Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto → Gora → Owakudani → Togendai → Sengokuhara
- Shinjuku, Romancecar
- Hakone-Yumoto Station and Eva-ya
- Mountain railway and cable car to Sounzan
- OwakudaniLunch
- Ropeway down to Togendai
- Sengokuhara grass field
- Your hotelStay
The short answer
Split the two big rides: the ropeway on Day 1, the pirate ship on Day 2, with a night near Sengokuhara in between.
- You see every place in this guide except Kintoki Shrine: Hakone-Yumoto Station, Owakudani, the ropeway down, Sengokuhara, Futagoyama from the lake and the steps at Hakone Shrine.
- Stay on the Sengokuhara side, not in Gora. Day 1 ends in Sengokuhara and Day 2 starts at Togendai.
- The Hakone Freepass is valid for 2 days, the length of the trip.
What to book before you go
Tickets and a room. Book the room with dinner and breakfast: you check in around 17:00, and going back out to eat means another bus.
Ticks are saved in this browser only.
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Hakone Freepass (from Shinjuku)
¥7,100 for adults, valid for 2 days. It covers the Odakyu line from Shinjuku and back and every train, cable car, bus, ropeway and boat on this route. Klook does not sell it to holders of Japanese passports.
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Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto, 8:00
The Freepass does not cover the limited express charge: ¥1,150 for a ticketless seat, and every seat is reserved. This plan uses the 8:00 Hakone 3 (weekdays, the 7:37).
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Romancecar back to Shinjuku, 16:57
The 16:57 Hakone 40 reaches Shinjuku at 18:25. On weekdays, take the 16:51 (arriving 18:28), or the 17:46 (arriving 19:26) if you want more time in Hakone-Yumoto.
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A room near Sengokuhara, with dinner and breakfast
Five places that fit the route. Our first choice is in the middle of it; the others each suit one day better. For the 9:30 boat on Day 2, you want an early breakfast.
Hotel Green Plaza HakoneFirst choice
Between Sengokuhara and Togendai: from the grass field, take the route T bus towards Togendai to Minami-onsenso, about 5 min on foot, or call the hotel for a pick-up. Large baths that look towards Mt. Fuji on a clear day. Buffet dinner; breakfast from 7:00.
Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori
At Togendai, a short walk from the station and the pirate ship pier. The easiest start for the 9:30 boat. Buffet dinner; breakfast from 7:00.
Susukinohara Ichinoyu
Beside the susuki grass field, 1 min from the Daigatake bus stop. Every room has its own open-air bath. Check in by 18:00.
Mount View Hakone
A ryokan in central Sengokuhara, with milky-white hot-spring water. Japanese dinner and breakfast; ask about the breakfast time when you book.
Hakone Sengokuhara Prince Hotel
A large hotel on the grass-field side of Sengokuhara, farther from Togendai than the others. Ask how to reach the 9:30 boat when you book.
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One night’s bag, not your suitcase
Leave your suitcase in Shinjuku and bring one night’s things. If you are not coming back through Shinjuku, Hakone’s luggage service carries bags between Hakone-Yumoto Station and partner hotels, including all five above: ¥1,500 a bag each way up to 140 cm and 15 kg. Hand them in at the station 8:30-12:00 and they reach the hotel from 15:00; on Day 2, hand them in at the hotel by 10:00 and collect them at the station 13:30-18:30.
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Mobile data for your tickets
Keep mobile data available so you can open your e-tickets in Klook. You also need it to check the ropeway and the boat each morning.
What the trip costs
The tickets are fixed and the room is the big variable. The rest is our allowance; change it to suit you.
- Typical budget
- ¥43,400-65,400Per person, two adults sharing a room, from Shinjuku and back.
- Cash to carry
- Around ¥10,000Per person. Most of the route takes cards or IC cards, so the cash is a backup, not the budget.
See the breakdown by item
| Item | Per person | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets and your room | ||
| Hakone Freepass | ¥7,100 | The 2-day pass from Shinjuku, adult |
| Romancecar | ¥2,300 | A ticketless limited express seat, ¥1,150 each way |
| Your room | ¥18,000-35,000 | One night, two sharing, with dinner and breakfast. The price depends heavily on the date and the room. |
| Your own spending (our allowance) | ||
| Food and drink | ¥5,000-7,000 | Lunch at Owakudani and at Moto-Hakone, drinks and snacks |
| Souvenirs | ¥4,000-5,000 | An allowance, not counting a big haul at Eva-ya |
| Small extras | ¥2,000-3,000 | Shrine charms, lockers, vending machines |
| Spare money | ¥5,000-6,000 | A missed bus, an extra meal or a change of plan |
| Total | ¥43,400-65,400 | |
- Room prices change a lot with the date and the room, so the range is wide. Go by the price for your dates.
- The Tozan buses take IC cards, both lunch stops take cards, and so do most of the hotels above. Carry cash for Hakone Shrine’s charms, small shops and the day a card reader fails.
- Fares checked on the Hakone Navi and Odakyu websites on 26 Sep 2026. Go by the price you see when you book.
The two days at a glance
Togendai → Moto-Hakone → Hakone-Yumoto → Shinjuku
- Pirate ship across Lake Ashi
- Hakone Shrine
- Moto-HakoneLunch
- Hakone-Yumoto Station
- Shinjuku, Romancecar
Day 1: Owakudani, the ropeway and Sengokuhara
Times are for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. On weekdays, take the Romancecar times above and look up the bus times for your date. The pirate ship times are from the timetable that runs until 30 November 2026.
Not yet confirmedHakone Tozan Bus changes its timetable on 1 October 2026. The bus times on this page are from the timetable before the change, so check them on Hakone Navi for your date. Timetable change notice (Japanese)
- Fixed time
- A published departure or arrival time. Missing it changes the rest of the day.
- Target
- A time to aim for. Adjust when you book.
- Stay
- Time set aside at a place.
- Buffer
- Spare time in case of small delays.
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8:00Fixed time
Romancecar from Shinjuku
The Hakone 3, arriving at Hakone-Yumoto at 9:24.
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9:24-16:30Stay
Hakone-Yumoto Station and Eva-ya
Episode 4 ends on this station’s platform, where Shinji stays behind instead of leaving Tokyo-3, and this trip ends here too. The station was rebuilt in 2009, so come for the place rather than the picture. Eva-ya, the official Evangelion shop, is on the ground floor (9:00-18:00, closed on irregular days); you can also shop tomorrow afternoon.
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10:25Fixed time
Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora
The mountain railway climbs to Gora, arriving at 11:03.
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11:30Fixed time
Cable car to Sounzan
Arrives at 11:41. You have 27 minutes to change at Gora.
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About 11:45Target
Ropeway to Owakudani
About 10 minutes. Gondolas usually leave about once a minute, so there is no departure to catch.
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12:00-13:20Stay
Lunch at OWAKUDANI KITCHEN, then Owakudani
OWAKUDANI KITCHEN is upstairs in the ropeway station (10:30-16:00, last orders 15:30, open every day). The Owakudani curry and a vegetable curry made without animal products are ¥1,650 each. Then walk the viewing area around the station: pilgrimage guides and fans place Shinji here in episode 4, wandering after he runs away. The nature trail and hiking paths are not part of this plan.
Steam vents at Owakudani. -
About 13:20Target
Ropeway down to Togendai
The best view of the trip, about 20 minutes. The gondola drops towards Lake Ashi with the pirate ships and the ring of mountains below you. When we rode it in 2012, it felt like being lowered into the Geofront.
Heading down towards Lake Ashi. -
13:40-14:00Buffer
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From 14:00Target
Bus to Sengokuhara
Take the first suitable bus on route T or TG. It is a short ride.
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14:15-16:30Stay
Sengokuhara susuki grass field
Take your time in the grass field. Fans link it to episode 4, where the runaway Shinji comes across Kensuke playing soldier on his own. Sengokuhara is also where the series puts NERV headquarters and Shinji’s school.
The grass field in late November. The grass is at its most golden in October and November. Not yet confirmedKintoki Shrine, where the episode 3 shrine scene is set, and the Sengokuhara Outpost in Kintoki Park are also in Sengokuhara. We have not yet timed the walk or the buses from the grass field, so check them on a map before you add them. -
About 17:00Target
Check in, dinner at the hotel
How you get there depends on the hotel. For Green Plaza, take the route T bus towards Togendai to Minami-onsenso and walk about 5 min, or call the hotel from the stop for a pick-up. Do not count on the ropeway to Ubako: it stops at 17:00 (16:15 in December and January). Susukinohara Ichinoyu is by the Daigatake bus stop and asks you to check in by 18:00.
Check rates and availability:
Where to stay, and eating at the hotel
Stay on the Sengokuhara side of Hakone, not in Gora. Day 1 ends in Sengokuhara and Day 2 starts at Togendai, so a Gora hotel means going back and forth. Meals and dietary needs differ a lot between these five.
| Hotel | Best for | Dinner and breakfast | Before you book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Green Plaza Hakone | The whole route: one bus from Sengokuhara, one bus on to Togendai | Buffet. Dinner 17:30-21:00 (last entry 20:00), breakfast 7:00-9:30 | Allergens are labelled at the buffet, but dishes share a kitchen. No tattoos in the large bath. |
| Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori | The 9:30 boat: the pier is a short walk away | Buffet. Dinner 17:30-21:30, breakfast 7:00-9:30 | No separate allergy menu, and the hotel says it cannot prevent cross-contact at the buffet. You can bring your own food if you tell them in advance. |
| Susukinohara Ichinoyu | Sengokuhara: next to the grass field | Dinner at 17:45 or 18:45. Breakfast in three sittings, 7:40-8:30 | Check in by 18:00. Vegetarian meals if you ask when you book. |
| Mount View Hakone | A ryokan stay in central Sengokuhara | Japanese dinner and breakfast. Plans with and without meals | Ask the breakfast time, for the 9:30 boat. For allergies, vegetarian or vegan meals, contact the ryokan in advance. |
| Hakone Sengokuhara Prince Hotel | A large hotel near the grass field | Plans with dinner and breakfast in the hotel restaurants | Allergy meals must be chosen in advance. No tattoos in the hot-spring baths. Ask how to reach Togendai. |
If you book a room without dinner, check restaurant closing times and the buses there and back before you book.
Day 2: Operation Yashima and Hakone Shrine
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8:30Target
Breakfast, check out, go to Togendai
From Hanaori it is a short walk. From the other hotels, take the bus or ask the hotel the best way. If you miss the 9:30 boat, take the next one and spend less time at Hakone Shrine.
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9:30Fixed time
Pirate ship to Moto-Hakone
45 minutes across Lake Ashi, arriving at 10:15. Evangelion’s official site names Futagoyama, the twin peaks east of Moto-Hakone, as the fortress Unit-01 fires from in Operation Yashima, and the series’ own site went looking for them from this boat. You are crossing what the series treats as the battlefield.
A pirate ship on Lake Ashi. -
10:15-11:45Stay
Hakone Shrine
In episode 3 and Evangelion: 1.0, Toji and Kensuke run up a long flight of stone steps to watch Unit-01 fight. The scene is set at Kintoki Shrine in Sengokuhara, but the steps and the shrine look like these. Walk from the port and take the steps slowly.
Stone steps up to a torii at Hakone Shrine. -
11:45-13:15Stay
Lunch at Bakery & Table, Moto-Hakone
By the port. Coffee & Vista, upstairs (10:00-16:00, last orders 15:30), serves lunch: beef stew with house-baked bread (¥2,860), a black beef curry (¥2,420) and sandwich plates (¥1,870). If it is full, buy bread at the ground-floor bakery and eat it in the cafe one floor up.
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13:15-14:00Buffer
Moto-Hakone
Spare time by the lake before the bus, in case the shrine or lunch takes longer.
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About 14:00Target
Bus back to Hakone-Yumoto
Route H, the first suitable bus after 14:00. Traffic on the mountain road decides when you arrive.
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15:00-16:30Stay
Hakone-Yumoto, where episode 4 ends
Back at the station where Shinji chose to stay. Eva-ya is open until 18:00. If you sent bags with the luggage service, collect them at the station (13:30-18:30).
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16:57Fixed time
Romancecar back to Shinjuku
The Hakone 40, arriving in Shinjuku at 18:25.
If the ropeway or the boat stops
Check Hakone Navi each morning. Each version below keeps your booked train home.
- Day 1: ropeway not running
Skip Owakudani
If you know before you set off, take the route T bus from Hakone-Yumoto to Sengokuhara, see the grass field and go to your hotel. Do not count on a replacement bus. Take one only if Hakone Navi announces it, as it does for planned maintenance.
- Day 2: pirate ship not running
Go straight back to Hakone-Yumoto
Take the route T bus from Togendai to Hakone-Yumoto and let Hakone Shrine go. If the weather and your time allow, you can still reach Moto-Hakone by bus from Hakone-Yumoto (route H); decide on the day.
- Bus running late
Keep the 16:57
If you miss the 9:30 boat, take the next one. If the morning runs late, cut the time at Hakone Shrine or at Hakone-Yumoto, not your train.
Keep planning
- The day trip The same loop in one day, without Hakone Shrine.
- Evangelion × Hakone Every place from the series on one map, and what happens at each.
- Where to stay The five hotels compared, with meals and payment.
- Transport and tickets The Freepass, the Romancecar and every ride.
- Where to eat Lunch on each day, and the backups.
Official links and check date
Official links for tickets, operating status, the hotels and the places on this route. Check the details again for your travel date.
Last checked
- Train and bus times
- Facilities and fares
- Lodging
Show 17 official links
- Hakone Navi: Hakone Freepass
- Odakyu: Romancecar tickets
- Odakyu: Romancecar timetable (Japanese)
- Hakone Navi: operating status
- Hakone Navi: Tozan Bus timetable change, 1 October 2026 (Japanese)
- Hakone Navi: Togendai timetables (Japanese)
- Hakone Navi: Moto-Hakone timetables (Japanese)
- Hakone luggage service
- EVANGELION STORE: Eva-ya, Hakone-Yumoto (Japanese)
- OWAKUDANI KITCHEN (Japanese)
- Bakery & Table Hakone (Japanese)
- Hakone Shrine (Japanese)
- Hotel Green Plaza Hakone (Japanese)
- Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori (Japanese)
- Susukinohara Ichinoyu (Japanese)
- Mount View Hakone
- Hakone Sengokuhara Prince Hotel