Getting around · Hakone · Japan
Getting around Hakone
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Hakone's sights are linked by a famous loop of transport: the Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto to Gōra, the cable car to Sōunzan, the ropeway over Ōwakudani to Lake Ashi, and sightseeing boats across the lake, with buses back to Yumoto. The Hakone Freepass covers most of it. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Train
- Airports
- HND, NRT
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Hakone Freepass
Ways to get around
Train
The Hakone Tozan Railway climbs from Hakone-Yumoto to Gōra in about 40 minutes, stopping at Tōnosawa, Miyanoshita and Chōkoku-no-Mori for the Open-Air Museum.
Cable car
The Hakone Tozan Cable Car runs from Gōra up to Sōunzan in about 10 minutes, and the Hakone Ropeway continues from Sōunzan over Ōwakudani to Tōgendai.
Ropeway services can stop in strong wind or when volcanic gas levels rise; replacement buses usually operate.
Boat
Sightseeing boats cross Lake Ashi between Tōgendai, Hakone-machi and Moto-Hakone.
Bus
Hakone Tozan buses link Yumoto, Miyanoshita, Kowakudani, Sengokuhara, Tōgendai and Moto-Hakone, and are covered by the Freepass; Izu Hakone buses run some of the same roads but are not.
Buses fill up on weekend afternoons; board at the first stop or travel the loop in reverse.
Walking
Short walks connect the lakeside sights at Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, and the old Tōkaidō path is a rewarding half-day hike.
Tickets and passes
Hakone Freepass
A two- or three-day pass from Odakyu covering the Tozan Railway, cable car, ropeway, Lake Ashi sightseeing boats and most local buses, with optional return travel from Shinjuku or Odawara.
From the airport
From Haneda Airport, take a train to Shinagawa and the shinkansen to Odawara, then the Hakone Tozan Line to Hakone-Yumoto; allow about 1.5–2 hours. From Narita, allow about 3 hours via Tokyo. Odakyu Romancecar trains from Shinjuku reach Hakone-Yumoto directly in about 85 minutes.
Do you need a car?
No. Trains, the cable car, ropeway, boats and buses reach all the main sights. Use the luggage delivery service at Hakone-Yumoto station to send bags to your ryokan and travel the loop light.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Odawara Castle | About 20 minutes by train | Hakone Tozan Line or Odakyu Line to Odawara |
| Kamakura | About 1–1.5 hours by train | JR Tōkaidō Line from Odawara to Ōfuna or Fujisawa, then local trains |
| Lake Kawaguchi and Fuji Five Lakes | About 1.5–2 hours by bus | Bus via Gotemba, or car |
| Gotemba Premium Outlets | About 30–45 minutes by bus | Bus from Sengokuhara or Tōgendai |
| Atami | About 40–60 minutes by train | Train from Odawara on the JR Tōkaidō Line or shinkansen |
| Enoshima | About 1–1.5 hours by train | Odakyu Line from Odawara via Fujisawa |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Hakone?
No. Trains, the cable car, ropeway, boats and buses reach all the main sights. Use the luggage delivery service at Hakone-Yumoto station to send bags to your ryokan and travel the loop light.
+How do you get from the airport to Hakone?
From Haneda Airport, take a train to Shinagawa and the shinkansen to Odawara, then the Hakone Tozan Line to Hakone-Yumoto; allow about 1.5–2 hours. From Narita, allow about 3 hours via Tokyo. Odakyu Romancecar trains from Shinjuku reach Hakone-Yumoto directly in about 85 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around Hakone?
Train: The Hakone Tozan Railway climbs from Hakone-Yumoto to Gōra in about 40 minutes, stopping at Tōnosawa, Miyanoshita and Chōkoku-no-Mori for the Open-Air Museum.