Guide to the Hakone Ropeway and other Transportation

Hakone is one of Japan's leading tourist spots. The area is blessed with abundant nature, gorgeous scenery, and many natural hot springs. The Hakone Ropeway service departs towards the open skies once every minute: The trip from Sounzan station to Togendai station takes around 30 minutes. The view from the ropeway includes the crystal blue waters of Lake Ashi, the Owakudani crater, and, on clear days, majestic Mount Fuji. Owakudani is one of the, best viewpoints for Mount Fuji, and is also famous for its delicious Kuro-Tamago Black, Eggs, boiled naturally in the sulphhurous spring waters.

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The cherry blossom is the symbol of spring in Japan. In Hakone, cherry blossoms can be seen in the Miyagino area, reaching the height of its beauty around mid-April in an average year.

Early summer is the season of hydrangeas. Enjoy the view of the hydrangeas in bloom along the tracks of Hakone Tozan Railway from mid-June to mid-July.

In Japan with its beauty of seasonal colors, autumn is linked with colorful foliage. From the ropeway, visitors are able to see fall colors below them from late October to mid-November.

With the air clear and crisp, a fair day in winter is the best time to view the majesty of Mount Fuji. A ride on the ropeway to see Hakone in its occasional show cover is also recommended.

Owakudani, the top sightseeing spot in Hakone equaled only by Lake Ashi, is a desolate-looking land that spews volcanic steam and fume, the signs of the Earth's dynamic activities. This spot earned two stars in Michelin Green Guide Japon, a travel guide that was published in 2009. The "black eggs" boils in hot spring water and said to extend life span are also very popular.

Guide to the Hakone Ropeway

The 48 gondolas used on the Hakone Ropeway were manufactured in Switzerland, and move attached to 2 overhead ropes. This structure makes the ropeway both extremely safe, and comfortable to ride. In June 2002 the ride between Sounzan and Owakudani stations, and in June 2007 the ride between Owakudani and Togendai stations were renewed, and the shift to the current system was completed. Hakone Ropeway, which opened in its full length of approximately 4km in 1960 and is one of the longest ropeway service in the world, was certified the "busiest gondola lift" by the Guinness World Records™ in July 2009. Whilst enjoying stroll in the sky that will take pleasure in the glorious views of Mount Fuji from the Ropeway gondolas.

• Ropeway Route

  Togendai (Change for the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise Ship)
  ▼Approx. 8 mins
  Ubako
  ▼Approx. 8 mins
  Owakudani (change)
  ▼Approx. 8 mins
  Sounzan (Change for Hakone Tozan Cablecar)
  Note:

  • Gondolas depart at approximately one-minute intervals. Queue up to board the gondola. A member of staff will give directions. On arrival, please wait until the gondola has stopped completely before alighting.
  • There are no reserved seats on the gondola. However, all passengers must be seated {Maximum of 18 passengers per gondola).
  • There are no reserved seats on the gondola. However, all passengers must be seated {Maximum of 18 passengers per gondola).
  • Passengers may be required to wait during busy times. Ropeway operations may be suspended during poor weather conditions (strong wind, storms etc.)

• Suggested Day Trip From Shinjuku around Hakone

  (START) Shinjuku Station
  Odakyu Romance Car ▼(approx. 90 mins)
  Hakone Yumoto Station
  Hakone Tozan Train ▼(approx. 40 mins)
  Gora Station
  Hakone Tozan Cablecar ▼(approx. 9 mins)
  Sounzan Station
  Hakone Ropeway ▼(approx. 8 mins)
  Owakudani Station (Change) Kuru-Tamago Black Eggs
  Hakone Ropeway ▼(approx. 8 mins)
  Ubako station
  Hakone Ropeway ▼(approx. 8 mins)
  Togendai station
  Cruise through Lake Ashi By Hakone Sightseeing Cruise Ship ▼(approx. 30 mins)
  Hakone-machi-ko port
  Walk though Hakone Checkpoint/Exhibition ▼(approx. 5 mins)
  Walk though Ancient Cedar Avenue ▼(approx. 25 mins)
  Motohakone-ko port
  By Hakone Tozan Bus for either Hakone Yumoto or Odawara ▼(approx. 40 mins)
  Hakone Yumoto station
  Odakyu Romance Car ▼(approx. 90 minutes)
  FINISH

Related Information:

• Mountain Railway of Hakone Tozan Train (Information about Stations along the line and Travel Times, Arriving at Hakone-Yumoto Station aboard the Odakyu "Romancecar", Aboard the train, Going in and out of the automated ticket gates: http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/traffic/use/tozantrain.html
  Hakone Tozan Railway Website: http://www.hakone-tozan.co.jp/train/index.html (Japanese Only)
• Hakone Tozan Cablecar (Information about Stations along the line and Travel Times, Arriving at Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Train, Aboard the Cablecar, Types of ticket gates - staffed and unstaffed): http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/traffic/use/tozancablecar.html
• Hakone Sightseeing Cruise: http://www.hakone-kankosen.co.jp/gaikoku.hp/index.htm
• Hakone Tozan Bus (Information about bus stops, Getting on and off, Aboard the Bus, Using Hakone Freepass or not): http://www.hakone-tozanbus.co.jp/english/index.html
• Odakyu Romance Car /Ltd. Exp. Romancecar (From Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Hakone-Yumoto, Enoshima, Kamakura, Gotemba, gateway to Mount Fuji): http://www.odakyu.jp/english/rc/index.html

• Hakone Freepass

  One inexpensive way to visit the Hakone area is with the Odakyu line’s Free Pass. Although it’s not free, it will definitely save you some money even if you’re only visiting for the day. The 7 types of transportation for which the Freepass may be used in the Hakone area. They are : Hakone Tozan Train, Hakone Tozan Cablecar, Hakone Ropeway, Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, Hakone Tozan Bus (designated areas), Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus (designated areas), Numazu Tozan Tokai Bus (designated areas). The cost is Y5500 for adults (half-price for children) if you purchase it at Shinjuku Station.

  If you are traveling in Japan on a Japan Railpass, you can buy the Hakone Free Pass at Odawara for about Y4200. The pass allows you to use any kind of transportation within Hakone for 3 days and saves you the hassle of having to buy individual tickets all the time. It also includes the round-trip fare on the express train from Shinjuku to Odawara and it even gets you in free, or at least a discount, at many other places around town. If you can get time off during the week, not only is it less crowded, but there is also a weekday pass that is even cheaper and some hotels may offer cheaper rates as well. Hakone Freepass includes return transportation on Odakyu Line, a ticket allowing you to get on and off freely within a specified area, and discount admission to various attractions in the area. Valid for 2 or 3 days. Check current price for Hakone Freepass: http://www.odakyu.jp/english/freepass/hakone_01.html

• Hakone town (Hakone-machi) Area Guide

• Hakone Ropeway one way trips Fair

  One way trips One way trips	Normal fare (individual)		Group fares(for 15 or more)
  	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
  Sounzan - Owakudani	¥820	¥410	¥620	¥310
  Owakudani -Togendai	¥1,020	¥510	¥770	¥380
  Sounzan - Togendai	¥1,330	¥660	¥1,000	¥500

  Note: Passengers are permitted to alight at intermediate stations during the trip. However, passengers should purchase a ticket to their final destination. The Odakyu Hakone Free Pass can be used on the entire Hakone Ropeway route.

• Operating Hours:

  • 1st Mar - 31st Jul - 8:45am to 5:15pm
  • 1st Aug - 31st Aug - 8:45am to 5:30pm
  • 1st Sept - 30th Nov - 8:45am to 5:15pm
  • 1st Dec - 28th Feb - 9:15am to 4:15pm

• Tourist Information Centers for Overseas Visitors

  • Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center in Shinjuku, Tokyo (Odakyu Overseas Visitor Center)

    Odakyu Railway Shinjuku Station 1st floor (Ground Floor)
    West Side of Odakyu Shinjuku Station
    Tel: 81-3-5321-7887
    Fax: 81-3-5321-7886
    E-mail welc...@odakyu-dentetsu.co.jp
    Opening Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm
    Supporting languages: English, Chinese, Korean

  • Yumoto (Yumoto Station), Hakone

    Hakone-machi Tourist Information Center in Yumoto

    706-35, Yumoto, Hakone town (Hakone-machi), Ashigara-shimo-gun, Kanagawa Pref. 250-0311
    Tel: 0460-85-8911
    Fax: 0460-85-5721
    Opening Hours: 9:30am - 6:00pm
    Supporting Languages: English, Chinese (on weekends and public holidays only), Korean

  • Sengokuhara, Hakone

    Fuji-Hakone Guest House (Sengokuhara Onsen)

    912 Sengokuhara, Hakone town (Hakone-machi), Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0631, Japan
    Opening Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm
    Supporting Languages: English
    Tel: 0460-84-6577 (Int'l 81-46084-6577)
    Fax:0460-84-6578 (Int'l 81-46084-6578)
    Email: hako...@pop21.odn.ne.jp
    Website: http://fujihakone.com/

  • Miyanoshita, Hakone

    Fujiya Hotel

    359 Miyanoshita, Hakone town (Hakone-machi), Kanagawa-ken 250-0404, JAPAN
    Check-in/Check-out 14:00/11:00
    Opening Hours: 9:00am - 9:00pm
    Supporting Languages: English
    Tel: +81-460-82-2211
    Fax: +81-460-82-2210
    Website: http://www.fujiyahotel.jp/en/index.html

  • Togendai, Hakone

    Hakone Tourist Information Center in Togendai/ Togendai Station Information Center (Hakone Ropeway Station)

    Close to Togendai Port Near Asahi Bridge (Hakoneyumoto) for Hakone Ropeway and Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
    164 Moto-Hakone, Hakone town (Hakone-machi), Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0522, Japan
    Opening Hours: 10:00am-4:30pm
    Supporting Languages: English
    Tel. 0460-85-5700
    Fax: 0460-85-5721
    Website: http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/i-info/index.html

  • Odakyu Group / Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (OER)

    Operates three lines of the Odakyu Electric Railway, the Enoshima Electric Railway, the Hakone Tozan Railway, Hakone Ropeway, Odakyu Bus, Hakone Sightseeing Cruise Ship.

    Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center, Odawara

    Next to the Odawara Station of Odakyu Line counter
    Tel&Fax: 0465-24-4101 (81-465-24-4101)
    Odakyu Website: http://www.odakyu.jp/english/index.html

  • Hakone Ropeway, Odawara Station

    1-15-1 Shiroyama, Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0045, Japan
    Tel: 0465-32-2205
    Website: http://www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/foreign/en/index.html

  All other Tourist Information Centers in Hakone: http://www.hakone.or.jp/english/youkoso/infomation.html
  Hakone Hot Spring Ryokans and Hotels Association: http://www.hakone-ryokan.or.jp/english/index.htm