How to Get to Hakone
Located nearby Mount Fuji, Hakone is a popular hot spring area offering visitors plenty of fantastic attractions and activities, not to mention great views of the mountain. Many visitors heading to Hakone will do so directly from Tokyo or from areas around Mount Fuji. For travellers heading to Hakone from other points of origin, it may also be necessary to do so via Tokyo. On this page you will find the following information:
— 20 Things to Do Around Hakone & Where To Stay
— Book With Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator
Hakone-Yumoto Station is the main station providing access to Hakone. As such, the directions below provide information on how to reach that point. From the station, the Hakone Tozan Railway ascends to Gora Station and the Hakone Ropeway, which in turn provides access to Ashinoko; while local bus services also run to Gora, Ashinoko and Sengokuhara.
For visitors wanting to explore Central Japan in the comfort and convenience of their own vehicle, we can arrange private charters to any regional destination – a great option for families and groups wanting to avoid the hassle of public transport. For further information, see ‘Book With Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator’ below. We hope that the following information is of assistance when planning your visit to Central Japan.
WHERE IS HAKONE?
Hakone is a popular ‘onsen’ (hot spring) area lying around 90km to the south-west of Tokyo. Known for its wide range of accommodation options – including lots of traditional guesthouses with their own hot springs – along with plenty of great restaurants, museums, galleries and other attractions, Hakone attracts lots of visitors given its close proximity to the capital. Part of the larger area of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, visitors to the area can often enjoy some of the best views of Mount Fuji to the west with the months of October and November being a particularly popular time of year given Hakone’s beautiful autumn colours.
HOW TO GET TO HAKONE
One of Japan’s most popular hot spring towns, Hakone is easy tor reach by train from Tokyo and beyond. In this section you will find information on how to reach Hakone from the following starting points:
TOKYO inc. NARITA & HANEDA AIRPORTS – MOUNT FUJI — ENOSHIMA — KAMAKURA – NAGANO CITY – JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK – MATSUMOTO – TAKAYAMA – KAMIKOCHI – SHIRAKAWA-GO & GOKAYAMA – TATEYAMA-KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE – KANAZAWA & TOYAMA – NAGOYA – KYOTO & OSAKA
We endeavour to keep this information as up-to-date as possible and in recognition that most international visitors will be using the train network to move around Japan, most directions are for using the trains. If there is alternative option i.e. express or local bus, that is notably faster or economical, we also include that information.
FROM TOKYO / between 60 to 85 minutes
When traveling to Hakone by train from Tokyo, you can do so from either Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station. From Tokyo Station, the fastest option is to take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara Station – 35 minutes – and then transfer to the Limited Express ‘Odakyu’ service – 15 minutes – bound for Hakone-Yumoto – a total travel time of 60 minutes / JPY3800.
Alternatively, from Shinjuku Station visitors can take the Odakyu Railway all the way to Hakone-Yumoto Station. The Limited Express ‘Odakyu’ service takes 85 minutes / JPY2330 to reach Hakone-Yumoto Station. Local services on the same line also run to Hakone-Yumoto Station however they take notably longer – 120 minutes / JPY1220 – therefore we recommend always using the limited express services.
Want to head to Hakone from the Tokyo airports? You will first need to head into Tokyo itself. For information regarding how to reach Tokyo from either Narita Airport or Haneda Airport, please refer to the relevant page.
FROM MOUNT FUJI inc. GOTEMBA STATION / 40 to 80 minutes by bus or car
Lying to the west of Hakone, Mount Fuji is Japan’s most recognisable destination and one that can be combined with a visit to Hakone. While the two destinations are located relatively close to each other, there are no direct train services from Fuji to Hakone meaning the best way is to drive yourself – taking between 40 to 80-minutes depending on your exact destination – or use a taxi or bus. The Hakone Tozan Bus service runs from the Kawaguchiko area (at the base of Fuji) to Gotemba Station and from there, another bus service runs onto Hakone. If you are interested in this option, it’s worth considering the Fuji Hakone Pass which covers 3-days of transport in and around the area.
FROM ENOSHIMA / between 70 to 80 minutes
From Enoshima Station, take the Enoshima Dentetsu Line to Fujisawa Station and transfer to the Tokaido Main Line bound for Odawara Station, Once at Odawara, transfer to the Hakonetozan Line to Hakone-Yumoto Station – a total journey of 75 minutes / JPY1130.
FROM KAMAKURA / between 75 to 95 minutes
From Kamakura Station or Hase Station, take the Yokosuka Line to Ofuna Station and switch to the Tokaido Main Line to Odawara Station. Once at Odawara, take the Hakonetozan Line to Hakone-Yumoto – 75 minutes / JPY1090. Alternatively, you can make the via Fujisawa Station however that option takes longer – around 95 minutes – and costs more – JPY1220.
FROM NAGANO CITY / approx. 3 hours
When coming from Nagano, visitors will first need to head toward Tokyo Station. To do so, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Nagano Station – a journey that takes between 90 to 110 minutes (depending on which train you take) and costs between JPY8000-9000 one-way. Once at Tokyo Station, follow the directions above to reach Hakone.
FROM THE JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK / between 4 to 5 hours
To reach Hakone from the Jigokudani Monkey Park is relatively straight-forward but takes time. From the park, you have the option of: 1. a direct express bus from the park to Nagano Station or 2. a local bus to Yudanaka Station followed by an express train to Nagano Station. Starting from the park, the express bus costs JPY1500 each way and takes 55 minutes to reach Nagano Station. In comparison, taking the Nagaden local bus from the park to Yudanaka Station – 15 min / JPY310 – followed by the Nagano Dentetsu Line to Nagano Station – 45 min / JPY1290 = a total journey of around 60 to 70 minutes and costing JPY1600. Once at Nagano Station, follow the directions above to reach Hakone.
FROM MATSUMOTO / between 4.5 to 5 hours
While there are slightly faster options for reaching Hakone-Yumoto Station from Matsumoto, the easiest route is via Shinjuku Station. From Matsumoto Station, take the Limited Express ‘Azusa’ to Shinjuku and then transfer to the Limited Express ‘Odakyu’ bound for Hakone-Yumoto – a total travel time of 260 to 300 minutes / JPY8950 (depending on which service you choose). There are slightly faster options by train taking around 230 to 250 but those require multiple transfers. Given the relatively small time-saving offered by those routes and three transfers required – we recommend using the Limited Express ‘Azusa’ followed by the Limited Express ‘Odakyu’.
FROM TAKAYAMA / between 4.5 to 5.5 hours
The historic old town of Takayama is one of Central Japan’s most popular destinations. To reach Hakone from Takyama Station, take the Limited Express ‘Hida’ service to Nagoya – 145 to 160 minutes / JPY5610. Once at Nagoya Station, follow the directions below to reach Hakone.
FROM KAMIKOCHI / 6+ hours
Visitors heading to Hakone from Kamikochi can do so via either Takayama or Matsumoto. We recommend doing so via Takayama. To do so, take the bus from the Kamikochi Bus Terminal to the nearby Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal – 25 to 30 minutes – and then switch to the bus headed for Takayama – another 60 minutes. Once in Takayama, follow the directions above.
FROM SHIRAKAWA-GO & GOKAYAMA / 6+ hours
Regular bus services operated by the Nohi Bus company connect the famous World Heritage-listed villages with nearby Takayama. Taking around 60 minutes, buses run to and from the Nohi Bus Terminal, next to Takayama Station. Once at Takayama, follow the directions above to reach Hakone.
FROM THE TATEYAMA-KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE / approx. 4.5 hours
To reach Hakone from the Alpine Route, it will be easiest to descend on the Nagano-side of the mountain range to Ogizawa Station. From Ogizawa Station – on the Nagano-side of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route – take the Alpico Bus to Nagano Station – approximately 100 minutes journey time. Once in Nagano, follow the directions above to reach Hakone.
FROM KANAZAWA & TOYAMA / between 4 to 5 hours
Much like visitors heading to Hakone from Nagano, those heading there from Kanazawa or Toyama can also do so easily via Tokyo, using the Hokuriku Shinkansen. From Toyama Station, the journey to Tokyo takes 155 to 165 minutes / JPY12,430, while the journey from Kanazawa Station takes between 180 to 200 minutes / JPY13,850. Once at Tokyo Station, follow the directions above to reach Hakone.
FROM NAGOYA / approx. 1.5 hours
Lying to the west of Hakone Nagoya is the largest city in Central Japan and as such, is easy to get to and from via Nagoya Station. From the station, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara Station – 65 minutes – and transfer to the Limited Express ‘Odakyu’ bound for Hakone-Yumoto. A total travel time of around 95 minutes / JPY8890 to reach Hakone.
FROM KYOTO & OSAKA / between 3 to 3.5 hours
The cities of Kyoto and Osaka are some of the most popular destinations for international visitors. Despite the distance, Hakone is also within easy reach of both Kyoto and Osaka thanks to the Tokaido Shinkansen. From Kyoto Station, take the shinkansen to Odawara Station and transfer to the Limited Express ‘Odakyu’ service bound for Hakone-Yumoto – a total travel time of 145 to 160 minutes / JPY12,090.
To make the same journey from Shin-Osaka Station via Odawara Station takes between 160 to 200 minutes / JPY12,640 and requires an additional transfer between shinkansen services at either Nagoya Station or Shizuoka, before reaching Odawara and finally, onto Hakone-Yumoto Station.
20 THINGS TO DO AROUND HAKONE & WHERE TO STAY
Hakone is one of Japan’s most famous and popular ‘onsen’ (natural hot spring) towns. Home to a huge range of accommodation, great restaurants, museum, galleries and outdoor attractions, Hakone is within easy reach of the capital and offers visitors some of the best views of Mount Fuji to the west. Our ’20 Things to Do Around Hakone & Where to Stay’ page has lots of great tips and suggestions of what’s on offer on including the best areas to stay when there.
BOOK WITH US! NAGANO’S NO.1 TOUR & CHARTER OPERATOR
Central Japan offers many, many reasons to visit. Operating all year round, we are Nagano’s No.1-rated tour and charter operator, offering a range of services including group tours, private tours and charters. We can arrange transport including a private vehicle and driver, to transport you to, from and between any destination in Central Japan.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule. All vehicles are fitted with a protective screen – separating the driver from passenger and luggage area – and our drivers wear protective masks, allowing you to move between your destinations in comfort and safety.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Central Japan and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Japan.
Got a question about visiting Central Japan? Contact us and let’s get planning together!
