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. Optionally, the pass includes also a discounted round trip from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station.

Hakone Free Pass
 
2-day pass
3-day pass
From Shinjuku Station
(including round trip)
6,100 yen
6,500 yen
Purchased inside the free area
(e.g. Odawara Station)
5,000 yen
5,400 yen
Reduced rates (almost 75%) apply for children.

The map below shows the trains, cablecars, ropeways, boats and major bus lines to be used within the free area of the Hakone Free Pass:

Validity

Round trip

  1. One round trip by Odakyu Railway between Tokyo and Odawara Station. Odakyu's main station in Tokyo is Shinjuku Station, but the free pass can also be purchased for use from other Odakyu stations.
  2. You may use local or express trains; however, if you use a "Romance Car" limited express train between Shinjuku and Hakone, a seat reservation is required and costs an additional 1200 yen one way (or 1150 yen if using an e-ticket). E-tickets can be purchased on the e-Romancecar website, while paper tickets are available at ticket machines and ticket offices of Odakyu stations.
  3. Passes purchased inside the free area, e.g. at Odawara Station, do not cover Odakyu trains between Odawara and Shinjuku.

Free area

  1. Unlimited use of the Hakone Tozan Railway (Odawara-Gora), the Souzan Cablecar and Hakone Ropeway between Gora to Togendai, the Hakone Sightseeing Boats on Lake Ashinoko, Hakone Tozan buses and Odakyu buses within the free area and Numazu Tozan Tokai buses between Mishima and Moto-Hakone.

Other conditions

  1. The pass provides discounted admission to selected attractions in the Hakone area.
  2. The free pass is valid on two or three consecutive days, respectively.

Points of sale

The pass can be purchased as a digital pass for use on a smartphone or as a paper ticket through ticket machines and offices at Odakyu stations, including Shinjuku Station, and several points inside the free area, including Odawara, Hakone-Yumoto, Gora and Mishima stations.

The pass can be purchased also through third-party vendors, such as Japan Experience, but will require an exchange of vouchers in Japan. It provides no advantages over purchasing directly through Odakyu, unless you can earn points through a particular vendor or the like.

Assessment

If you do the classic round course from Tokyo by train, cablecar, ropeway, boat and bus, regular tickets would total over 7000 yen, making the pass pay off. However, if you go, for example, from Shinjuku only to Lake Ashinoko and back (about 4600 yen by regular tickets), the purchase of the pass would not be justified.

Alternative tickets

The Fuji Hakone Pass is similar to the Hakone Free Pass, but in addition to Hakone, it also covered the Fuji Five Lake region.

Hotels around Hakone

Top rated in Hakone
Budget:
    • Yoshimatsu
      Luxury
      Surrounded by bamboo trees and hills, Yoshimatsu is a traditional Sukiya-style Ryokan (inn) with beautiful outdoor hot spring baths. Overlooking Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi, it provides a free shuttle from Hakone Machi Bus Station. Fitted with tatami-mat flooring, these classic Japanese-style rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and Yukatas (Japanese-style bathrobes). En suite bathrooms have a bathtub. Yoshimatsu is a 5-minute walk from Lake Ashinoko Cruise Station and a 9-minute walk from Lake Ashinoko. It is within a 15-minute walk from Onshi Hakone Park and an 8-minute drive from Narukawa Museum. Breakfast is served in the guest rooms or in the private dining room which the property will assign. Dinner is served to the guest rooms. Dinner, Kyoto-style Kaiseki cuisine, and breakfast, Japanese set menu, are prepared according to the season's freshest ingredients. Guests can enjoy a relaxing stroll around the landscaped gardens and koi ponds. The hotel also provides massage, karaoke rooms and free parking. Free Wi-Fi is available at the lounge.
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    • Hakone Gora Byakudan
      Luxury
      Set in Hakone, 10 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, Hakone Gora Byakudan offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking and a restaurant. This 5-star hotel offers free WiFi. Fuji-Q Highland is 48 km from the hotel and Shuzen-ji Temple is 48 km away. Hakone Gora Park is 1.5 km from the hotel.
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    • Matsuzakaya Honten
      Luxury
      Matsuzakaya Honten offers a hot spring bath and free private parking, and is within 13 km of Hakone-Yumoto Station and 43 km of Shuzen-ji Temple. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Guests can use the public bath and the open-air bath, or enjoy mountain views. All units feature a private bathroom and have air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a fridge. Units come with a safety deposit box and some rooms also feature garden views. All units will provide guests with a desk and a coffee machine. Guests at the ryokan can enjoy an Asian breakfast. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Guests can also relax in the garden or in the shared lounge area. Kowakudani Station is 5.4 km from Matsuzakaya Honten.
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    • Gyokutei
      Luxury
      Situated atop a hill in Hakone, Gyokutei offers an authentic Japanese accommodation with an indoor hot spring bath. Hakoneyumoto Train Station is a leisurely 8-minute walk from the ryokan. All rooms feature tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. Each are equipped with a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator and a private bathroom with a bath, shower and free toiletries. Extras include slippers, a hair dryer and yukata robes. Luggage storage space, a massage service and a garden are all on offer at Gyokutei Ryokan. For dinner, traditional kaiseki (multi-course) meals are served in guest rooms. Hakone Open-air Museum is 50-minute train ride away on the Hakone Tozan Line, while Hakone Gora Park is 55-minute train ride from the property. Lake Ashi is a 30-minute drive away.
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    • Hananoyado Fukuya
      Luxury
      Featuring free WiFi and a hot spring bath, Hananoyado Fukuya offers accommodation in Hakone. Free private parking is available on site. All rooms have a flat-screen TV. Certain rooms feature a seating area where you can relax. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom equipped with a bath and shower. In addition, the hot spring bath can be reserved for private use after dinner. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hair dryer. You will find a shared lounge at the property. Narukawa Museum is 100 metres from Hananoyado Fukuya, while Hakone Shrine is 800 metres from the property. The nearest airport is Haneda Airport, 78 km from the property.
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    • Onsen Guest House Tsutaya
      Budget-friendly
      Featuring 2-star accommodation, Onsen Guest House Tsutaya is situated in Hakone, 6.5 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station and 48 km from Fuji-Q Highland. Private parking is available on site at this recently renovated property. The accommodation features a lift, a shared kitchen and luggage storage for guests. Some units in the ryokan have private entrance and are fitted with wardrobe and tatami. Every unit is equipped with a safety deposit box and free WiFi, while certain rooms come with a balcony. At the ryokan, all units have bed linen and towels. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Shuzen-ji Temple is 50 km from the ryokan, while Kowakudani Station is 1.1 km from the property.
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    • HakoneHOSTEL1914
      Budget-friendly
      Situated in Hakone, a 29-minute walk from Hakone Open-Air Museum, HakoneHOSTEL1914 has a shared lounge. The property is around a 36-minute walk from Hakone Gora Park, 7.9 km from Owakudani Valley and 6.1 km from Pola Museum. Venetian Glass Museum is 5.4 km from the property. With a shared bathroom, rooms at the hostel also offer free WiFi. Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is 7.1 km from HakoneHOSTEL1914, while Hakone Lalique Museum is 6.6 km away. Tokyo Haneda International Airport is 73 km from the property.
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    • Tsukinoya
      Budget-friendly
      Featuring free WiFi, Tsukinoya offers accommodation in Hakone, a 7-minute walk from Hakone Open-Air Museum. Built in 1911, the property is within 3.6 km of Hakone Gora Park, Owakudani Valley and Pola Museum. The ryokan has a hot spring bath and luggage storage space. All guest rooms in the ryokan are fitted with a flat-screen TV. Rooms come with a shared bathroom. The units will provide guests with a fridge. The 3 on-site natural hot spring baths can be reserved for private use. Venetian Glass Museum is 4.4 km from Tsukinoya. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 74 km from the property.
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    • Gora Kadan
      Luxury
      Set in Hakonefs natural beauty, Gora Kadan is located a 5-minute walk from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Line. Guests can leisurely soak in the hot spring bath, relax with a massage treatment. Free WiFi and free private parking is available. Gora Kadan is a member of Relais & Chateaux. The 24-hour front desk at Kadan Gora offers free luggage storage, concierge service and currency exchange. Shuttle service to the ryokan is also available upon request. Guests have free access to the indoor pool and fitness centre. Featuring mountain views, all rooms are fitted with a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle and a fridge. Rooms also come with a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer. Some rooms have a seating area to relax in after a busy day. Guests can savour traditional Japanese meals featuring fresh seasonal ingredients and beautiful garnishes at the on-site restaurant. Popular attractions in the area like the Hakone Open Air Museum and Hakone Gora Park can be reached within a 10-minute walk. Lake Ashi is a 25-minute drive away while the nearest airport is Haneda Airport, a 100-minute drive from the property.
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    • Fukuzumiro
      Luxury
      Fukuzumiro features an authentic Japanese atmosphere, natural hot spring baths and traditional Japanese-style rooms with garden or river views. It's a 15-minute walk from Hakone Yumoto Station. Rooms at Fukuzumiro feature tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. Each guest room is equipped with a Handy Phone so guests can stay connected to WiFi during their entire stay and make international calls to select countries for free. A TV and a refrigerator are also included in rooms. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. Guests can relax in public hot spring baths, or enjoy one for private use (subject to availability). Spa hotel Fukuzumiro provides luggage storage, and it offers drink vending machines. Fukuzumiro offers traditional Japanese multi-course dinners with seasonal local dishes. Beverages can be enjoyed at Bar Kikyo. Japanese inn Fukuzumiro is a 30-minute walk from Amida-ji Temple.
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