romance Car tickerts, so you can purchase Romance Car tickets either online or at the station. It might be better to buy online. www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/
Thank you very much for creating this video! Very informative, specific and detailed in every manner. I loved that you included the comparison and benefit of purchasing a Hakone pass and without any pass, which compelled me to buy one to get my money's worth!
Thank you for watching! I'm glad to hear this video was helpful for you. I wish you the best trip in Hakone. :)
I've been there in August, it was amazing! Especially as an evangelion fan. We walked around lake ashi instead of taking the ferry. The scenery was beautiful :)
That's great you walked around. Ferry was quite packed so you probably could feel more of Hakone's nature. :) Thank you for watching.
Can i buy tickets of romance car on the day of my trip to hakone?
Yes if there is a seat available. If possible, I recommend you to book online even the previous night.
How to go from Hakone to Mt. Fuji? Thx
The easiest way is to get on the bus to Gotemba statoin from Togendai (by Lake Ashi where the ferry terminal is) and change to the bus to Kawaguchiko. Depends on where around Mt.Fuji you like to go, but Togendai - Kawaguchiko takes 3 hours or so.
Is it worth it to go during the Winter Season? Around end of February?
I think so!
Any difference if I go to the pirate ship first then head up to the ropeway, or go to the ropeway and down to the lake?
It's about how it goes with your planning after. I personally like to go up by the mountain railways and cable car as it's more fun going up, and also it feels like forever coming down by mountain railway. But if you go to museum or hotels along the railway after, taking ferry first and head to ropeway is a good idea. It's same, just depends on your plans after.
Hi Kenchan, i love watching your videos, so detailed information. , I am struggling to find the best option to travel from Shinjuku to Wyndham hotel in Gora Hakone. AI has given me this itinerary. Would be greateful if you could pls help me out and confirm if these options are good or I should change something: (Travelling in November : 1) Take the Odakyu Romance Car Limited Express to Hakone-Yumoto Station
2. Hakone-Yumoto Station to Gora Station- Transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railwa. Take the train bound for Gora station. 3) Take taxi from Gora Station to Wyndham Hakone Gora:
Is that Club Wyndham? It seems walking distance from Gora station. If not, taxi is good. But otherwise, everything AI told you sounds correct! Thank you for watching.
I'm traveling with a family of 4 from US , im planing to take the Romancecar From Tokyo and purchasing the 2 days Hakone pass after arrival to Odawara . Question : how do we handle the luggages ? there is a handfree luggage service in Odawara or YUMOTO station right ?
Hello. Just to clarify, you can take either Shinkansen from Tokyo station or RomanceCar from Shinjuku station in Tokyo. In case you take Romance car from Shinjuku (in Tokyo), it's better to purchase the Hakone Free Pass from Shinjuku. If you take Shinkansen from Tokyo station, you can purchase Hakone Free Pass from Odawara. As for the luggage, what I know is only the one in Hakone Yumoto station. Please see the link for pricing and details.➡︎ www.hakonenavi.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/hakone_baggage.pdf
Is it possible to use hakone free pass from Shinjuku to Odawara but not going to hakone on the second day, I want to go to fujinomiya instead by changing the train in odawara and pay the Rest from there to shin-fuji?
Do you mean you go to Hakone on the day 1 and Fujinomiya next day? If you go to Hakone, I think it's good to take advantage of the pass but if you are not going to Hakone, it might be cheaper to just get the tickets. I hope you enjoy the trip.
@@tokyokenchan yes day 1 hakone, day 2 fujinomiya, get off at Odawara station and from there to fujinomiya
Thankyou for sharing this video very useful and great video, we are looking to visit Japan next September
Thank you for watching. :)
By far the best Hakone guide i've seen! Thank you again Kenchan 😊
Thank you for watching and your message!
Hi, may I ask, if we use hakone free pass (for 2 days), can we use to make roundtrip from shinjuku everyday? I mean, can we use the free pass to go back to shinjuku on the first day in afternoon and going back again to hakone on the next morning? appreciate your feedback.
Hi. It only includes one round trip between Shinjuku and Odawara for both 2 days / 3 days. Only Odawara and further is the free pass area.
Thank you fort the helpful guide.
I want to ask.
Is it okay if i reserve the romance car reservation ticket first by online purchase to be able to reserve the seat first.
And then buy the hakone free pass later on the departure date?
Yes, that also works. Thank you for watching. :)
Hi Kenchan, I’m rewatching this video as I’m planning to do a 1 day trip from Tokyo. If things go as planned will be in Hakone on Jan 2 of next year but I just find out about “hakone ekiden” that will take place on the same day.. would be that a problem (I.e stores closed, public transportation) for someone how wants to visit the major tourist spots?
Hi. It can be busy and some places might have restriction of walking, but I don't think there will be a major disruption to your trip. I recommend you to book trains soon and you should be still use the discount on digital pass that I'm taking about in the previous video of this. Hope you have a great trip. :)
hi kenchan! after watching your video makes me wanna visit here! do you know how can i go about booking bus from kawaguchiko to hakone?
Hello. Thank you for watching. There is no direct bus unfortuantelly. You can change in Gotemba staiton or Gotemba Outlet Mall, but the not frequent service so I want you to be careful. You don't have to make reservation for the bus to Gotemba. hakone-japan.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around/areas-around-hakone/travel-between-hakone-and-kawaguchiko-lake/
Appreciate the videos and information! Planning to visit Kawaguchiko/Nikko/Hakone in February and am glad I found your channel 😀
Thank you for finding my channel. :) I'm glad you liked the videos. Have a great winter trip.⛄
Thank you for the information, your videos are really useful for planning my trip, but here how handle luggage in this Hakone trains?
Great question! You can send suitcases from Yumoto Station to your hotel. www.hakonenavi.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/hakone_baggage.pdf
I saw people get on the cable car and ropeway with it, but it might be much easier without suitcases. Thank you for asking.
Hello Kenchan, thank you for this informative video! Can I ask for the Romancecar ride btw ~11am to 12pm from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto direction, which side of carriage seats gets more of the sun? Left (A/B) or right (C/D)? Thx in advance!
I was on train in the morning, so I think you don't get any strong sun light like this one I showed in the video. It might be still on the left side but I'm not sure. 😅 I hope you enjoy your ride.
Thank you Kenchan! 🙏🏻
If I’m coming from Yokohama and won’t be going to Shinjuku, can I buy separate tickets for the ferry, ropeway, etc? Thank you so much. I’m planning to go back in February.
@@keikit748 Yes, but if you are going through Odawara, you can save by getting the pass from Odawara.
@@tokyokenchan OHH thank you so much 😊
Thanks Ken chan for making this very helpful video. However, I'm wondering which kind of train can I ride with Hakone Free Pass but without buying additional Romancecar ticket? I can see there are local train, express and rapid express train on Odakyu Line timetable. Can I ride all 3 types aside of the limited express one?
Thanks in advance
Hello, thank you for watching. With the free pass, you can ride on any trains except Romance Car. The rapid express is the fastest one usually, followed by express. I hope you enjoy Hakone! :)
Hia Kenchan! Is Hakone a good place to visit in winter (February)? Or do you have other recommendations from Tokyo that are good for a 1-night stay? 😄
Hi! I think Hakone is a great place to stay in winter especially if you are going to stay over night. My recommendation is to stay at a hotel or Japanese style inn that you can enjoy hot-springs. ♨︎😄
@@tokyokenchan thank you! 😇
this is the video that i’ve been waiting for, thank you Ken-chan ❤
Oh great! Thank you for waiting and watching. I hope you liked it. :)
@@tokyokenchanYour videos are always very clear and informative, it helped me a lot for my first trip back in March. And im glad you did Hakone day trip because Hakone has been in my to-do list for the next trip. So which one did you recommend if you only have one day and visit on golden week? Hakone or Kawaguchiko?
Greetings, will visit Hakone in June..😊
Hello. Thank you for watching. Hydrangea season. Have a great time in Hakone. :)
Do you have a video on Kawaguchiko area? I am trying to decide between them
Yes! A Day Trip Guide to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo ♢ Tips for a Successful Excursion
ua-cam.com/video/XBAvctn-88g/v-deo.html
@@tokyokenchan Thank you SO much!!
Nice vid, i only want to go to Hakone for a day trip, and i just want to ride the cable car and go to the wine onsen yunessun, is the hakone free pass better? Or should i just buy all the tickets for transportations seperate?
Thank you. If you just do a day trip to Yunessan from Shinjuku, it's better not to get the pass. Ropeway and the ship in Lake Ashi is about 4700 Yen round trip, so if you don't take them, it doesn't worth 6100 yen Hakone Free Pass.
@@tokyokenchan how far is Yunessan from after i go on the ropeway ride? Is it easy to get to? I dont want to go on yhe ship, just cable car and ropeway like on ur video then go to Yunessan then back to tokyo.
Thanks Kenchan, this is definitely on my list of places to visit when I visit Japan again.
Thank you for watching Ryuga san! Did you like Kamakura and Mt.Takao?
@tokyokenchan yes! I loved both but Kamakura was especially amazing.
@@firefangz Yes, Kamakura has a lot to see. I hope you come back to Japan again!
Kengo-San! Arigatou gozaimasu! Great video full of very useful information. Next trip perhaps I go Hakone, this past trip we went Kusatsu. Snowing and really enjoyed!!!
Thank you Davy san! I think you can experience more countryside and deeper hot springs experience in Kusatsu. :) Muse be so nice in snow!
Was debating on going to Hakone because it seems like I can’t day trip it but thank you for this guide I think I’ll add it to my Itinerary!
Thank you for watching. If you leave Tokyo early and plan ahead, you can see the golden route plus 2-3 places in a day. :)
we want to day trip also and i don't know where to start
@@rheaangela9288 Take Romance Car from Shinjuku station. I recommend you to take direct one to HakoneYumoto. :)
@@tokyokenchan i will take note of that, thank you
Great video. We are debating changing our two nights in keyoto to two nights in hakone. Traveling with two small children. Which would you recommend?
Do you advice to do this trip straight from Narita? Getting a bus so no transfer then Hakone Freepass 2day pass? Which hotel do you recommend?
If coming from Tokyo via Romance Car Limited we are wanting to know best accommodation areas. Is Hakone Yumoto area a good place to stay for two nights? We want to be close to bus route to go around to the main sights. Or should we try places like Gora or by the lake? is it possible to catch a taxi from the train station even if it’s a short walk to our accommodation in Hakone Yumoto? Can we store our luggage at Hakone Yumoto station for the day before we check in later that day? Thanks
Another fantastic and informative video.Thankyou so much Kenchan. Hakone is definitely on our list for the next visit.
Thank you for watching and your kind comment. :) I hope you enjoy Hakone.
Very helpful. Thank you!
You're welcome! Thank you for watching.
Again, very detail vlog. I'm using JR Pass shinkansen to Odawara and rent car there to Hakone n Kawaguchiko. I will park at Ryokan & will still buy Hakone free-pass to tour in Hakone! Good Job again Ken
Thank you for watching and your comment. That sounds like a great plan with a rental car. It's so much easier with a car around Mt.Fuji. :)
Hi Edwinlee4904, able to share details how to rent a car at yumoto/odawara stn. Will be spending 4d in Hakone / kawaguchiko/gotemba area. Thanks in advance.
Personally, I think Hakone deserves more than a day trip. I visited in Mar (stayed overnight in Odawara, no cherry blossoms) and Apr (stayed 2 nights in Gora area, cherry blossoms every where 😍😍) this year, loved both trips
If you're like me who likes to linger, the Open Air Museum needs at least 3 hours
Took the ship cruise in Mar, it was one of my fave memories of our trip, it's so cold out in the lake! ❄❄
Unfortunately, I saw this video too late and didn't realize that I can see Mt Fuji from Hakone 😢😢, and that the mountain partially covered by clouds I saw from MotoHakone ko was Mt Fuji 😢😢😢
Thank you for your comment. 😀 Sounds like you had a great time in Hakone. I can imagine how nice it was during the cherry blossom season. I agree the main purpose of the trip should be the hot springs and the time at the accommodation itself. Haven't been on this route for a long time, but I enjoyed all the rides in Hakone. :)
@@tokyokenchan you're welcome and thank you for making these videos 😊
If you had to choose, would you do the lake cruise or open air museum?
@@MarlaClark-zz9bx that's a tough one 😅
I will probably choose the cruise because it involves less walking 😬😬
The Open Air Museum offers more photo taking opportunities though due to the many exhibits
This video is perfect, thank you do much❤
If I go to Hakone directly from Haneda airport, and stay there overnight, is it still worth it to get the free pass?
Incredible video, thanks so much. We will be there next week.
Thank you. I hope you have a great time in Hakone. :)
@@tokyokenchan thank you so much for your video. We followed many of your tips and Hakone was fantastic. Keep up the great work Sir.
I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed your trip. Thank you for your message. :)@@jd-one.9468
Thank you Kenchan, a very helpful and informative video as always. Having watched this we are so glad that we are having a 2 day trip to Hakone in December, there is so much to see. Watching this we saw a few helpful tips that will make our visit even better, if by chance we see you in Tokyo we owe you a drink or two!
Thank you for watching Matt san! I think that would be a great experience. More than half of the experience rely on the time in your accommodation, so one night trip would be even better. :) haha, thank you! 🍺
Nice video - very informative. Thanks.
Thank you for watching. :)
Thankyou for the detail information.
Thank you for watching!
Thank you. Kenchan always gives the best videos and presentation for Japan travel
Thank you for watching. I appreciate your kind comments. :)
Good day Sir , Thank you for this great video about Hakone. I have never been in a place where you could see volcanoes, or even the steam that comes from the Earth so this will be a great trip for me as I am planning on visiting Japan next year in May or June. I will add Hakone to my itinerary and yes I think you’re right it’s good to stay at least two days to see it . Thank you so much.
Thank you for watching. Yes, it's interesting volcano is laying right next to Tokyo. I think May and June will be a great season to visit with lots of greens. Staying there one night would be great. 👍:)
Your channel really helps me a lot
Thank you very much❤
Thank you for watching. I hope you have a great trip to Hakone. :)
Thanks for all this informations. Very useful and practical for future travels.
Thank you for watching. :)
Wow, the most helpful video about how to get around, and I've watched many Hakone videos by now😅
Thank you for watching. I'm glad you found it helpful. Have a great trip to Hakone! :)
Kengo san, with the Emot ticket, do we buy the Hakone Area only pass if we can use our JR Pass to get us until Odawarra Station? Thank you
Hello Okka san! Yes, in that case you can get the pass from Odawara station without the part of Odakyu line (Shinjuku-Odawara). It's faster to take Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara from Tokyo station or Shinagawa station. Every "Kodama" stops, and "Hikari" trains also make a stop at Odawara every 2 hours in case you arrive from Kyoto or somewhere further. Please note with Emot, you need to be able to connect online with your smart phone. 👍
@@tokyokenchan Thank you so much for your advice. Very much appreciated.
@@tokyokenchanhi. In that case if we buy the pass at odawara station, does it covers the buses, ropeways, ferry etc around hakone?
@rebeccalie8043 Yes it covers them. In that case the pass is 5000 Yen for 2 days (as of today without any discount.) In case you take bus one way back from Moto Hakone, the price is almost even with/without pass but it's great you can hop on and off with the pass. 👍
@@tokyokenchan Tq very much. I really enjoy following your vlog. Very helpful & informative. 👍👍👍
I love your videos, so informative. You even covered the bus routes, will need them to go to a Ryokan :))) I will be visiting Hakone in April so I've been watching this multiple times. haha By the way, is the ferry timetable from Togendai at @13:41? Thank you very much! :))
Thank you for watching. I'm glad to hear it's helpful for you. Yes, the timetable from Togendai is 13:38 on the wall. The paper at 13:41 is coming Hakonemachi port. Have a great stay in Hakone! :)
@@tokyokenchan thanks so much for the clarification :) I hope though it's okay to ask a few more things 🙏
1. Planning to buy a digital Hakone pass. Do I need to activate/scan it at the Odakyu Station at Nishi-Shinjuku on the day of my trip? I want to be at the station at 6AM, but I worry that the office might be close? Can I scan my pass on a machine outside the office by 6AM?
2. If the office is close and I need staff assistance to activate/scan the pass, can I activate the pass the day before?
I have been looking for this info on their website but I must have missed it. I hope you can extend your help again. I also watched your video on Skyliner, such a lifesaver!!! I tend to get lost in train stations😅so thank you very much!
Fell in love with Hakone on my first trip to Japan in 2020 before pandemic. Stayed in Hakone guesthouse and it was amazing. It was beautiful even though it snowed so bad. 🥰
That's amazing you enjoyed the guesthouse in Hakone. You are so lucky that you got snow in Hakone. ⛄️☺️
This is super helpful for us as we are going to Hakone next week. Thank you so much for the detailed work.
Thank you for watching. I hope you have a great time in Hakone!
Thanks for this informative video. Is it possible to just buy limited express train ticket at hakone-Yumoto station before we ride the romancecar that travels back to Shinjuku? With a busy day trip itinerary, I don’t know what time we will be able to go back to hakone-Yumoto station to take the train going back to Shinjuku.
Yes. It can be busy in the evening especially on weekends, but probably you can purchase if you wait a bit strolling Yumoto. You can also book online when you know the approx time of leaving, instead of going to the station.
Great video that answered all my questions! It might be useful for you to list your transportation costs using your routes.
Arigatou Kenchan! We are finding your videos very helpful! 🙇🏻♀🙇🏻♂
Thank you for watching! Arigatogozaimasu.
I made the mistake of looking at deluxe 4 and 5 star accommodations in Hakone. Now I want to spend all my vacation money here lol
After buying HAKONE FREE PASS, how to reserve the ROMANCE CAR?
Hi. I have the details in the description. Thank you for watching.
Thank you Kenchan, always very helpful and informative
Thank you for watching and your message. :)
Very useful information for anyone planning on visiting Hakone. We will rewatch it why we start planning for next year’s trip to Tokyo. Thanks!
Kevin san, Dale san, thank you so much for your support for the video! I really appreciate it as you might already know Hakone very well. It was lots of explanation, but I hope you enjoyed the video. :) Thank you again.
@@tokyokenchan we are still learning about Tokyo and surrounding areas so your videos are very helpful. We will leave for KIX tomorrow so thank you for your videos on Kyoto and Kansai transportation information.
Thanks for all the details
Thank you
You're welcome. Thank you for watching. :)
I have sent this to my non- Japanese friends so they have fun and don't cause trouble. @@tokyokenchan
Many thanks for the demo and the time you dedicated to this video 😊
My pleasure! Thank you for watching and your message. :)
Amazing!
Thank you for all your work!
Oh Jake san! I didn't expect to get a comment from you. It was worth making this video now. :) Thank you for watching!
thank you so much, so helpful 🙏🏻👍🏻
Tks u so so so much
Great intro thanks
Thank you for watching. :)
This is so helpful. Wonderfully executed video. Very detailed and easy to follow. Thank you so much!
thank you for your information. if we took the romanecar to odawara station and then buy the hakone pass, would that be easier? there's a price difference of 1100 yen.
If you are taking Romance car from Shinjuku, it's cheaper to get Freepass from Shinjuku as you can save on the fare part of the Romance Car. Thank you for watching. :)
how much is the upgrade to the romancecar? or is regular route better?@@tokyokenchan
Thank you kenchan san
Thank you for watching. :)
I have watched your other videos, thankfully you have visited hakone recently
Kenchan san, are you sure tokaido tokyo to odawara shinkansen is 3280 yen?
@@choonkeatteoh3214 Yes, for non-reserved seats on Kodama.
very helpful, thank you
very detail, nice explanation.
Thank you. Have a great time in Hakone. :)
素晴らしい動画です。詳細ありがとう。