Looking to explore the Hakone Loop the cheapest and easiest way? Want some unforgettable views and experiences? Well, there is a super simple way to do that – it’s called the Hakone Free Pass.
You buy this 2 or 3 day ticket, pay the fee once, and you’re covered, traveling from Shinjuku to Hakone is easy and budget-friendly.
You’ll see the iconic Mt Fuji from the Hakone Ropeway, ride a unique pirate ship and visit some sulfur-smelling hot spring with black hard-boiled eggs – along with plenty more Hakone sightseeing opportunities along the way.
When creating your Tokyo Itinerary, Hakone could definitely make that list of top places to see in Japan. With the Hakone Free Pass, it couldn’t be easier to explore the Hakone Loop.
If you’re thinking about visiting Hakone from Tokyo (or anywhere in Japan really) this post will help you figure out what there is to see in Hakone, as well as if the Hakone Free Pass is right for you.
But first of all, where is Hakone?
Where is Hakone in Japan?
Many travelers put Hakone high on their Japan itinerary and for good reason. It’s close to Tokyo and couldn’t be easier to get to. Along with the great sights and unique things to do, Hakone is a tourist favorite.
Hakone is a small city on the southern coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island.
Hakone lies exactly 100km southwest from the capital city of Tokyo. Driving between Hakone and Tokyo takes roughly 1.5 hours while taking the train is just over the hour mark.
What is the Hakone Loop, or the Hakone Round Course
The loop around Hakone is an easy way to see most of the sights in an organized way.
This “Hakone Loop” consists of 5 separate modes of transport that not only take you from one station to the next, they also give some pretty incredible views while they’re at it.
Usually, this route is completed in a counter-clockwise direction, but you can go the reverse way if you’d like.
So what are the 5 different types of transport in the Hakone Round Course – well, let’s have a look at a counter-clockwise trip. You can always do it reverse if you wish.
Hakone Tozan Railway
Hakone-Yumoto to Gora Station
Most visitors to Hakone will take this transport first, as it is the beginning of the Hakone Round Course.
Making multiple stops along the way, Hakone Tozan Railway travels from Hakone-Yumoto Station (where the JR Pass usefulness ends) to Gora Station, the beginning of the Hakone Cable car.
Hakone Tozan Cablecar
Gora to Sounzan Station
Next is the Cablecar of Hakone. It’s a short but steep climb to Sounzan Station from Gora Station, stopping at 4 stations along the way.
Gora Train Station is inside the city limits of Hakone itself, so it is a very common transfer point for visitors to the area.
Hakone Ropeway
Sounzan to Togendai Pier
Next, the Hakone Ropeway gives arguably the best view of Hakone and the surrounding area. The reason why looping Hakone counter-clockwise is my suggestion is the views you’ll have in front of you.
Initially, you’ll get hills and Mt Fuji, assuming the clouds aren’t covering the skies, and eventually, you’ll see the northern tip of Lake Ashinoko.
The final stop of the Hakone Ropeway is Togendai Pier, ready to board the pirate ship.
Hakone Sightseeing Boat
Togendai Pier to Hakone-machi Pier
Now, I’m too sure what the reason for these boats on Lake Ashi to be pirate ships, but that is how they are marketed, and they definitely fit the bill.
Currently, there are 3 private ships in operation, Royal II, Victory, and Queen Ashinoko. All three do the same job, ferry visitors from one side of the lake to the other, but they all have a completely different look.
It’s a pretty unique way of sightseeing Hakone and experiencing Ashi Lake.
The three ports that these boats travel between are Togendai-ko Pier, Hakone-machi-ko Pier, and Moto-Hakone-ko.
It’s about a 25minute journey from Togendai to either of the southern piers, and around 10 minutes between Hakone-machi and Moto-Hakone.
Hakone Tozan Bus
Moto-Hakone Pier/Hakone-Machi Pier to Hakone-Yumoto Station
The Hakone Tozan Bus is the most extensive network of routes to get around d Hakone. While it completes the southern side of the loop around Hakone, from either of the south Lake Ashi Piers, back to Hakone-Yumoto Station, that links to Shinjuku in Tokyo.
This bus also links Yunessun Onsen (read more about this unique, red wine hot spring below) and a number of other sights around Hakone.
It gives an alternative option for many of the routes listed above, but I suggest varying your transport to get the most out of your Hakone Free Pass.
What is the Hakone Free Pass
Simply, the Hakone Free Pass is a ticket that covers all transport from Shinjuku in Tokyo to Hakone and all transport in the area.
The pass lasts for 2 or 3 consecutive days (depending on what pass you choose), so you can take your time exploring Hakone. The Hakone Free Pass includes unlimited use of all trains, buses, boats, cable cars, and trams – anything affiliated with Odakyu Lines.
That means if you really enjoyed the boat ride or cable car, you can do multiple trips.
While the name states free Hakone Pass, it is of course, not free when speaking of the cost.
Hakone Loop Pass From Shinjuku
For an all-inclusive 2-day Hakone transport ticket is 5,700¥ $52 USD), 1,500¥ ($13.50 USD) for children 6-11 years old and 5 years and younger ride free.
If you’d like to take an extra day, a 3-day Hakone Free Pass is available, for 6,100¥ ($56 USD) and 1,750¥ ($16 USD).
The prices above are the Hakone Free Pass cost from Shinjuku, if you’re at Machida or Odawara Train Station, the cost becomes less. Purchase your ticket at the station you intend to leave to Hakone – this will ensure you get the right price and right ticket.
What does the Hakone Free Pass include?
On top of the 5 types of transport listed above, there’s even more included in the Free Pass of Hakone.
Say you buy the Shinjuku 2-day pass for Hakone sightseeing. There are two types of passes.
One that includes your round-trip train from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto Station, the other does not include this round trip – so be sure to clearly state if you want the ticket to cover your transit to and from Shinjuku (or wherever you’re buying from).
How long to complete the Hakone Loop
While it is possible to complete the entire loop of Hakone in a single, early rising day from Tokyo, if you’d rather take your time to explore the sights, you might want to consider staying overnight in Hakone.
There a variety of day tours in Hakone to book online, and most come with everything you need to have a hassle-free day.
While the pass covers your train from Shinjuku (or Machida/Odawara Stations), the “Hakone Loop” doesn’t begin until the station Hakone-Yumoto.
The loop around Hakone begins and ends at this station. Whether you take the circle clockwise, or anti-clockwise is up to you – I would suggest anti-clockwise, as I feel the cable car will give better views in that direction.
What is there to see around Hakone
Things to see in Hakone are everywhere. Most of these attractions can be accessed by one of the 5 modes of transport around the Hakone Loop.
Mount Fuji and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
Visiting Mount Fuji isn’t included in the Free Pass around Hakone, but there are multiple points where you can view Japan’s iconic mountain.
many visitors come to the area to trek Mount Fuji, and standing at 3,776 meters tall (Japan’s tallest peak) the trail takes from 5-7 hours to reach the end, one-way.
Considered one of 3 mountains in Japan to be sacred, it’s been a pilgrimage location for centuries.
Some of the best views of Mt Fuji in Hakone are from the Hakone Ropeway and Lake Ashi. Unfortunately, Mt Fuji is known to be often cloudy, making the views impossible on some days – I got lucky and saw just the tip of this beautiful, snow-peaked mountain.
The city of Hakone itself is located within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, so the Hakone Free Pass, by default, includes this. Sightseeing this Hakone National Park is made super simple and cost-friendly by this free pass.
Lake Ashi (Lake Ashinoko)
One of Hakone’s unique attraction is exploring Lake Ashi on a boat – a pirate-esque boat as well. A well-maintained ferries travelers from one side of the lake to the other.
The north shore of Lake Ashi has one port, listed as “Hakone Pirate Ship Togendai Port”, and lives at the base of the Hakone Ropeway.
The south shoreline has two ports, one right across the road from Hakone Checkpoint Travel Story Hall and the other Lake Ashi Cruise Pier. The pirate ships of Lake Ashi loop between these three ports.
From the lake, Hakone Shrine is also visible and you can get a great view of Mount Fuji in the background – as long as those pesky clouds stay away!
Hakone Ropeway
The Hakone Ropeway gives some incredibly scenic views over Hakone and the Fuji-Hakone Izu National Park.
From the Gora Train Station, the Tozan Cable Car takes you to the beginning of the Hakone Ropeway. At the peak, you’ll get some scenic vistas from Owakudani, as smoke rises from the thermal springs underneath the earth – you’ll also see the unique black eggs, that turn black from boiled in the sulphuric waters around the area.
Owakudani is a valley of volcanic activity, as well as providing natural heat for hot springs in the area.
The Hakone Ropeway ends at Lake Ashi, ready to board the pirate ship across Hakone’s lake.
Hakone Shrine
This Japanese Shinto Shrine stands at the base of Mt Hakone and along the shores of Lake Ashi. While the huge torii gates, a recognizable signal of a Shinto Shrine, makes it easy to find, many of the buildings of the temple are swelled by dense forest.
This makes for a peaceful walk around Hakone Shrine, especially in the early hours of the morning.
From Moto-Hakone Boat Pier, you’re only a 5-minute walk from Hakone Shrine. You can see the unmistakable torii gate on the Lake Ashi shoreline on the southern side.
Other things to do in Hakone
If you have a little extra time in Hakone, after you’ve taken the cable car and decorated pirate ship, there’s one other attraction in Hakone that you’ll likely never find again.
Yunessun Onsen – this is your complete guide to possibly the strangest onsen in Japan.
There are a number of warm pools filled with interesting ingredients – from red wine to sake, maple syrup to coffee. Yeah, it’s a little strange, that’s for sure.
But, you’ll never forget bathing in warm red wine, that’s for sure!
One word of warning, if you have tattoos, you’ll be asked to cover them up. This may be a simple long sheet shirt (they rent them out at the gift shop), or if you’re as inked as I am, waterproof tape will cover your skin.
It’s not really a culture shock in Japan, but I did get some very strange looks during the day.
Summary of Hakone Loop-Free Pass – is it worth it?
Whether you’re taking a day trip to Hakone from Tokyo, or looking to spend a couple of days exploring this beautiful destination, it’s well worth the time, effort and cost.
The Hakone Free Pass makes everything simple and convenient. It’s a one time fee and you’re free to explore the Hakone Loop as you please.
So what do you think? Have you visited Hakone before? I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions in the comment section below!
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Make sure to pick up your free 8-page travel checklist and read more about Japan before you leave!
Thanks for reading!
Happy and safe travels,
Ben – Horizon Unknown
