Hakone is less than 100km from Tokyo and is a part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is one of the popular destinations by the international tourists and the Japanese themselves looking for a break from Tokyo. Famous for its natural beauty, the view of nearby Mt. Fuji and hot springs (onsens)
Hakone Alert to date: The Hakone Ropeway is currently not operating from Sounzan Station to Owakudani Station and Ubako Station due to volcanic gases around the Owakudani. The rest of the Hakone is not affected.
It was not yet our last day in Tokyo. We were going to Hakone on this day. The following day, we travelled to Osaka from Tokyo by the famous bullet train or Shinkansen, Nozomi. We did not buy the JR rail pass. We had the
SUICA card and top up the required minimum value. The fare was deducted per travel. The fare deducted from the card was lesser compare if bought ticket every time we travel by the train. We were able to use the card throughout Japan except for bus in Kyoto. Please check out the link for further info.
We had our luggage shipped to Osaka via
TA-Q-BIN on this day. The courier services are located on most convenience stores. Luckily, there was one located in the building of our hotel, Hotel Century Southern Tower in Shinjuku. We just left a few stuff we would use until our arrival to Osaka.
Our trip to Hakone was a bit frustrating. Our plans did not go as planned.
We only had one day in Hakone, our pass though was good for 2 days. We went to Osaka the following day as planned.
Hakone Free Pass by
Odakyu Railways is a special pass for exploring Hakone. It includes one round trip from Tokyo area to Hakone by Odakyu Railways and unlimited use of Odakyu affiliated buses, trains, boats, cablecars and ropeways within the Hakone free area.
It includes also discounted admission to selected tourists attractions.
Hakone Free Pass Prices:
Fares
| Valid for 2 days | Valid for 3 days |
|---|
| Departure station | Adults | Children | Adults | Children |
|---|
| From Shinjuku | 5,140 yen | 1,500 yen | 5,640 yen | 1,750 yen |
| From Machida | 4,820 yen | 1,420 yen | 5,320 yen | 1,670 yen |
| From Odawara | 4,000 yen | 1,000 yen | 4,500 yen | 1,250 yen |
The above prices are examples. Passes can be purchased at any Odakyu Line station.
There is a vending machine to purchase Hakone free pass and the train tickets.
We purchased though ours at the Odakyu Railway Service Center at the Shinjuku Station located at ground floor west exit. Opens daily from 8am to 6pm.
Hakone FreePass, Romance car ticket from Shinjuku to Hakone and from Hakone to Shinjuku.
From Shinjuku, we took the Romance Car direct to Hakone Yumoto. Approximate travel time is 88minutes
The Hakone FreePass covers one round trip from Tokyo area to Hakone by Odakyu Railways. But it would be a long travel by the Odakyu train. Approximate travel time with stop at Odawara is 120minutes
| Route | Total | Limited express surcharge + normal fare |
|---|
| Shinjuku - Hakone-Yumoto | Shinjuku Hakone-Yumoto | 2,080 yen | (890 yen + 1,190 yen) |
| Shinjuku - Hakone-Yumoto | Shinjuku Odawara | 1,770 yen | (890 yen + 880 yen) |
| Shinjuku - Katase-Enoshima | Shinjuku Katase-Enoshima | 1,250 yen | (620 yen + 630 yen) |
| Shinjuku - Katase-Enoshima | Shinjuku Fujisawa | 1,210 yen | (620 yen + 590 yen) |
| Shinjuku - Gotemba | Shinjuku Gotemba | 2,810 yen | (1,530 yen + 1,280 yen) |
If holder of Hakone FreePass, you need to pay only the Limited express surcharge. As per above, we were from Shinjuku, we paid only additional 890yen one trip. If we did not have the FreePass we had to pay 2,080 yen.
Upon arrival at the Hakone Yumoto station, we went down to find a bus to take us to Gora. Then we realized when we did not see any bus going to Gora, we had to take the Hakone-Tozan train in which platform was just right next to our arrival from Shinjuku. So we went up again to the Hakone Yumoto station. This is the disadvantage of the free and easy travel. We could say we were a bit unprepared for this trip.
Red bridge spanning Hayakawa river
From Hakone Yamato, we took the Hakone-Tozan Railway to Gora.
However, we boarded the wrong train, went to different way instead We had waited long at Iriuda station for the train to take us back to Hakone Yumoto. What was going on with us?
photo from
odakyu.jp
How could we had missed this sign board?
waiting for the train to take us back to Hakone Yumoto. We had already wasted so much time.
Apparently, the frequency of the train in this area was low. The workers still had time to do their thing.
From Hakone Yumoto, we went up to Gora by the Hakone-Tozan Train. The train climbed the Japan's steepest railway to the mountains of Hakone. It took 40 minutes to reach the last stop, Gora Station.
When we reached Gora, we felt hungry and realized it was time for lunch. We ate at the Japanese Restaurant, near the Gora Station. There was a long queue and it was raining. It took almost an hour before our turn. Worth waiting though, food was really so yummy.
cable car from Gora to Sounzan. It took 10 minutes to reach the Sounzan Station.
From Sounzan Station, we were to take the Ropeway to the volcano, Owakudani
Due to strong winds, the ropeway was cancelled. we had no choice but to go down back to Gora and back to Hakone Yamoto. We would miss our Romance car schedule had we not done it.
Had the ropeway not cancelled and able to reach the Owakudani Station (8mins), after spending time at the volcano, we would take the Ropeway to Ubako Station and another Ropeway to Togendai Station (a total of 15 minutes if we would not stop at Ubako Station). From Togendai Station, we could have taken the boat for Lake Ashii Sightseeing Cruise. All tranports were covered by our Hakone Pass. And after the Lake Ashii Cruise, which we were to alight at Moto-Hakone Station (40 minutes), we would take from there the Tozan bus to Hakone Yumoto (35 minutes). Then, take the Romance car back to Shinjuku
On this trip, we failed to go up the volcano (at present in active alert) and we failed to experience the famous Lake Ashii Cruise.
Another unfortunate happened, while we were waiting for the Romance Car train at Hakone Yumoto Station, there was some announcements in Japanese language that we did not understand. Later, we found out our train had been cancelled and probably other passengers were able to change their schedule. We asked the station crew which train to take back to Shinjuku, he showed the train coming. We boarded that train and we were all asked to alight at Odawara Station. Then we transferred to another train going to Shinjuku. That train took almost 2 hours to reach Shinjuku as it consisted many stops. I was so worried if we had the correct train. Our GPS said the route is bound to Shinjuku. We were trying to take the limited express but booking must be in advance, all seats must be reserved in advance. When we reached the Shinjuku Station, we approached an officer standing by the turnstile/scanner and showed the Limited Express ticket. They immediately refunded as the surcharge we had paid.
That was our Hakone experience. We would be visiting Japan in March 2016 and we would make sure we would take the Lake Ashii Cruise. We should have learned from our mistakes.
Currently, the Ropeway from Sounzan Station to Ubako Station is suspended due to volcanic gases around the Owakudani Area. Alternative transport would be Tozan Bus from Sounzan Station to Ubako Station. From Ubako Station, we could take the Ropeway to Togendai Station for the Lake Ashii Cruise. Or take Tozan Bus from Gora Station direct to Togendai Ropeway station (approximately 30 minutes)
We would like to visit the Hakone Shrine when we are at Moto-Hakone after the sightseeing cruise. It is only 5 minutes from the station on foot following the huge archway
We could check the Cedar Avenue too.
Thank you guys for the visit. Till the next blog.
