Is the Hakone Freepass Worth It?
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When planning your first trip to Hakone, there can be a lot of confusion about whether or not the Hakone Freepass is worth purchasing for a 2 to 3-day trip.
I know because I felt the same!
The Hakone Freepass is marketed as a “convenient, value-priced excursion ticket” for sightseeing Hakone with unlimited use of 8 modes of transportation.
But when you don’t know the area, that information can be super overwhelming!
After visiting Hakone for three days and nights, I finally feel like I cracked the code. 😵💫
In short, the Hakone Freepass is worth it, if only for the peace of mind it gives you when getting around Hakone.
In this guide, I’ll compare the cost and inclusions of the Hakone Freepass (versus DIY and other passes) so you can better understand what it all entails and how to make the most of your time in Hakone when you arrive.
Complete Guide to the Hakone Freepass
What the Hakone Freepass Covers (& What It Means)
The Hakone Freepass covers 8 modes of public transport, but here’s what that means!
The Hakone Tozan (Train, Cable Car, and Bus)
The Hakone Tozan consists of three modes of transport, which you’ll need to use to access a few top attractions, such as Miyanoshita, the Hakone Gora Park, the Hakone Open-Air Museum, and more.
- 🚆 Train connecting Hakone-Yumoto Station to Gora Station.
- 🚡 Cable car connecting Gora to Sounzan.
- 🚎 Bus, which itself includes 8 lines indicated by a letter and a color on the map (e.g., “T” for Togendai, Line “G” for Gotemba Line, “K” for Kyukaido Kine, etc.).
🚌 Kanko Shisetsu-Meguri Bus
These are premium sightseeing buses that include the S and M lines.
This all will make sense once you have a map in your hand but, for now, here’s a photo showing the different lines and colors!
What is important to know is what you want to visit and see/do in Hakone because it is impossible to see and do everything in just two days (or even three).
This is why a little foresight can be very helpful for planning your trip since you won’t use all modes of transportation, depending on what you want to do and where you stay in Hakone.
Read next: 16 Best & Unique Things to Do in Hakone, Japan
🛳️ Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
Have you seen those iconic photos of a lake with views of Mt Fuji and a red torii gate?
If so, that view is likely from the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, a pirate-like boat cruise that crosses Lake Ashi—a 3000-year-old crater lake.
The boat cruise is one of the main tourist attractions in Hakone — purchase your online ticket here! 🎟️
Once you cross the lake (it is recommended to start at the Motohakone-ko side) and reach Togendai, you can then take the Hakone Ropeway.
🚠 Hakone Ropeway
The Hakone Ropeway is essentially the aerial tram that connects Togendai to Sounzan. Again, if you’re not familiar with these names, it doesn’t mean much, right?
In short, the ropeway crosses the volcanic sulfur fields of Hakone and makes a stop at Owakudani (Hakone’s “Hell Valley”).
Owakudani is famous for its sulfur activity and the Owakudani black egg.
These Owakudani eggs are simply normal eggs that are cooked for one hour in the hot springs. They turn black because of the iron that sticks to the shell!
They taste like a normal egg too, but they say eating one will prolong your life by 7 years, so you can expect a long queue to purchase your bag of 4 black eggs at the shop!
I was bummed not to buy/try the famous Owakudani black eggs because the last ropeway of the day to reach Sounzan was at 4:15 pm and I had to rush to make it on time — so keep this in mind when planning your day!
✨ In sum, the Hakone Freepass covers all public transport within/around the Hakone area PLUS a round-trip ticket to/from Shinjuku to Odawara station*, and a few discounts on attractions (e.g. onsens and certain museums have a slight discount but aren’t entirely free).
*Note that the Odawara station is not the Hakone-Yumoto Station.
If you don’t purchase the Romancecar Ltd. Express ticket from Shinjuku directly to Hakone-Yumoto (which is an additional cost of ¥1,200 one-way on top of the ¥6,100 Hakone Freepass), then you will need to transfer from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto Station on the commuter train.
Most people opt for the extra Romancecar ticket because it is slightly faster and easier than the regular trains (you don’t have to transfer to Odawara Station, for example).
👉 You can read the differences between the Romancecar and the regular trains going toward Hakone.
Is the Hakone Freepass Worth It?
So, all in all, is the Hakone Freepass worth it?
Let’s look at the costs!
Cost Breakdown vs. DIY
The Hakone Freepass varies in price depending on where you purchase it.
- From Shinjuku, it costs ¥6,100 (2 days) and ¥6,500 (3 days).
- From Odawara, it costs ¥5,000 for two days and ¥5,400 for three days.
- Same price online via Klook ($40 – redeemable voucher)
Keep in mind that the Romancecar is an additional ¥1,200 one-way.
Most people visit Hakone in 2 days, so if you get the Hakone 2-day Freepass + the Romancecar ticket, it will cost ¥7,300.
⚠️ I will quickly mention here that if you plan to visit the Mt Fuji Five Lakes area after Hakone, consider purchasing either the Fuji Hakone Pass (¥9,340 for 3 days; 2 in Hakone, 1 in Fuji) OR the 3-day Hakone Freepass (¥6500) and use the third day of the Hakone Freepass to get to Fujikawaguchiko, since simply getting there (via train, bus, and bus) without the pass will cost over ¥3,000 alone—I learned this in hindsight and it hurt!).
If you don’t get the Hakone Freepass and visit Hakone on your own with public transport, here are some sample costs in ¥.
- Lake Ashi cruise ticket (one-way): ¥1,200 per adult
- Ropeway ride from Togendai to Sounzan (crossing Owakudani): ¥1,500
- Cable car from Sounzan down to Gora: ¥430
- Bus from Gora to Hakone-Yumoto: ¥460
- Bus from Hakone-Yumoto station to Motokahone (where you can see the Hanoke Shrine, Hakone Checkpoint, and take the sightseeing cruise, plus more): ¥1,080
Already, the above adds up to ¥5,000 and this is just to get to the different places to visit around Hakone.
I also used the Hakone Freepass for the bus ride to get to the trailhead to hike Mount Kintoki. 🥾
So the Hakone Freepass is a good deal!
That amount doesn’t include getting to/from other sites (and there’s a lot to do!) or discounts to visit the museums or onsens. For example, with the Hakone Freepass, entry into the Tenzan Onsen cost me ¥1,350 instead of ¥1,400 (while it isn’t much, it still counts!)
✨ IN SUMMARY ✨
If you are visiting Hakone in 2 days and/or in 3 days, then the Hakone Freepass is worth it in terms of value. Not to mention it’s so much easier to get on/off the buses and trains by showing your pass rather than fumbling for exact change or swiping your Icoca card! Money saved and peace of mind? Deal!
🎟️ Purchase your Hakone Freepass Voucher here
Note: if you visit Hakone with a rental car, you probably don’t need the pass as the savings mostly come from frequent use of the Hakone public transport. 🚙
Where to Purchase the Hakone Freepass
There are several ways to pick up a 2-day or 3-day Hakone Freepass:
- Online via the Odakyu official site or purchase a voucher
- In person at the Odakyu Service Sightseeing Centers
- Shinjuku Station (West Exit)
- Odawara Station
- Ticket vending machines
You can also reserve your Romancecar tickets online or purchase them at Shinjuku Station via the tourist info center or at one of the ticket machines.
The earliest Romancecar Ltd. Express train leaves at 7:37 AM on weekdays and 7:00 AM on weekends.
The early trains fill up quickly for day trippers going to Hakone, so if you want to make the most of your first day in Hakone, then you should reserve the early train in advance!
Hakone Freepass vs. Fuji-Hakone Pass
If you’re planning two days in Hakone and one day in the Mt Fuji five lakes area, then you might consider the Fuji-Hakone Pass over the Hakone Freepass.
However, I would suggest sticking to the 2 or 3-day Hakone Freepass if you plan to slow down a bit and spend more than one day in Fujikawaguchiko.
The cost difference between the Hakone Freepass (3 days) is ¥6,500 whereas the 3-day Fuji-Hakone Pass costs ¥9,340.
If you’re staying just two days (one night) in Hakone and want to do only one day in Fuji, then the Fuji Hakone Pass is well worth it.
And if you spend two nights in Hakone (and take the 3-day free pass), you can use that third day to get to Fuji. That’s ¥2,600 in savings!
To get to Fujikawaguchiko from Hakone-Yumato station (without the pass) costs roughly ¥3,390 (¥840 from Yumoto Station via “T” line to Sengoku, plus ¥800 via “W” line from Sengkoku to Gotemba, and ¥1,750 for the bus from Gotemba Sta. to Fujikawaguchiko).
In either case, visiting both destinations (Hakone and Fuji five lakes) in less than three days is super rapid, so I would suggest splitting it up into 2–3 nights in Hakone and 1–3 nights in Fujikawaguchiko (or Fujiyoshida, Yamanaka, etc).
The Hakone Freepass and the Fuji Hakone Pass aren’t the only “discount tickets” out there.
There are also these passes:
- Hakone Kamakura/Enoshima Pass (3 days)
- Hako Ticket (which is an unlimited 1-day pass to all museums and attractions in Hakone)
- Hakone Freepass & Hako Ticket Plus (unlimited transport + museum/attraction entries)
- Ashinoko Liner (1 or 2-day pass) offering a direct bus to Lake Ashi
- Tozan Ropeway/Cable Car (2-day pass)
- Hakone Tozan Train 1-Day pass (unlimited use between Odawara to Gora)
How to Make the Most of Your Hakone Freepass
With discounts to over 70 attractions in the Hakone area, plus unlimited use of transport, the Hakone Freepass provides a ton of value, but it can be overwhelming to figure out how to actually… use it.
My suggestion is to decide beforehand which places you’d like to visit most since no matter how well you optimize your time, there will be delays, crowds, queues, and weather surprises.
Next, I’d suggest visiting the Hakone area in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation to keep things simple.
When arriving at the Hakone-Yumato station from Shinjuku, you have two choices:
- Option A. Take the bus south toward Motohakone-ko (toward Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, Amesake Teahouse, etc) and go clockwise from there.
- Option B. Take the Tonzan train or bus lines in the direction of Gora (where you can visit several museums, Gora Park, and take the cable car that leads to Sounzan which is where you can then take the ropeway to Owakudani before finishing with the Lake Ashi cruise).
Whichever direction you decide to start the “loop” will also depend on where your accommodation is.
The basic tour of Hakone (Lake Ashi cruise and Hakone shrine + ropeway/Owakudani + cablecar + transportation times to/from accommodation) will take roughly 5 hours not counting visiting time or lunch/dinner.
As you plan your Hakone itinerary, keep in mind the hours of operation (and plan in extra wiggle room as there will be long lines for the boat, ropeway, shrine, and other attractions).
I hope this guide to the Hakone Freepass helps you plan your trip! I seriously wish I had my guide when I was planning—it would have made visiting a lot simpler. 😂
That said, if something isn’t clear and you have additional questions, please drop me a comment below!
Happy and safe travels in Hakone! 💛
Hi Bri,
Firstly, appreciate your post, as it is helping us plan our trip better. Keep it up. I will be travelling from Shinjuku to Odawara using the Odakyu line (taking around 2 hours – not a romance car train) and planning to stay a night in Odawara before heading to Kyoto the next day. I have a couple of questions.
1. By around what should I plan to reach Odawara/Hakone to do the loop B you mentioned in your post (train, cable car, Ropeway, cruise, etc)? By what time do they close or have the last ride?
2. Is the pass worth it for my itinerary? I would prefer convenience over time if it is a matter of 1000 yen or less.
Thank you again for all the info. God bless.
Hey Patrick! Appreciate you reading my travel blog!
1. You’d have to double check because there might be delays or closures–but the Hakone ropeway’s last ride was around 4:30pm when I visited the month of February. (Again, it might be different depending on when you go.) In any case, it’s a full-day excursion, so the earlier you start, the more flexibility you have. I’d say aim to get to Yumoto station no later than 10-11am.
2. The pass is definitely more convenient. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for each transport fare and that will add up and be annoying to count exact change for the bus/train every time. Just for that I’d get it lol. Not sure that’s helpful but if it’s not a budget choice, go for it.
I hope that all helps an extra bit! Have wonderful and safe travels!
Bonjour, tout d’abord merci pour ton article. Mais j’avoue que je n’ai pas trouvé ma réponse. Moi je vais faire le trajet Tokyo Kawaguchiko (1 nuits) puis 2 jours à Hakone pour repartir ensuite sur Osaka. D’après ce que je comprends du pass Fuji-Hakone c’est qu’il faut l’activer dès Tokyo ? Merci par avance pour ton aide
Bonjour et merci beaucoup pour ton message !
Tu as bien compris : le Fuji Hakone Pass doit être activé à Tokyo, généralement à Shinjuku, car c’est là que le pass commence officiellement. Comme ton itinéraire inclut Kawaguchiko puis Hakone avant d’aller à Osaka, ce pass est bien adapté pour couvrir cette portion. Tu peux l’activer le jour de ton départ pour Kawaguchiko.
N’oublie pas que ce pass est valable 3 jours consécutifs à partir de son activation, donc essaie de caler ton itinéraire dans ce délai pour bien en profiter. Bon voyage et n’hésite pas si tu as d’autres questions !
Thank you for your helpful post. May I ask your thoughts on the value of the Hakone Free Pass if it is simply a 1 day trip to the Hakone area from Tokyo?
Hi Yvi! It depends on how you’re getting there and what you plan to do, really. The freepass gets its value from using the transport in Hakone, and just makes everything so much easier since you don’t have to pay separately for every single bus / train journey. So maybe you can try to plan that way by reverse calculating. If you give me a sample itinerary, I’ll try to let you know!
Hi Bri,
Very informative and thanks for doing up the blog! How do we top up the additional charges for the Romancecar when we purchase the 2 day pass?
Hey Zoe! You will buy Romancecar tickets separately from the pass — you can do this at the station in Shinjuku ☺️
Hey Bri,
Your travel blogs have been super helpful in planning my upcoming trip to Japan, so thank you!
Wondering if you can confirm a few things: 1) We are going to spend 2 nights in Hakone + 1 night in Kawaguchiko before heading to Kyoto (via Mishima). Is it still worth getting the 3 day Hakone-Fuji pass for transit to Fuji and use the local buses there?
2) Is it possible the purchase the Hakone Fuji pass in person (at the Odakyu sightseeing center at Shinjuku West) in advance?
Originally we wanted to book the pass online prior to arrival but it seems the Fuji Hakone specific one isn’t available digitally. On Klook, we’d need to exchange the e-vouchers in person. Problem is we are taking the earliest romancecar ~7am and since the service center only opens at 8am, there isn’t enough time to do so on the day we leave for Hakone. So wanted to see if it’s possible to buy/pick up the pass the day before and activate it when we board? And that it will be valid for 3 days starting the day of activation?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Tiffany, thanks so much for reading! I’m glad to be of help ☺️
1). 100% yes for using the pass on your 3rd day in Fuji — the transport will still be covered by the pass and even getting there will be costly without it!
2). Yes, you can buy the freepass at Odakyu in advance and schedule the desired start date!
3). You’re correct — the earliest Romancecar departs before the office even opens (I can’t understand that logic, lol). So, to solve this, yes, if you go the day before you can tell them you want the earliest Romancecar and then have the pass activate for that day (not the day you pick up). This should work out fine, but if you end up going and finding out, would love for you to come back and let me know!! Thanks and safe travels x
Hi
I plan to cover mt Fuji and Hakone 2 days staying in Fujikawaguchiko area
My plan is to cover the following
Cruise Lake Ashi
Yunessun hot spring
Owakudani Valley Volcano
Ropeway
Mt Fuju 5th Station or Subaru Line
Open Air Museum optional
Let me know whats the best optimal option
Hi Girija, sounds like you already got most of it planned 🙂 I recommend doing the loop, or just punching all of these stops in Google Maps and seeing how the itinerary best fits your time schedule!
Hi Bri, your blog was super helpful to get around Hakone. An issue I ran into and wish I would have known was buying the day pass through the Klook app. While it was helpful to have it before hand I ran into issues it getting it pulled up via Holafly (esim data) in various locations. While you did recommend getting physical passes, I thought it’d be worth mentioning since it seem many people are using your information. Another thing I wish I would have know prior was that going to the Mt. Kintoki from Hakone-Yumoto is a 2 hour bus ride. I didn’t look into this prior and switched up all plans after figuring this out. Reading your posts definantly eased my 2 day trip there and I’m so glad you had such thorough explanations! I was also able to enjoy the cafe and almost the Tofu soup (it was a long wait). Thanks again for your post!
Hi Jaqueline! Thanks so much for coming back to share your insights, I hope you had the best time in Hakone. Isn’t that tofu soup awesome?!
Hi,
I’m spending 2 nights in Hakone and 1 night near Kawaguchiko Lake. Next day I will be leaving back to Tokyo. Would you happen to know if 3 day pass will cover until that return trip to Tokyo assuming I activate it on the 1st day /night? I wasn’t sure if it’s based off a 24hour rotation or do they just cut it off at 12am/end of day? (Hakone/Hakone/Kawaguchiko > leave next morning)
Hiya Ray! Thanks for your comment. That would technically, in their pov, be 4 days! They do it by date rather than 24-hr cycles. So you’d need to cover the return trip but you can easily get a one-way bus ticket for Fujikawaguchiko back to Tokyo for about $20!
Hi Bri
Thank you for all the super useful information. We are intending to arrive in Hakone from Kyoto & buy our Hakone 3 day passes at Odawara station. We plan to spend 2 nights in Hakone and then travel on to Tokyo (Shinjuku).
Please can you advise if we can buy a 3 day pass at Odawara that includes the one way train journey to Shinjuku – if we do not travel on the romance car which you mention is an extra cost (our 14 day JR passes will have expired by then).
Thank you
Hi Erica! You’re welcome! Your pass will include 1 return trip from your departure station so the transport back to Shinjuku/Tokyo should be included, and correct, you wouldn’t need to purchase the extra ticket for the romance car unless you wanted to. I hope my answer helps a bit but please double check with an info desk person at Odawara just in case!
Hello Bri! I plan to stay 3D2N in Hakone but leave Hakone for Tokyo early in the morning on Day 3. In this case, should I get the 2-day or 3-day free pass? I’m not 100% sure how the free pass works. I want to buy the Hakone free pass that comes with the Shinjuku round trip but I’m worried that if I get the 2-day pass, will it affect that round trip ticket or not because it’s a separate thing? Would appreciate your advice on this, thank you!
Hi Hannah! Yes, good point! If you want to take full advantage of the transport (included in the free pass), then you’d need the 3-day pass so it applies for your return trip to Tokyo. The free pass includes the roundtrip from Shinjuku – Odawara Station (where you transfer to Hakone-Yumoto town – the gateway to the greater Hakone region including Gora, the lake, etc!). Since the 3-day pass is just 400 yen more, I’d say it’s worth it for those extra train/bus rides – especially if you’re staying in Gora or elsewhere (and not in Yumoto, where the train station is). I don’t know why they make it so complicated 😂 but I hope that answer helps! So, in sum, yes for your itinerary, you need the 3-day free pass!
Hi there, we are in Tokyo now and feeling a little overwhelmed as you mentioned. Your guide does help.
We have 3 days so think we will get the 3 day pass. We are staying in IHG at Hakone and so we could get off at Odawara and take the free hotel bus or continue to Gora and take a free bus from there. Not sure if we should take romancecar so many choices!
Confused Nicky
Hi Nicky! If you’re staying at Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora then you can use the pass to Odawara (or get the supplemental Romancecar ticket so it’s direct from Tokyo). Once there, from Hakone-Yumoto Station, you can reach Gora via a short train or bus ride, which is included in your pass! The Romancecar basically removes the need to do a stopover in Odawara. It’s an extra fee, saves a bit of time (not a lot, though), but simpler because you don’t have to transfer from Odawara to Yumoto. Either way, from Yumoto, you’ll take an extra mode of transport (Tozan bus/train) to Gora! I hope that helps!
Hi Bri, Thank you for a useful and thoughtful post! We are planning on going to hakone for 2 nights and then 1 night at fujikawaguchiko and then going to kyoto from there.
So it would only be a one way trip to tokyo to hakone and then to hakone to fujikawaguchiko then to kyoto.
Do you think it would still be worth using the fuji hakone pass for this as you have said its worth it as its 3390 Yen using public transport!
Thank you so much for your help!
Hello Su! Hmm, tricky – I have a few questions for you! Will you be driving or relying on the trains and Shinkansen to get to Kyoto? To take the Shinkansen, you’ll need to travel back to either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station from Fujikawaguchiko first before heading to Kyoto, unless there’s a bus or train route I’m unaware of! That seems like the easiest way to do it but hard to say for sure without knowing more of your context/plans : )
Hi, Bri. I’m so impressed after reading your post with detailed guide. Have you ever compared the “Hako Ticket” Plus with DIY plan? According to the info, Hako Ticket Plus takes around 5,000 yen more to the ordinary hakone free pass, giving free entries to some famous Hakone sites. Is it worthy?
Hi David! No, I’m not familiar with that tier, although it seems odd it would cost 5,000 yen more! I’d say the better deal would be to pick and choose which Hakone attractions you wish to visit and pay in full, as doing all of them probably isn’t feasible in any case for short trips. The Hakone Freepass should give you discounts already, and it does include free transport including the Lake Ashi Cruise and ropeway, so keep that in mind as well!
Hello Bri,
We will be travelling from matsumoto to lake kawaguchigo. Expect to reach lake kawaguchigo in the late afternoon. Then spent two nights at lake kawaguchigo and will travel to hakone in the early morning of the 3rd day. Will use bus from lake kawaguchigo to hakone (transit at gotemba) and expect to arrive at tongdenai in the late afternoon. Afterwards, we will stay in hakone for another two nights and leaving hakone for shinjuku tokyo on the early morning of 3rd day .Grateful if you comment on the following:
1)any pass recomended for this trip?
2)if a 3 day fuji hakone pass is bought-how to maximise the use; use it on day 2 lake kawaguchigo and use day 1 and day 2 hakone? ie we cannot use it for the train from hakone to shinjuku.
3)However, it is noted the fuji pass will include a round trip from shinjuku to odowara but we are only using the train from odawara to shinjuku tokyo (hotel will provide transport to odawara station ).
Seems that you cannot reserve seats for the odakyu trainf from odawara to shinjuku ie no online booking can be done for this train? so even if you have the fuji hakone pass, we can only take the odakyu train .
If we want to board the romancecar train, we need to stop at hakone yumoto not odawara and need to buy a separate ticket , thus not utilising the fuji hakone pass ( which provide the round trip)
Hi Jimmy! Your plan sounds pretty detailed and good already! Maybe you could get the 3-day Fuji and 3-day Hakone pass separately unless there’s a longer one that combines the two. Tourists usually only spend 2-3 days so a lot of the passes cater to that timeframe. To keep things simple, I’d use the pass for the travel-heavy days of exploring (around Fuji, around Hakone), since there are so many modes of transport and paying individually for each would be a nightmare. Much easier to pay for a single journey/return trip from Yumoto-Odawara-Shinjuku for example (or getting the romancecar to go direct from Yumoto-Tokyo/Shinjuku). Correct re: romancecar is a supplement add-on ticket so you bypass Odawara. It doesn’t save that much time, and if you’re comfortable changing trains at Odawara station, you can just do that. So yeah, I’d optimize the passes for the actual visiting around the destinations in both Kawaguchiko/Fuji and Hakone! I hope that helps 🙏
Hi Bri, i’m planning a one night stay at Hakone + 2 night stay at Mt Fuji (Fugikawaguchiko) from Tokyo.Still a little confused over all the passes available in Japan. Would you be able to recommend a suitable combination of passes for this route? Appreciate it. Thank you.
Hey Claire! I know, why are there so many passes? 😂 It sounds like you’re doing Tokyo – Hakone – Kawaguchiko – Tokyo, right? That’s what I did, but the passes include your roundtrip from Shinjuku-Odawara so you will be forfitting that value of the pass. Check my other guides on getting to/from Hakone to Fuji for the cost if you pay your own way, I recommend trying to combine it with the pass validity if that makes sense.
The pass you may need will depend I guess on your Hakone itinerary for that first day. You can either do the Fuji-Hakone Pass (3 days validity) for 10,100 yen or skip the Hakone portion (pay your own way based upon your arrival time and plans) of the pass and get the Mt. Fuji 2-day pass for about 8,000 yen ($51). If you manage to spend a full day in Hakone then the Fuji-Hakone pass will be a better deal!
Hi, would able to advise my itinerary. Iam intending to spend 2 days with one night stay at hakone yamoto area maybe easier for transportation? Hope to visit places lake kawaguchiko, and hakone tourists spots, boat rides, Owakudani, gotemba outlets etc. Would u able to advise mode of transport and is worth getting 2 days hakone free pass?
Hi Alice! 2 days and 1 night in Hakone-Yumoto is good and in this case – yes the pass is worth it! From Hakone-Yumoto, you can take the Hakone bus and train lines (and cable car + ropeway) to visit Owakudani, Gora, Motohakone-ko (where the Hakone shrine, Lake Ashi, and Hakone Checkpoint are), and more. Note: to get to Lake Kawaguchiko from Hakone takes at least 3 transfers and 2.5+ hours one-way to get there via public transportation. So I don’t think it would be worthwhile to visit if you base in Hakone. There’s already so much to see and do there and the Fuji five lakes area is very different than Hakone!