By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 27th May 2024 | Updated: 1st November 2024
Now Hakone isn’t on many peoples radars, but this wonderful onsen filled area with some incredible views of Mount Fuji just south of Tokyo is great place to spend a few days. So how do you get from Tokyo to Hakone and what is the easiest way to get between Tokyo and Hakone?
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide & Viator
Currency Conversion: We recommend Wise
Travel Insurance: World Nomads
Tokyo to Hakone by Car
It takes roughly 1 hour to get from Tokyo to Hakone, traffic and your route depending. There are two main routes into Hakone, one via the Gotenba Interchange which takes you directly into the Hakone mountains, or via the Hakoneguchi Interchange, which enters the Hakone mountains from below via the Tomei Expressway. Again depending on your route you will have to pay a toll fee as well as your fuel costs.
Tokyo to Hakone by Bus
Direct highway buses go between Shinjuku in Tokyo and Lake Ashi in Hakone, every 30 minutes to 1 hour, on the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus. One-way the trip costs around 2,200 yen and takes approximately 2 hours in good traffic.
Tokyo to Hakone by Local Train
The Odakyu Railway is the best local train route to get between Tokyo and Hakone, with journeys taking anywhere from just over an hour to two hours depending on if you take the Romance Car Limited Express Train of the normal Express Train. Tickets cost from 2,470 yen for the Romance Car and 1,270 yen on the normal Express train, with the normal, slower, Express train requiring a transfer at Odawara Station.
This was the first train route we ever embarked upon whilst in Japan, and although it is straight forward, for the first timer to Japan, (and with the snow storm we had as we arrived!), it did take us around 3 hours to get to Hakone once we’d figured out where to go and what to do!
To make the journey from Tokyo to Hakone even more straight forward, you can also get the Hakone Free Pass, which includes unlimited use of trains, cable cars, ropeways, boats and buses within Hakone as well as the trip between Hakone and Tokyo.
Want to experience traditional Japanese treats? That is where Sakuraco comes in! Monthly boxes filled with Japanese treats and snacks, delivered to your door, perfect for anyone wanting to try more of Japan’s cuisine – Just be warned you will be left wanting to book flights straight to Japan after opening the Sakuraco box!
Tokyo to Hakone by Shinkansen
You can’t actually get from Tokyo to Hakone directly via Shinkansen, as you have to change at Odawara onto the Hakone Tozan Railway or Hakone Tozan Bus, which will then take anywhere from another half an hour to an hour depending on where you are going in Hakone. If you do choose to take the Shinkansen though, the Shinkansen from the Tokyo or Shinagawa stations takes about half an hour to get to Odawara. Also it is worth noting that only the Kodama and select Hikari trains stop at Odawara, so be sure to get on the right Shinkansen!
🚅 How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Hakone by Shinkansen? 🚅
It takes roughly half an hour to get from Tokyo to Odawara via the Shinkansen, then up to an hour on local public transport depending on where you are going within Hakone.
🚅 How much is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakone? 🚅
One-way from Tokyo to Odawara on the Shinkansen costs 3,500 yen.
🚅 What rail passes cover the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakone? 🚅
The JR Pass covers the trip on the JR Tokaido Shinkansen, but once within Hakone it will not be valid.
How To Get From Tokyo To Hakone FAQs
Is Hakone a good day trip from Tokyo?
Hakone is a great place for a day trip from Tokyo, especially if you are short on time, but we would argue that Hakone is well worth seeing for more than a day, and that you should stay in the area instead of taking a day trip. We spent 3 wonderful days in Hakone and honestly wanted more time!
Does the JR Pass go from Tokyo to Hakone?
You can use a JR Pass to get from Tokyo to Odawara via the Kodama Shinkansen, (not all Shinkansen stop at Odawara), which is the main station that you change at to get to Hakone, but from Odawara to Hakone and whilst in Hakone you will have to pay separately for transportation.
How far is it from Tokyo to Hakone?
Tokyo is located approximately 67 km / 42 miles north of Hakone.
Conclusion: How To Get From Tokyo To Hakone
There are a few ways to get from Tokyo to Hakone, from bus, to Shinkansen and local train, but with varying time frames and prices, we would recommend taking the local trains between the two.
All Our Japan Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 How To Get From Hakone To Kyoto
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Hiroshima
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Kyoto
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.