Can I take Shinkansen to Hakone?

The fastest way to reach Hakone is to take the Shinkansen to Odawara Station and then the short 15 minutes train ride to Hakone Yumoto at the base of the Hakone mountains. Taking the local JR Tokaido Line to Odawara Station may the the most economical.



You cannot take the Shinkansen directly into Hakone, but you can take it to Odawara Station, which serves as the primary gateway to the Hakone region. From major hubs like Tokyo or Osaka, you would board a Tokaido Shinkansen train (such as the Kodama or Hikari) and disembark at Odawara. From Odawara, you must transfer to a local train (the Hakone Tozan Railway), a bus, or a taxi to reach Hakone-Yumoto or other areas within the park. In 2026, many travelers prefer the "Romancecar" limited express train from Shinjuku, which offers a direct and scenic route to Hakone-Yumoto without a transfer. However, if you are using a Japan Rail Pass, taking the Shinkansen to Odawara is the most cost-effective method. Once at Odawara, the "Hakone Free Pass" is the gold standard for navigating the region's diverse transport, including the mountain railway, cable cars, and the pirate ships on Lake Ashi.

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Hakone: If you don't have a rail pass, the cost from Tokyo is much cheaper vs from Kyoto. And if you have a nationwide JR Pass, you can take Shinkansen to Odawara and then transfer to an Odakyu train to Hakone. The entire trip takes around 45 minutes.

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If you have a JR Railpass use the Tokaido line Shinkansen and change trains at Odawara Station. The Odakyu line runs the Romance Car, a comfortable direct ride to Hakone Yumoto Station. Your train ride takes between 50 and 90 minutes depending on the train you take.

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Many splendid views of Mt. Fuji can be found around the Hakone area. Each viewpoint shows a different profile of the famous mountain and the surrounding areas are also worth exploring for the diverse historical and natural sites.

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Hakone is a short train ride from Tokyo, but feels like a world away. The fastest way to reach Hakone is to take the Shinkansen to Odawara Station and then the short 15 minutes train ride to Hakone Yumoto at the base of the Hakone mountains.

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Helpful InfoHAKONE AND KAWAGUCHIKO Kawaguchiko gives one of the best views of Fuji in all of Japan, but the logistics of getting there and other activities are very limited. Hakone has good views of the mountain, but convenient connection to transportation and many other attractions in the area.

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One simple day pass will gain you unlimited travel on eight different types of transportation in Hakone for either two or three days. Pick up your pass at Shinjuku Station, and you're able to ride the Hakone Tozan Train, Hakone Tozan Bus, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, Hakone Ropeway, and even the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise!

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Hakone is most famous for hot springs, traditional ryokan, rich nature, museums, and historical sites. Hakone is a mountainous area that lies on the the famous Tokaido Road connecting Tokyo and Kyoto.

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From Tokyo Station, you can take a bullet train on the Tokaido Shinkansen line to Odawara Station, which is included in the JR Pass. From Odawara you then take the Hakone Tozan train and get off at Hakone-Itabashi Station, the final destination stop.

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You can take a train from Hakone to Fuji via Hakone-Yumoto and Odawara in around 1h 25m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Hakone to Fuji via Tomei Gotemba in around 2h 13m.

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Instead, what makes the Shinkansen (and any Ltd. Express train) more expensive then regular trains is a hefty standard surcharge: the supplementary special-express ticket, which covers the premium experience of traveling on the nice fast trains. And yes, you have to pay it even if you have to stand.

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