Hakone is one of Japan’s best-known tourist destinations, where visitors can enjoy the beauty of the nature, its culture and history throughout the year.
Do you want to travel in the most efficient and economic ways to and in Hakone?
We know that travelling for the first time to Hakone can be challenging. Especially, if you create your itinerary and plan your transportation by yourself.
In this article, we will explain in detail what Hakone Free Pass is, its price, area covered by the pass, mode of transportations included in the pass, its benefits, as well as how to purchase the pass.
Table of Contents
What is Hakone Free Pass?
Hakone Free Pass is a discount pass issued by Odakyu Railway to explore Hakone area in the most efficient and affordable price. This discount pass is a must have when you want to use of many different transportation methods in Hakone and can save you a lot of time from not having to buy multiple tickets at different places/stations. Off course, by buying the pass you can save money rather than buying multiple tickets separately. In addition, Hakone Free Pass give you additional benefits: it can be used for discounts at over 70 facilities (such as museum, restaurant, onsen etc.) in Hakone area. It is really a great deal!
How much is Hakone Free Pass?
There are two different types of the pass, the pass that is valid for 2 days and 3 days. As well, depends on where you buy the pass, the price can be different.
You have an option either to buy a 2-days pass or 3-days pass. The pass is valid on the day it is issued/activated and ends the day after (for 2-days pass) or two days after (for 3-days pass) at 11:59 pm. Say, you bought and the pass is issued/activated on October 13 at 3:00 pm, the 2-days pass will expire on October 14 at 11:59 pm and 3-days pass on October 15 at 11:59 pm.
The price of the pass also depends on the departure station of the pass. The pass for departure station at Odawara station is cheaper than the one for Shinjuku station because Odawara is closer to Hakone than Shinjuku.
As can be seen rom the table above, the price for 2-days adult pass from Shinjuku is 6,100 yen while from Odawara is 5,000 yen.
What is included in Hakone Free Pass?
The pass includes one round-trip from the departure station to Odawara and back plus unlimited use of eight Hakone area transportation modes..
What they mean by one round trip from departure station to Odawara is, if you purchase the free pass with Shinjuku departure station, you can use it for one trip from Shinjuku to Odawara and one trip from Odawara to Shinjuku during the pass validity period. However, if you purchase the pass with Odawara departure station, you can only use it for unlimited travel of any eight transportation modes in Hakone area because Odawara (which is about 6 km East of Hakone-Yumoto, the first station/town in Hakone area) is considered part of Hakone.
Please note that with the free pass you can only take a local train from/to Shinjuku to/from Odawara station (which stops at all station and takes about 1.5 hours ride) and then you have to take Hakone Tozan train or bus from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto (included in the pass) for another 15 minutes ride. If you want to take a faster train, you can reserve a seat at Romancecar (Odakyu Railway limited express executive train with reclining seat) to travel directly from/to Shinjuku to/from Hakone-Yumoto (around 1 hour 20 minutes ride, a half hour faster). However, to be able to take Romancecar with Hakone free pass, you have to pay 1,200 yen (one-way) surcharge.
Eight different transportation modes you can use for free with Hakone Free Pass
As mentioned above, you can use any of the following transportation modes for free during the pass validity period within designated area with certain limitation (see the map below):
- 1. Hakone Tozan Bus
- 2. Hakone Tozan Train
- 3. Hakone Tozan Cable Car
- 4. Hakone Ropeway
- 5. Hakone Sigightseeing Cruise
- 6. "KANKO SHISETSU-MEGURI" Bus (Hakone Tozan Bus)
- 7. Odakyu Highway Bus
- 8. Tokai Bus
The most extensive transportation network in Hakone is served by Hakone Tozan Bus. Although the bus stops at most stations, you can take the bus to almost all tourist spots in Hakone.
Hakone Tozan Train runs from Odawara station all the way up to Gora station. This Japan’s oldest mountain train is very famous for tourists especially for the part between Hakone-Yumoto station (103 metre elevation) to Gora station (533 metre elevation). The train winds through a densely narrow wooded valley over many bridges and tunnels. In order to climb the mountain inclines, the train zigzags up the slopes and changes directions at three switchbacks. Passengers can enjoy scenery through the wide window and be wowed as the train climbs steep slopes.
Hakone Tozan Cable Car runs between Gora station and Sounzan. In order to reach Owakudani from Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto, passengers need to transfer at Gora station (from using either Tozan Train or Tozan Bus) to cable car to climb steep incline to reach Sounzan station (767 metre elevation), a transfer point to use ropeway to Owakudani.
To reach Owakudani (at 1044 metre elevation), Hakone’s most tourist spot, you need to take ropeway from Sounzan, or from Togendai (opposite direction). The observation platform of the ropeway offere breathtaking view of Owakudani and Mt Fuji from afar.
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise runs between Togendai and Hakonemachi or Togendai to Motohakone along the beautiful Lake Ashi. The interior of the cruise was inspired by European battleship and looks like a pirate ship. The half an hour sail between Togendai and Hakonemachi/Motohakone offers a superb view of the surrounding area with lake and hills and the view of Mt. Fuji reflected on the clear surface of Lake Ashi.
KANKO SHISETSU-MEGURI” bus can be used to visit main museums such as Hakone Venetian Class Museum, Pola Museum of Art and Hakone Open Air Museum.
Odakyu Highway bus operates between Hakone-Shinjuku and Hakone-Yokohama. However, Hakone free pass only offer free transportation on Odakyu Highway bus within designated area in Hakone, i.e., up to Gotemba station.
Tokai bus only operates between Motohakone and Mishima station.
What are the perks of purchasing Hakone Free Pass?
Other than saving money from purchasing multiple tickets at regular price and saving time in purchasing tickets and selecting mode of transportations, Hakone free pass offers discounts at more than 70 facilities in Hakone.
You can use the pass to get discounts at many museums, hot springs (onsens), botanical gardens, scenic/historic places, dining and shopping facilities, and many others.
The notable facilities offering discounts are Gora Open Air Museum, Hakone Venetian Glass Museum, Hakone-Yuryo Onsen, Yunessun hot spring amusement park, Mishima Skywalk, and Gora Park.
Purchasing and Using the Pass
There are many ways you can purchase Hakone Free Pass as follows:
- 1. Purchase from your smartphone through EMot online tickets
- 2. Through 7-Eleven (7-Ticket) website
- 3. At Odakyu Line stations
- 4. Odakyu Sightseeing Service Centre Odawara
- 5. Hakone-Yumoto ticket office
- 6. Major travel agencies: JTB, KNT, Nippon Travel Agency etc.
The Hakone Free Pass can be purchased starting one month prior to the date of travel.
