Hakone day trip

[shadow84]

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

OK thanks. i may go collect on first day, depending on operating hours.

 

[princessreiko]

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

I collected 1 day before.
The centre opens at 8am, but i wanted to start my trip at an earlier time.

 

[princessreiko]

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

I did both directions on 2 separate occasions.
I prefer the clockwise direction as it is against the flow of the tour groups, so it is less crowded.
You can read my post here:

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/116129449-post25.html

 

[princessreiko]

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.

My Nikko trip was totally ruined because of the fog too.
I think for these places (up in the mountain), it is best not to go during the rainy season ie June - August.

 

[princessreiko]

My Owakudani pictures :

 

[supratentorium]

I think not seeing Owakudani was 33% of the trip ruined.
I thought the important checkpoints were

1)Hakone Shrine Tori gate
2)The ship ride across Ashinoko
3)Owakudani

Retrospectively, I read winter best time to go or maybe somewhere near just before or after.

And the Fujisan view from the train is at the 1hour mark after departure at Shinmatsuda, that also i failed to realize after making efforts to get the panorama view. It was quite a badly planned trip.

 

[princessreiko]

I think not seeing Owakudani was 33% of the trip ruined.
I thought the important checkpoints were

1)Hakone Shrine Tori gate
2)The ship ride across Ashinoko
3)Owakudani

Retrospectively, I read winter best time to go or maybe somewhere near just before or after.

And the Fujisan view from the train is at the 1hour mark after departure at Shinmatsuda, that also i failed to realize after making efforts to get the panorama view. It was quite a badly planned trip.

Agree with you that winter is a good time as there is hardly any rain and therefore no fog.
When I was there early Feb this year (end of winter), it was bright and sunny and Mt Fuji was in full view.
It was very cold in Hakone as it is on higher altitude.
I remember viewing Mt Fuji from the view point at Owakudani and it was so cold till tears flow out!

The tori gate was definitely worth the visit as it is one of the famous tori gates in Japan (the other being in Miyajima in Hiroshima).

So the clockwise direction is good as the tori gate would be the first stop.
When I was there at 10 am, it was already crowded.
But it was orderly, there was a Q to take pictures.

This was at the Tori gate itself.

This was the view of the tori gate from the Viking ship.
Can see people queuing to take pictures.

 

[ly66844]

Hihi.. any recommendation on accommodation for 2 pax ( $200- max$300 range) at Hakone with half board?
If it is a 2D1N trip, will there be enough time for the Gotemba outlet if i were to start the day early on the first day?


thank you all in advance!

 

[Laundryman]

Hakone is a weekend escape for city folks so cost dearly. Avoid crowds and high prices by staying from Mon to miss week.
Strongly recommend Pax Yoshino in Hakone Yumoto ( just saw mid week Nov $295 on Agoda). Since 2 pax pay extra $90 for the private dinner (definitely worth it). Go all the way and book the river facing semi western room with private onsen - it’s definitely worth it for couple. Plus book the rooftop private onsen too. If you making day trip from Tokyo, just bring haversack with change of clothes for day 2. Ryokan provides everything for both gender. Don’t save oh the dinner as Hakone towns are dead at night with few restaurants opened.

Hihi.. any recommendation on accommodation for 2 pax ( $200- max$300 range) at Hakone with half board?
If it is a 2D1N trip, will there be enough time for the Gotemba outlet if i were to start the day early on the first day?


thank you all in advance!

 

[myverve]

Hi, My family and I (family of 4) plan to visit Hakone/Gotemba/Kawaguchi for 4D3N. We will be travelling from Shinjuku to Hakone. We saw the Hakone free pass but also toying with the idea to rent a car. Any comments on whether it is more cost effective to just buy the Hakone pass or just rent a car or half half? Thanks in advance.

 

[shadow84]

Hakone is a weekend escape for city folks so cost dearly. Avoid crowds and high prices by staying from Mon to miss week.
Strongly recommend Pax Yoshino in Hakone Yumoto ( just saw mid week Nov $295 on Agoda). Since 2 pax pay extra $90 for the private dinner (definitely worth it). Go all the way and book the river facing semi western room with private onsen - it’s definitely worth it for couple. Plus book the rooftop private onsen too. If you making day trip from Tokyo, just bring haversack with change of clothes for day 2. Ryokan provides everything for both gender. Don’t save oh the dinner as Hakone towns are dead at night with few restaurants opened.

$256 is w/o dinner, is it? Coz i checked for mar mid week stay with dinner for 3, its $506 total.

 

[kiryu86]

anyone can advise me whether i shud go hakone on 30/12 or 31/12 ?

is hakone still open in new year eve? because seeing the post here that weekend is best to avoid due to crowd, which is my plan on 30/12

but if shift to 31/12 i duno still open anot?

and i thought of shifting to much earlier like 29/12 but oso afraid that shinjuku , shibuya, the town and city will be too dead closing to new year.

this is my itinerary in tokyo, can any expert advise how i shud go about it?

 

[Laundryman]

Hi Kiryu, it’s fine to go Hakone either on 30th or 31st. I would go 30th since chances 31st could be heavy traffic on the roads,
The city will be busy before the New Year, especially their markets packed like sardines like our markets b4 CNY because everyone stocking up for family feasts.

Yr itin need major adjustments. Tsukiji is a morning place. Shops start closing after 1pm. DisneySea is a full day affair, you won’t be able to cover anything else without missing the parades, night show on the lake and the fireworks finale.

anyone can advise me whether i shud go hakone on 30/12 or 31/12 ?

is hakone still open in new year eve? because seeing the post here that weekend is best to avoid due to crowd, which is my plan on 30/12

but if shift to 31/12 i duno still open anot?

and i thought of shifting to much earlier like 29/12 but oso afraid that shinjuku , shibuya, the town and city will be too dead closing to new year.

this is my itinerary in tokyo, can any expert advise how i shud go about it?

 

[Laundryman]

Hi,

Notice you plan to go Shibuya in the morning too. If it’s for shopping, shops might not open too early. Best to go late morning and also enjoy the sight of Shibuya junction from Starbucks 2nd floor.

A visit to Imperial Palace must include nearby iconic Tokyo Station. Numerous eateries, souvenirs shops and Calbee shop for freshly fried chips with ice cream!

If you plan to go Tokyo Tower for the view, consider going to the Tokyo Metropolitian Govt building in Shinjuku (across from Keio Plaza Shinjuku Hotel for same view and its FOC.

anyone can advise me whether i shud go hakone on 30/12 or 31/12 ?

is hakone still open in new year eve? because seeing the post here that weekend is best to avoid due to crowd, which is my plan on 30/12

but if shift to 31/12 i duno still open anot?

and i thought of shifting to much earlier like 29/12 but oso afraid that shinjuku , shibuya, the town and city will be too dead closing to new year.

this is my itinerary in tokyo, can any expert advise how i shud go about it?

 

[Zeltos]

I plan to buy Hakone Freepass from Klook and go from 28Nov to 1Dec.

Search online and can't find the details that I need. Can some please advise whether 28 Nov to 1 Dec is a peak period?

And can I buy freepass from Klook and then buy romance car top up from website?

Thanks.

 

[Gixxerfied]

Can just go odakyu at shinjuku there to buy pass and get top up ticket for romancecar..

 

[blurblur123]

Dear all, I am going to Hakone on 4th of April.

Will be coming from Osaka to Odawara and buy the Hakone free pass ( 2 days pass)

I will arrive Odawara around 10am and travel clockwise to avoid the crowd.

Will it be advisable if i visit the Mishima Skywalk on 5th (probably in the morning)?

 

[blurblur123]

I think not seeing Owakudani was 33% of the trip ruined.
I thought the important checkpoints were

1)Hakone Shrine Tori gate
2)The ship ride across Ashinoko
3)Owakudani

Retrospectively, I read winter best time to go or maybe somewhere near just before or after.

And the Fujisan view from the train is at the 1hour mark after departure at Shinmatsuda, that also i failed to realize after making efforts to get the panorama view. It was quite a badly planned trip.

The tori gate is under construction now

 

[shadow84]

The tori gate is under construction now

Wah, any eta of completion? But the temple near to it within the forest is still open to public?

 

[Coless]

Wah, any eta of completion? But the temple near to it within the forest is still open to public?

Yes. Is still open to public.