Complete Guide to Hakone Freepass

The Hakone Freepass is a transportation pass that provides hop on hop off privileges when traveling in and around the Hakone. Hakone is a popular weekend destination for people in Tokyo in need of some R&R and relaxation. Hakone is known for its natural beauty and abundance of hot spring hotels or onsen ryokan. The Hakone Freepass, while not free, makes the trip to and from Hakone a simple and pleasurable undertaking. This video talks about what the pass is, where to buy it, how much it is, what is covered under the pass, and lastly my own opinion of the pass after using it twice. Thanks for watching!

[@amy_w_]

A rare smile at the end

[@Lotus-uo5yp]

Before purchasing the Hakone freepass, please ask for the Hakone freepass brochure and read the fine print on the bottom of the front page. There is a rule that says, "The Hakone Freepass (including those valid for multiple days) cannot be used after returning to your departure station." Basically, the freepass is encourages people to stay in Hakone to fully benefit from it. It doesn't matter if two or three days pass once you return back to Shinjuku station, the freepass cannot be reused again. In our case the station staff took away our two-day pass which was only used for one day. Anyway, I think I should put it out there to let everyone know there is a rule they need to know about it. Love your videos.

[@travistravels8818]

Thanks! Good point. I can attest to that. Upon returning to Shinjuku, my origin/departure station, the turnstile ate my ticket and did not spit it back out.

[@j.l.howlett6843]

You walk like the guy from gta 1 bruh 😂 nice video

[@travistravels8818]

Lol I almost fell out of my chair laughing

[@j.l.howlett6843]

@ 😂😂😂

[@Sam-iq3fi]

Hi Travis, I was wondering if I arrived to NRT at 3:30 pm, is it possible for me go directly to Hakone to stay overnight? How long does it takes to go through custom / immigration / collecting luggage? i read that i should take Narita Express to Shinjuku then take Romancecar or rRapid Express to Hakone-Yumoto. I can't find any information on the hours of operations for these trains and when is the last train to get there. Thank you in advance for all your help.

[@travistravels8818]

Hi Sam! You’re going to cut it real close. Give yourself at least 45min to go through customs/immigration/get luggage. According to Google map which has accurate real time train info, fastest route to Hakone Yumoto (gateway to Hakone) is via Narita Express to Shinagawa station and then tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara and then to tozan line to Hakone Yumoto. Whole trip takes about 2h and costs 7,660 jpy. Assuming your hotel is in Hakone Yumoto, by the time you check in it will be 7pm just in time for dinner but little else bc it’ll be dark. So I think it’s doable but a little intense. I would recommend staying in Tokyo overnight and taking odakyu express or romance car from Shinjuku next morning using Hakone free pass which will save you money and you’ll be able to do some sightseeing at a leisurely pace. Have a good trip!

[@Sam-iq3fi]

Thank you so much for the advice.

[@lucianashiroma326]

Hello, I will be in Nagoya and then go to Hakone. After Hakone I will go to Tokyo Disney. Do you know if Hakone pass covers the return from Odawara to Tokyo? Thank!!

[@travistravels8818]

Hi there! The Hakone Free Pass only covers trains operated by Odakyu on the Odawara-Shinjuku line. So if you are going from odawara directly to Disneyland and you are within the pass period (2 or 3 days depending on which version you buy) then you’ll likely need to take train to Shinjuku first then transfer to Disneyland on your own dime. Hope that answers your question. Your trip sounds like a lot of fun. Happy travels!

[@lucianashiroma326]

Hello! Thanks a lot!! And congratulations for your video! It was very useful for us!!!

[@vinq8140]

Seems a nice Day-Trip Plan. Can you provide the frequencies and service durations of theTrain/Bus/Boat rides so I can plan a day-trip from Shinjuku...Hakone Tourist Spots...Shinjuku. Tks.

[@travistravels8818]

Hi there! The Odakyu line express train departs from shinjuku every 20 minutes throughout the day. The boat ride is about as frequent. Bus less so, one or two per hour depending on the route. But the timetable is designed for you to be able to do them all in one day albeit one very full and action packed day. Have fun!

[@coralie9148]

Thank you for your amazing video ! Can we take luggage in the train for hakone ? For the romancecar or the basic train included in the pass ? :) thank you

[@travistravels8818]

Thank you. Yes you can take luggage onto the train but bear in mind the luggage space is very limited and is located at one end of each car. Overhead space usually cannot accommodate anything bigger than a carryon. Pass only includes the Odakyu regular train not romance car. You have to pay extra to upgrade to romance car.

[@coralie9148]

Thank you so much for answering , a bit stressed about some reservations . The simple train is ok for me , what is the name of the classic train for hakone ? Included in the pass ? :)

[@travistravels8818]

Hi! The train included in the pass is the Odakyu Line train. It goes from Shinjuku station to Odawara station in about 2 hrs. Then take another train from odawara to Hakone Yumoto station which is the first official station of the Hakone region. It’s all included in the pass

[@coralie9148]

And the comeback is included too ? Thank you so much for helping me . A good day and thanks for all :) .

[@Marphy]

hello, I have a question, I leave for Hakone from Shimbashi Station, so I will have to do: Shimbashi Station Kawasaki Station Yokohama Station Totsuka Station Ōfuna Station and with the same train.. Fujisawa Station Tsujido Station ... Odawara Station this second part should be covered by the free pass, while the first I have to buy a ticket, can you explain to me how to combine the 2 things?

[@travistravels8818]

Hi there. There are many routes from shinbashi to odawara depending on time of day and how much you want to spend. Use google map for the best route. Then when you get to odawara, buy the hakone free pass from the Odakyu company ticketing machine. The rest of your your will be covered by the pass. Happy travels!

[@tn9274]

Hi there. do you know whether or not we can buy the pass from the ticket machine without odakyu ride from shinjuku? and can we buy for future date, e.g. today 17th we buy the pass and will use it to Hakone on 18 & 19th?

[@travistravels8818]

Hi! Good questions. See my answer to your question in other video. Unfortunately you cannot use machine to buy Hakone free pass for future dates. I actually tried this and had to go to the ticketing office afterwards to change the dates which they did without hassle or any fees. So if I were you, I would just go to ticketing office directly to buy free pass. Shinjuku office has English speakers

[@tn9274]

@@travistravels8818 appreciate your reply 👍

[@nestorgaviria5364]

Hi Travis thanks for this video, very informative. I wanted to ask you if you know if it is possible to buy the pass at Odawara station (coming from Kyoto) and then use the pass the other day while still valid to get to shinjuku? I am asking because I am confuse, somewhere I read that one can only take the ride from Odawara to Shinjuku if the pass was bought with starting point in Shinjuku. In your experience is it possible to ride the Odakyu Line even having bought the ticket at Odawara station?

[@travistravels8818]

Good question. the Hakone Freepass comes in two versions at two different price points, one that includes a round trip btw odawara and shinjuku, and another that does not. Difference in price is about 1000 yen. A one way train ticket on Odakyu line from odawara to shinjuku is also about 1000 yen. So, whether you buy the hakone free pass that includes shinjuku or the cheaper free pass plus one way ticket to shinjuku, the cost is the same. Now to answer your question, I have only purchased the hakone free pass from Shinjuku station . However, I’m 99% sure the Odakyu travel center will be able to hook you up with the more expensive Hakone free pass that includes shinjuku

[@nestorgaviria5364]

@@travistravels8818 thanks for the reply :)

[@travistravels8818]

@@hakirstendo1514 yes you can buy the hakone free pass on the official odakyu website, from ticketing machine at odawara station, or the service counter at odawara station. I bought mine at the service counter which have English speaking staff. Happy travels!

[@nextdestino]

What's the best way to go from Hakone to Kawaguchico station or vice versa? Is the Hakone Mt Fuji pass worth buying? Thank you

[@travistravels8818]

There doesn’t seem to be a direct bus or train between them. So driving would be your best option. Or go by bus via Gotemba. I have never used the Hakone Mt Fuji pass. However it’s offered by the same company Odakyu as the Hakone Freepass. So as long as it’s far cheaper than the cost of all your trips purchased individually then it’s a good deal. Sorry can’t be more helpful

[@Victor_YNWA]

How to purchase 2 Hakone passes online? I don't c any option to buy b more than 1

[@travistravels8818]

Hi there. You have to purchase them one at a time online. I agree that it is stupid. But I believe the reason for this is that you cannot display more than one ticket per smartphone. In any event, it’s easier to just buy at the Odakyu ticketing office or vending machine (day of) and obtain paper tickets. Good luck!

[@Victor_YNWA]

@@travistravels8818 purchase with same phone one at a time u mean? If i purchase in Odawara, will they run out of tickets? I will be going from Ueno

[@travistravels8818]

One at a time w same phone. Although technically , online instructions require one digital tix per phone. Japanese are sticklers for rules. I don’t think Odawara will run out of tickets. I went during peak season in August and they still had tix. You’ll be just fine I’m sure. Enjoy!

[@niaraeoi3840]

Is there any useful pass for Kamakura?

[@travistravels8818]

There’s a JR Tokyo Wide pass for 15k yen. But it’s only worth it if you are going to travel to many other places. Tokyo to Kamakura round trip train ticket is about 2k yen if no pass

[@heebahsaleem7788]

How can I go to hakone from narita Airport using hakone freepass?

[@travistravels8818]

Hi there! Hakone Free Pass only covers Odakyu operated trains from Shinjuku station to Hakone area. It doesn’t cover any transportation from Narita to Shinjuku or Narita to Hakone.

[@heebahsaleem7788]

@@travistravels8818 but the website says I can buy hakone freepass from the terminal itself and it goes directly to hakone. Correct me if I am wrong.

[@travistravels8818]

I don’t know which website you referring to. According to the official odakyu website, Hakone free pass only covers round trip from Shinjuku station not from Narita airport