Romance train + Hakone Free Pass

[silentscope]

Hello all,

Need some answers for my itinerary planning. (2nd day Hakone, 3rd day Lake Kawaguichigo, 4th day depart back to Shinjuku)

I have decided to purchase Romance train tickets online and Hakone 2 or 3 days Free pass from the vending machine at Odakyu station @ Shinjuku.

1) Question: Do i need to purchase a Romance train ticket for a 2yo child, that may not require a seat?

Stated on Odakyu website,
What are the age ranges for children and adult fares?
Adult fares are for 12 and older, and children fares are for the ages of 6 to 11. Children under 6 ride free. Please note that even children under 6 require a child’s regular ticket and a child’s limited express ticket for the Romancecar if using a separate seat.

2) After reaching Gora Station (hotel nearby) probably at 11+am, i plan to do these in Hakone, how should i plan them?
a) Hakone sightseeing cruise
b) Owakudani - volcano eggs
c) Premium outlets

3) Depart to Lake kawaguchigo from Gora station.
Since i have Hakone free pass, i will take Hakone Tozan bus to Gotemba, then take Fujikyu Bus (1510yen) to Lake Kawaguichigo. Is this the right way?

4) Lake Kawaguchigo, i dont know where to visit and do there. Only thing is to wait for dinner and breakfast at Ryokan hotel.

5) Depart Lake Kawaguchigo via highway pass back to shinjuku in the evening

Thanks in advance!!

Regards~

 

[shadow84]

1. There is a Fuji-Hakone Pass at 8000 yen which will cover transport in both hakone and kawaguchiko. Im also following this plan just that i start with kawaguchiko then hakone then shinjuku. Pass is worth for 3 days.

2. This should be the typical route for Hakone. There are 2 ways, clockwise and anti clockwise. Most here would recommend anti coz less traffic since tours would follow clockwise.

Since you are coming from hakone yumoto station towards Gora, i would suggest for you to go anti clockwise. Take the Tozan train from Yumoto to Gora station for a 40 mins scenic view. Once u reach there, leave things at hotel and continue to Souzan via cable car. Then take ropeway to Owakudani and Togendai. Then cruise from Togendai to Hakone-machi then Moto hakone (shrine at lake bay). Then take the express R bus back to Hakone yumoto or see if there are any buses to Gora directly.

3. This is my research of nice places (mostly usual tourist places) in kawaguchiko. It would be in this order since im driving around, from left to right of kawaguchiko.

Fuji Shibazakura Festival – Fuji Motosuko Resort (late apr to may only)
Oishi Park (for view of mt fuji over lake)
Kogamasao Memorial Park / Nagasaki Park (beside oishi park along the road)
Kawaguchiko bridge (cross the bridge for fun. lol)
Mt Kachi Kachi Ropeway
Excursion Ship “En Soleil” (opposite of ropeway)
Arakurayama Sengen shrine / Chureito Pagoda (can push to 2nd day early morning for a clear view of Mt fuji + pagoda)
Oshino Hakkai (onsen area but quite far from main kawaguchiko area, i may be skipping it).

4. As for gotemba, there is a bus from Gora to Kawaguchiko in which it stops at Gotemba station. Then u have to take another bus to the outlet store. Note that there may be specific timings for the buses back and fro from the outlet to the station.

 

[shadow84]

If u r gonna reach gora hotel at 11pm, then u will waste 1 day liao. Best to leave shinjuku early morning like 8-830am. Or unless its a typo. lol.

 

[Majima]

was there on 31st december where hakone snow all of a sudden when i was queueing up for the ship at lake ashi, after cruise , took ropeway up to owadakuni, it snow even heavier up there,

i reach motohakoneko taking the R bus for abt 20mins or so, and only started touring hakone like 12pm, only manage to clear the shrine , queue up n took some photo by the lake that has a shrine gate on it,

i think to truly finish all the hot spot in hakone. need to reach there as early as 8am or 9am, becuz u will definitely need a break in between.

 

[silentscope]

haha sorry 11+am , typo

 

[silentscope]

1. There is a Fuji-Hakone Pass at 8000 yen which will cover transport in both hakone and kawaguchiko. Im also following this plan just that i start with kawaguchiko then hakone then shinjuku. Pass is worth for 3 days.

2. This should be the typical route for Hakone. There are 2 ways, clockwise and anti clockwise. Most here would recommend anti coz less traffic since tours would follow clockwise.

Since you are coming from hakone yumoto station towards Gora, i would suggest for you to go anti clockwise. Take the Tozan train from Yumoto to Gora station for a 40 mins scenic view. Once u reach there, leave things at hotel and continue to Souzan via cable car. Then take ropeway to Owakudani and Togendai. Then cruise from Togendai to Hakone-machi then Moto hakone (shrine at lake bay). Then take the express R bus back to Hakone yumoto or see if there are any buses to Gora directly.

3. This is my research of nice places (mostly usual tourist places) in kawaguchiko. It would be in this order since im driving around, from left to right of kawaguchiko.

Fuji Shibazakura Festival – Fuji Motosuko Resort (late apr to may only)
Oishi Park (for view of mt fuji over lake)
Kogamasao Memorial Park / Nagasaki Park (beside oishi park along the road)
Kawaguchiko bridge (cross the bridge for fun. lol)
Mt Kachi Kachi Ropeway
Excursion Ship “En Soleil” (opposite of ropeway)
Arakurayama Sengen shrine / Chureito Pagoda (can push to 2nd day early morning for a clear view of Mt fuji + pagoda)
Oshino Hakkai (onsen area but quite far from main kawaguchiko area, i may be skipping it).

4. As for gotemba, there is a bus from Gora to Kawaguchiko in which it stops at Gotemba station. Then u have to take another bus to the outlet store. Note that there may be specific timings for the buses back and fro from the outlet to the station.

Thanks for the reply! very detailed.

1. May i know if i require to buy romance train ticket for 2yo child?
2. I never thought about driving in Kawaguchigo, is it worth driving around to cover the spots? i heard there are buses to take, but i dont mind booking a ride

 

[Gixxerfied]

I took 7+ am romancecar from Shinjuku.

The bus from Gotemba to the outlet is a free shuttle service.

Your point 2a,b,c is not ideal since you're planning to reach at around 11am.

The bus to Gotemba is at the bus stop at Togendai(The point between Owakudani cablecar & the ferry across Lake Ashi). Bus to Gotemba is around an hour. Bus from Gotemba to Outlet is about 15mins. You would probably spend 3hrs at least there.

 

[shadow84]

Thanks for the reply! very detailed.

1. May i know if i require to buy romance train ticket for 2yo child?
2. I never thought about driving in Kawaguchigo, is it worth driving around to cover the spots? i heard there are buses to take, but i dont mind booking a ride

Dunnoe about 2 yr old child.

I read that the bus timings are quite far apart and some even ends early. So, i dun mind renting a car to bring my parents along. Hope it goes all to plan and dun rain can le come this May 2019. lol

 

[Gixxerfied]

You dont have to buy romancecar ticket for the kid under 6 years old as long as he doesnt require a seat. If the seat beside you is empty, although it's abit f up but you can let the child sit there(Rem to give it up if someone with a ticket boards). Conductor will usually close one eye.

Anyway just to add. From Gora you take ropeway up then cablecar to Owakudani. From Owakudani u take cablecar down to Togendai. From here you can bus to Gotemba or take the ferry across Lake Ashi.

If you decide to ferry across Lake Ashi then u need to go back Togendai for the bus. If decide to bus to Gotemba then come back, might be too late for ferry. Not forgetting even if you manage to board the last ferry across, you still need to go back Gora

 

[silentscope]

So it sounds like i will have to proceed this way,

Plan 7+am depart on Romance train, once i reached Gora, i will go to these places in order,

From Gora - take ropeway up then cablecar to Owakudani.
From Owakudani u take cablecar down to Togendai.
Take the ferry across Lake Ashi.

Am i able to take a bus ride at the end point of Lake Ashi back to Gora straight?
My Hotel is near Gora.

On the next day, i will go to the premium outlet, before i head to Lake Kawaguchigo?
Is there alot to cover at Kawaguchigo?

 

[shadow84]

So it sounds like i will have to proceed this way,

Plan 7+am depart on Romance train, once i reached Gora, i will go to these places in order,

From Gora - take ropeway up then cablecar to Owakudani.
From Owakudani u take cablecar down to Togendai.
Take the ferry across Lake Ashi.

Am i able to take a bus ride at the end point of Lake Ashi back to Gora straight?
My Hotel is near Gora.

On the next day, i will go to the premium outlet, before i head to Lake Kawaguchigo?
Is there alot to cover at Kawaguchigo?

U can take express R bus to yumoto then take the 40 mins tozan rail to gora.

As for kawaguchiko, i think the ropeway, cruise ship and pagoda may be crowded, depending on timing. Since u r going back to shinjuku after kawaguchiko, u can throw some attractions the next day.

 

[Gixxerfied]

So it sounds like i will have to proceed this way,

Plan 7+am depart on Romance train, once i reached Gora, i will go to these places in order,

From Gora - take ropeway up then cablecar to Owakudani.
From Owakudani u take cablecar down to Togendai.
Take the ferry across Lake Ashi.

Am i able to take a bus ride at the end point of Lake Ashi back to Gora straight?
My Hotel is near Gora.

On the next day, i will go to the premium outlet, before i head to Lake Kawaguchigo?
Is there alot to cover at Kawaguchigo?

When i went Kawaguchiko, i was otw back from Kyoto then was just there for maple and stay for the night before going Gotemba. The next morning i went to Gotemba P Outlet from Kawaguchiko then from there express bus back to Shinjuku.

 

[purpleberry]

So it sounds like i will have to proceed this way,

Plan 7+am depart on Romance train, once i reached Gora, i will go to these places in order,

From Gora - take ropeway up then cablecar to Owakudani.
From Owakudani u take cablecar down to Togendai.
Take the ferry across Lake Ashi.

Am i able to take a bus ride at the end point of Lake Ashi back to Gora straight?
My Hotel is near Gora.

On the next day, i will go to the premium outlet, before i head to Lake Kawaguchigo?
Is there alot to cover at Kawaguchigo?

There are 2 stops at the end of Lake Ashi, Motohakone and cant remember the other one. There are a few attractions at each stop. On the way back to Gora, I believe you can take the pirate ship and cable car again. The way back should have lesser tourists as some would choose to take bus to Hakone Yumoto.

Next day you can take bus to Gotemba from Gora. It's quite well-connected and will probably reach in an hour or so.

 

[Gixxerfied]

Hakone-machi lor..

 

[silentscope]

I have just booked my Romance car tickets!

but i want to make sure i am doing this right, i havent got my Hakone Free pass yet, but i can purchase the Free Pass when i reached on 5 Feb, and depart to Hakone on 6th Feb right?


As i will be travelling with elderly and a 2yo child, can you recommend me where i can take my meals for lunch and dinner? I heard that Hakone will be difficult to find food when its dark, and it gets dark early especially during Winter. Need to make sure they dont go starving..

 

[purpleberry]

I have just booked my Romance car tickets!

but i want to make sure i am doing this right, i havent got my Hakone Free pass yet, but i can purchase the Free Pass when i reached on 5 Feb, and depart to Hakone on 6th Feb right?


As i will be travelling with elderly and a 2yo child, can you recommend me where i can take my meals for lunch and dinner? I heard that Hakone will be difficult to find food when its dark, and it gets dark early especially during Winter. Need to make sure they dont go starving..

Did you pay the full fare for your romance tickets? With Hakone Free Pass you can just top up a bit to take romance car.

Where are you staying in Hakone? In some parts, most shops close at 5 but you can buy ekibens at the station for dinner.

 

[shadow84]

Did you pay the full fare for your romance tickets? With Hakone Free Pass you can just top up a bit to take romance car.

Where are you staying in Hakone? In some parts, most shops close at 5 but you can buy ekibens at the station for dinner.

With Hakone pass, the top up is just 1090yen, iirc? But need buy at counter, right?

 

[purpleberry]

With Hakone pass, the top up is just 1090yen, iirc? But need buy at counter, right?

Yes, this was done at the counter. You can give them a call actually and explain your situation. They have good English speaking staff. Another option is to buy at those ticketing machines but I am not sure if this is possible though.

 

[Gixxerfied]

Can just buy at the counter along with the pass.

Pass wise can counter or machine. I only buy the romancecar ticket(one way) when i was buying my pass at the counter. During the journey back from Hakone-Yumoto, i just buy again from the machine.

 

[silentscope]

Omg, I bought the full price tickets
I need to make sure I have seats on cny day, since I booked my hotel at hakone.

Do you think I can top up for the hakone pass at the counter instead? What else can I do?