Hakone day trip

[shadow84]

Nice photos. Hakone pass should have an option for longer stays but nothing much to do after 6pm. Moto Hakone feels like a ghost town with only Lawson lit up. When did you visit?

The 2 days pass is based on dates/days rather than timing right? Meaning if i leave Shinjuku at 9am on a Monday, i need be back in Shinjuku by Tuesday 2359? Theoretically speaking...

 

[princessreiko]

Nice photos. Hakone pass should have an option for longer stays but nothing much to do after 6pm. Moto Hakone feels like a ghost town with only Lawson lit up. When did you visit?

I visited Hakone twice this year Feb and June.

Feb was really cold but it was clear and sunny so Mt Fuji was in full view.
In Feb I did the tour the anticlockwise way, so the viking ship was the last stop and it bypassed Moto Hakone.
It was about 5pm when I arrived Hakone Machi and being winter, the sun was setting and it was getting dark so I didn't visit Moto Hakone then.

In Owakudani in Feb, Mt Fuji was in full view.

On my second visit in June , it was rainy season, so the fog partially ruined my trip.
At Owakudani, I could not see Mt Fuji.

But everything else was great.
Moto Hakone and the tori gate was my first stop.
I spent about 2 hours there including lunch.
I did not stay overnight.

 

[purpleberry]

I visited Hakone twice this year Feb and June.

Feb was really cold but it was clear and sunny so Mt Fuji was in full view.
In Feb I did the tour the anticlockwise way, so the viking ship was the last stop and it bypassed Moto Hakone.
It was about 5pm when I arrived Hakone Machi and being winter, the sun was setting and it was getting dark so I didn't visit Moto Hakone then.

In Owakudani in Feb, Mt Fuji was in full view.

On my second visit in June , it was rainy season, so the fog partially ruined my trip.
At Owakudani, I could not see Mt Fuji.

But everything else was great.
Moto Hakone and the tori gate was my first stop.
I spent about 2 hours there including lunch.
I did not stay overnight.

Thanks! Planning to go there again in June. How's the weather in June? Was Tokyo very warm? Judging from AHSS photos, this year is particularly hot. Hope next year can cool down a little.

 

[purpleberry]

The 2 days pass is based on dates/days rather than timing right? Meaning if i leave Shinjuku at 9am on a Monday, i need be back in Shinjuku by Tuesday 2359? Theoretically speaking...

Yes they are based on dates. To really maximize your trip, you can catch the first train to Hakone and go back by the last, available bus. Reservations recommended for the latter.

 

[shadow84]

Yes they are based on dates. To really maximize your trip, you can catch the first train to Hakone and go back by the last, available bus. Reservations recommended for the latter.

Some recommend me to book return trip for romancecar at the station itself if not i might be tied to the timing and not enjoy. But i am planning to leave Hakone at 1+pm though.

 

[princessreiko]

Thanks! Planning to go there again in June. How's the weather in June? Was Tokyo very warm? Judging from AHSS photos, this year is particularly hot. Hope next year can cool down a little.

June is their rainy season so the fog may ruin trips to neighbouring Nikko and Hakone and these places are on a higher altitude.

It was cool in mid June (average temp was about 24 deg) but later part (I was there for 2 weeks), the sun became very hot , so average was about 30 deg C.

If possible, I would not visit Tokyo in Jun - Aug.

 

[princessreiko]

Some recommend me to book return trip for romancecar at the station itself if not i might be tied to the timing and not enjoy. But i am planning to leave Hakone at 1+pm though.

Yes, better don't book romance car for the return trip cos u need to be mindful of the time and take that particular timing.
When you finished ur trip, and when u r in Hakone Yumoto station, u go to the counter to top up the amount for the romance car.

However if u r going during the peak season eg during sakura season or their golden week in May, or during the autun season, then it may be a problem as it may be full if you don't reserve beforehand.

 

[purpleberry]

June is their rainy season so the fog may ruin trips to neighbouring Nikko and Hakone and these places are on a higher altitude.

It was cool in mid June (average temp was about 24 deg) but later part (I was there for 2 weeks), the sun became very hot , so average was about 30 deg C.

If possible, I would not visit Tokyo in Jun - Aug.

Kinda prepared for the fog and rain but will do what I can to avoid the sun lol. Planning a couple of weeks between early to mid-June so hopefully the weather still within their mid-20s or below.

 

[purpleberry]

Some recommend me to book return trip for romancecar at the station itself if not i might be tied to the timing and not enjoy. But i am planning to leave Hakone at 1+pm though.

I might be wrong but the pass only allows you 1 shinkansen ride to Hakone and back via bus. I think you can still return by shinkansen with some top up.

 

[shadow84]

Yes, better don't book romance car for the return trip cos u need to be mindful of the time and take that particular timing.
When you finished ur trip, and when u r in Hakone Yumoto station, u go to the counter to top up the amount for the romance car.

However if u r going during the peak season eg during sakura season or their golden week in May, or during the autun season, then it may be a problem as it may be full if you don't reserve beforehand.

Going in may so simi season all over le.

I might be wrong but the pass only allows you 1 shinkansen ride to Hakone and back via bus. I think you can still return by shinkansen with some top up.

Im not taking shinkansen to and fro, just normal train nia. I dun rmb reading romancecar = shinkansen when it costs only $12 one-way. lol.

 

[princessreiko]

Going in may so simi season all over le.



Im not taking shinkansen to and fro, just normal train nia. I dun rmb reading romancecar = shinkansen when it costs only $12 one-way. lol.

In May as long as u avoid the golden week which is the first week, you should be fine.
At that time, the weather should be cool and nice.

Shinjuku to Hakone - no need to take shinkansen unless u have the 7 day JR pass and want to make full use of it.

You can top up to travel by romance car direct from Shinjuku station to Hakone Yumoto station if you have already purchased the Hakone pass.

If you don't wanna top up, then u take the normal train from Shinjuku station to Odawara station.
Then from Odawara station, take the Hakone Tozan train to Hakone Yumoto station.

 

[shadow84]

In May as long as u avoid the golden week which is the first week, you should be fine.
At that time, the weather should be cool and nice.

Shinjuku to Hakone - no need to take shinkansen unless u have the 7 day JR pass and want to make full use of it.

You can top up to travel by romance car direct from Shinjuku station to Hakone Yumoto station if you have already purchased the Hakone pass.

If you don't wanna top up, then u take the normal train from Shinjuku station to Odawara station.
Then from Odawara station, take the Hakone Tozan train to Hakone Yumoto station.

Going in 17-25 May so it should be pass Golden Week le.

I noticed i can buy the romancecar from their online store. Will be doing that so as to reduce time wastage at Shinjuku station and to select seats also. Only coming back then will buy at hakone yumoto directly to SHinjuku.

 

[princessreiko]

Going in 17-25 May so it should be pass Golden Week le.

I noticed i can buy the romancecar from their online store. Will be doing that so as to reduce time wastage at Shinjuku station and to select seats also. Only coming back then will buy at hakone yumoto directly to SHinjuku.

I purchased the romance car tix when I went to Odakyu centre in Shinjuku to collect my Hakone Pass (which I bought on Klook).

 

[purpleberry]

May is probably one of the best months imo. Not much crowd, weather is cooling with less rain than the coming months.

 

[supratentorium]

If buy the Romance car ticket at the vending machine, can choose seat?
I might drop by soon, but now i will buy tickets on the day itself and use live webcam and 1-2 day forecast to decide whether to go anot.

Dont want to end up like this again.

 

[shadow84]

I purchased the romance car tix when I went to Odakyu centre in Shinjuku to collect my Hakone Pass (which I bought on Klook).

Did u collect days before your actual date or on the day itself?

 

[ijustwannajoin]

Can share what is the pros and cons for the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction?
Thanks

 

[runforyourlife]

Hmmm for hakone they have the ekiden in jan 1-3. Go there and u can see the race itself!

 

[purpleberry]

Did u collect days before your actual date or on the day itself?

You can collect a few days before as the pass will only be valid/activated from your first travel stamp.

 

[purpleberry]

Can share what is the pros and cons for the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction?
Thanks

Clockwise is to avoid the crowd so you travel by bus from Hakone Yumoto to Moto Hakone, take the pirateship ride, cable car, and so on. I have not tried this but I find the majority of tourists prefer to take the cable car back anyway so you'll be facing a bit of jam there.