Can I use JR Pass from Tokyo to Hakone?

Yes, you can use the JR Rail pass to get to the Hakone area. The JR Rail Pass can be used on JR Trains and the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) only. You can get to Odawara Station using your JR Rail pass, but from there you will need to pay for transportation separately.



You can use the Japan Rail Pass to cover the majority of the journey from Tokyo to Hakone, but it does not cover the final "local" transport within the Hakone region. The best way to use the pass is to take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station to Odawara Station, a journey that takes only about 30 minutes. Once you reach Odawara, you have reached the limit of the JR network for this route. From Odawara, you must purchase a separate ticket or the Hakone FreePass (offered by the private Odakyu Railway) to take the local "Hakone Tozan" trains, cable cars, and ropeways that explore the volcanic valley and Lake Ashi. It is important to note that the popular "Romancecar" limited express from Shinjuku is owned by Odakyu and is not covered by the JR Pass. In 2026, travelers are advised to use the JR Pass to reach Odawara and then buy a 2-day Hakone FreePass at the station to enjoy seamless, "all-you-can-ride" access to the area's famous sights and hot springs.

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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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Here is how to use your JR Railpass to get to Hakone. Yes, you can use the JR Rail pass to get to the Hakone area. The JR Rail Pass can be used on JR Trains and the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) only. You can get to Odawara Station using your JR Rail pass, but from there you will need to pay for transportation separately.

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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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The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. (The pass holders must take “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” or “TSUBAME” trains.)

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There is so much to see and do in the Hakone Region that we would definitely recommend that you plan to stay in Hakone for at least 1-2 nights to make the most of the local options. However, many people are on a tight timeframe when they visit Japan so plan to do a day trip to Hakone instead.

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An easy loop tour you can follow through Hakone includes various forms of unique transportation: Starting out by train from Tokyo, you switch to a small three-car tram that zigzags up the mountain, then change to a cable car, and then to a smaller ropeway, and end your trip with a boat ride across Lake Ashi, stopping ...

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You may bring up to 2 baggage items with a total length, width, and height of up to 250 cm (up to 2 meters in length) and a weight of up to 30 kg. However, please reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area or oversized baggage compartment when carrying on oversized baggage.

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Validity. The pass is valid on almost all trains operated on the nationwide network of JR (Japan Railways), including shinkansen, limited express, rapid and local trains. The map below shows the major train lines that are covered by the pass.

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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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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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