Can you use JR pass to Hakone?

Yes, you can use the JR Railpass to get to Hakone. The JR Railpass will allow you to ride the shinkansen bullet train to Odawara Station. All shinkansen does not stop at Odawara so make sure you catch the Kodama shinkansen. The shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Odawara is only about 40 minutes.



You can use the Japan Rail (JR) Pass to cover a significant portion of the journey to Hakone, but it does not cover the entire trip. Specifically, you can take the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Odawara Station using your JR Pass. From Odawara, you have entered the territory of the Odakyu Railway, which is a private company not affiliated with JR. To continue into the heart of Hakone (such as Hakone-Yumoto or Lake Ashi), you must purchase separate tickets or, more popularly, the Hakone Free Pass. In 2026, the Hakone Free Pass remains the best value for exploring the region, as it covers the mountain railway, cable cars, ropeway, and the pirate ship cruise. If you attempt to use your JR Pass past Odawara, the gates will not accept it. Most travelers use the JR Pass to reach Odawara for "free" and then switch to the local network, balancing the high speed of the Shinkansen with the specialized sightseeing transit that makes Hakone a premier destination.

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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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Alternatively, the Odakyu line runs between Tokyo's Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station. There is an express train which takes around 85 minutes or a slower, cheaper train which takes around two hours (you change at Odawara Station). Another option is to buy a Hakone Free Pass.

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For a limited time only, you can buy a Japan Rail Pass from certain train stations and airports in Japan. Travelers should be aware it is more expensive to buy a JR Pass in Japan than to purchase the pass online.

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Unless you plan to ride a LOT of JR trains during your trip, you'll almost certainly save money by buying individual train tickets instead a Japan Rail Pass. You can buy shinkansen tickets online (before or after arrival) on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines (between Tokyo,Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hakata).

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If you are traveling to multiple cities in Japan and plan on using the bullet train (Shinkansen) or other long-distance trains (local, express or limited-express trains), then the JR Pass can be a cost-effective option.

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The JR Pass is the only one that covers all of Japan. You can use it to travel to and within each of Japan's four main islands; Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. That's where you'll find all of Japan's major tourist attractions, like Mount Fuji, the Imperial Place in Tokyo, and Osaka Castle.

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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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As for private tour, visiting both in a day is possible with a hired car. But even with a car, it's not so recommended for the above reason. One day for Mt. Fuji and one day for Hakone is recommended to appreciate the area fully.

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The Hakone Free Pass by Odakyu Railway is a discount pass for exploring Hakone. It provides unlimited use of Odakyu-affiliated buses, trains, boats, cablecars and ropeways in the Hakone area and discounted admission to selected tourist attractions on two or three consecutive days.

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It connects Sounzan Station (at the terminus of the Hakone Tozan Cablecar) with Togendai Station (at the shore of Lake Ashinoko) and stops at Owakudani and Ubako stations on the way. The ropeway is fully covered by the Hakone Free Pass. The ropeway's gondolas depart every minute and fit around ten people each.

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