The Hakone Free Pass covers the trains, ropeway and Lake Ashi boats for 7,100 yen from Shinjuku. Here is what it includes, what it leaves out, and when a private tour with a driver guide is the better fit.
The Hakone Free Pass is the ticket most first-time visitors buy for Hakone, and for good reason. It bundles a round trip from Shinjuku with unlimited rides on the trains, cable car, ropeway, boats and buses that make up the classic Hakone loop. It is not the only way to see the area, though. Plenty of travelers end up asking whether a Hakone private tour with a car and driver would suit them better. This guide puts the two side by side: what the pass covers and costs in 2026, where it falls short, what a private tour includes, and how to decide for your own group.
Odakyu, the railway company that sells it, spells the official name "Hakone Freepass." It gives you unlimited rides on eight kinds of transport inside the Hakone area for the days it is valid:
Hakone Tozan Line, the mountain train from Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto up to Gora
Hakone Tozan Bus, in the designated area
Hakone Tozan Cable Car, from Gora up to Sounzan
Hakone Ropeway, from Sounzan over Owakudani to Togendai on Lake Ashi
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, the pirate-style boats on Lake Ashi
Odakyu Highway Bus, in the designated area
Tokai Bus, in the designated area
The Tourist-Attraction Sightseeing Bus loop
The version sold from Shinjuku also includes one round trip on the Odakyu Line between Shinjuku and Odawara, and you can get off at stations along the way. On top of the rides, showing the pass gets you discounts at around 70 hot springs, museums and restaurants in the area.
Red and white Hakone Tozan Line train stopped at the platform of Hakone-Yumoto Station
A Hakone Tozan Line train at Hakone-Yumoto Station, the first leg of the loop for most Free Pass users. Photo: Kuroc622 / Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
Hakone Free Pass prices in 2026
These are the prices on Odakyu's official site as of November 2026. Fares for the pass, the ropeway and the boats went up on October 1, 2025, so older blog posts often show lower numbers.
From Shinjuku, valid 2 days: 7,100 yen for adults, 1,600 yen for children
From Shinjuku, valid 3 days: 7,500 yen for adults, 1,850 yen for children
From Odawara (Hakone area only), valid 2 days: 6,000 yen for adults, 1,500 yen for children
From Odawara (Hakone area only), valid 3 days: 6,400 yen for adults, 1,750 yen for children
Child fares are for ages 6 to 11, and children under 6 do not need a ticket. A "2-day" pass means two calendar days, not 48 hours. It runs out after the last train or bus on the day after you buy it.
What the pass does not cover
The pass is a transport ticket, so a few things cost extra:
The Romancecar limited express from Shinjuku. You need a separate reserved seat ticket, which is 1,200 yen each way to Hakone-Yumoto for adults. Odakyu puts the round trip from Shinjuku at 9,500 yen in total: 7,100 yen for the pass plus 2,400 yen for the two Romancecar tickets.
The special cabin on the Lake Ashi boats. The standard cabin is covered.
Izu-Hakone Bus routes. Those buses also run in Hakone, but the pass cannot be used on them.
Museum and onsen admission. The pass only gives a discount at participating places.
You can buy the pass at Odakyu ticket machines and sightseeing service centers, or on your phone through Odakyu's EMot Online Tickets site. The digital pass works one ticket per smartphone, so each traveler, including children, needs their own phone to use one.
The Hakone loop on a Free Pass
The pass is built around a one-way loop often called the Hakone Round Course. A typical day from Tokyo goes like this:
Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, about 80 minutes direct.
Hakone Tozan Line up through the mountains to Gora, near the Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Cable car from Gora to Sounzan.
Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Owakudani, where you change gondolas, then on to Togendai. Each leg between the four stations takes about 15 minutes. The ropeway company says Mount Fuji shows up between Ubako and Owakudani and partway between Owakudani and Sounzan, when the sky is clear.
Sightseeing cruise from Togendai across Lake Ashi to Moto-Hakone or Hakone-machi, about 25 to 35 minutes one way.
A short walk to Hakone Shrine and its torii gate in the lake, then a bus back down to Hakone-Yumoto.
Pirate-style Hakone Sightseeing Cruise boat sailing on Lake Ashi with green mountains behind
One of the pirate-style Hakone Sightseeing Cruise boats on Lake Ashi. The standard cabin is covered by the Hakone Free Pass. Photo: Joli Rumi / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
To put the pass in context, here are the regular adult fares for the two most expensive legs since October 2025. The Hakone Ropeway costs 2,000 yen one way, and the Lake Ashi cruise costs 1,700 yen one way between Togendai and Moto-Hakone or Hakone-machi. Odakyu says the pass is worth it even on a day trip, and with those two rides plus the train, cable car and bus, a full loop adds up fast.
When the Hakone Free Pass is the better choice
The pass works best in these situations:
You are traveling alone or as a couple and want the lowest cost.
You are staying overnight in Hakone, so the second day of the pass gets real use.
You like trains and boats, and riding the ropeway and pirate ship is part of the fun for you.
You are comfortable with Japanese stations, transfers and the occasional crowded bus.
The main downside is time. Every change between train, cable car, ropeway and boat comes with a queue, and on weekends, in autumn leaf season and during holidays those lines can get long. You also carry your bags the whole way unless you send them ahead or use lockers, which cost 500 yen at the ropeway stations.
When a Hakone private tour makes more sense
A private car turns the loop into a door-to-door day. The car picks you up at your Tokyo hotel and drives you between the sights, so nobody has to watch the clock for the next bus or carry bags through stations.
It tends to suit these travelers:
Families with young children or older parents, and anyone who finds stairs, transfers or long standing hard.
Groups of four or more, because the price is per vehicle, not per person.
First-time visitors who want an English-speaking driver guide to explain what they are seeing and handle the logistics.
Travelers with only one day, who want to fit in the Open-Air Museum, Owakudani, the ropeway, the lake and Hakone Shrine without rushing.
The tradeoff is cost for small parties. For one or two people, the Free Pass is almost always cheaper. For a family of four or a group of friends, the gap gets much smaller, and you get back the time spent waiting on platforms.
Comparing the cost for a group of four
Here is a simple example for four adults on a day trip from Shinjuku, using the official prices above.
With the Hakone Free Pass and the Romancecar both ways, transport costs 9,500 yen per person, or 38,000 yen for the group. Museum entry, lunch and getting to Shinjuku Station come on top of that.
With our Hakone Private Day Tour from Tokyo, the price is per vehicle: $650 USD for a wagon that seats up to five. You still buy your own ropeway and cruise tickets on the day, which at the regular one-way fares is 3,700 yen per person, or 14,800 yen for four. Museum entry and lunch are extra here too.
For a couple, the same tour starts at $500 USD in a sedan, so the Free Pass is the budget choice. For four, the numbers get much closer, and the car also covers hotel pickup and drop-off in Tokyo.
What our Hakone private tours include
Ohayo Travels runs three private day tours that cover Hakone. Each one lasts 10 hours from pickup and includes:
A private vehicle with an English-speaking driver guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off within Tokyo's 23 wards
Fuel, expressway tolls and parking
Lunch, drinks and entrance or ride tickets are not included. On the Sculptures and Scenery tour and the Mount Fuji and Hakone tour, time beyond 10 hours costs 5,000 yen per 30 minutes, paid by card.
Here is how the three tours differ:
The Hakone Private Day Tour from Tokyo: Sculptures and Scenery follows the classic loop by car: the Open-Air Museum, Owakudani, lunch in Gora, the ropeway, a Lake Ashi cruise and Hakone Shrine. Prices are $500 for up to 2 guests in a sedan, $650 for up to 5 in a wagon, $800 for up to 5 in an Alphard Premium, $1,000 for up to 9 in a Toyota Hiace and $1,200 for up to 13.
The Hakone Day Tour with Onsen from Tokyo swaps the lake for a reserved private open-air hot spring, after the museum, Owakudani and the ropeway. Prices are $500 for up to 2 guests, $650 for up to 5 in a wagon, $850 for up to 5 in an Alphard Premium, $1,100 for up to 9 and $1,300 for up to 13.
The Mount Fuji and Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo pairs Lake Kawaguchiko and the Chureito Pagoda with a Lake Ashi cruise and the ropeway, for travelers who want both areas in one day. It starts at $500 for up to 2 guests.
The drive from Tokyo to Hakone takes about two hours each way, so the 10 hours leave room for four or five stops. If you want a different pace or a stop that is not on the list, tell us your preferred timing and special requests and we will help tailor the day.
Practical tips for either option
A few things apply no matter how you travel:
Watch the weather. The ropeway stops in strong wind, bad weather and during its yearly inspection, and the boats can change their route or stop running in heavy fog or wind. Check the Hakonenavi site on the morning of your trip.
Bring a layer. The ropeway company notes that Owakudani feels chilly on windy days in spring and autumn, and can drop below freezing in winter.
Go early. Ropeway gondolas run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from February to November, and until 4:15 p.m. in December and January, and the lines grow from late morning on busy days.
Pay by card where you can. The boats and the ropeway ticket offices take major credit cards and Suica or PASMO.
Pick your season. Odakyu lists autumn as a highlight, with fall color along the ropeway and golden pampas grass at Sengokuhara from late September to mid-November.
So which should you choose?
Pick the Hakone Free Pass if you are on a tight budget, traveling solo or as a pair, staying the night, or excited about riding every train and boat on the loop. Pick a private tour if you are a family or a group, short on time, or want someone else to handle the transfers while you enjoy the views. If you are still weighing it up, our post on whether private tours in Japan are worth it goes deeper into the costs.
When you are ready, browse our Hakone private day tours or the Hakone Day Tour with Onsen, choose your vehicle and date, and book online. If you have questions about your route, get in touch and we will help you plan it.
Featured photo: Lake Ashi with Mount Fuji behind it and the torii gate of Hakone Shrine on the right. Photo: Charlie fong / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
TopicsHakoneHakone Free PassPrivate ToursDay Trips from TokyoTransportation
Frequently Asked Questions
From Shinjuku, the 2-day pass costs 7,100 yen for adults and 1,600 yen for children, and the 3-day pass costs 7,500 yen and 1,850 yen. From Odawara, which covers the Hakone area only, it is 6,000 yen for 2 days and 6,400 yen for 3 days for adults. These prices took effect on October 1, 2025.
No. The pass from Shinjuku includes a round trip on regular Odakyu trains, but the Romancecar limited express needs a separate reserved seat ticket. It costs 1,200 yen each way between Shinjuku and Hakone-Yumoto for adults.
For most solo travelers and couples, yes. Odakyu says it pays off even on a day trip, because a single ropeway ride is 2,000 yen and a one-way Lake Ashi cruise is 1,700 yen before you add the train, cable car and bus. If you are not riding the full loop, buying single tickets may cost less.
It does not cover the Romancecar seat fee, the special cabin on the Lake Ashi boats, Izu-Hakone Bus routes, or admission to museums and hot springs. Around 70 places give a discount when you show the pass.
Often, yes. A private tour is priced per vehicle, so a family of four or five shares one price, and the car picks you up at your Tokyo hotel and drives between the sights. Our Hakone private day tours start at $500 USD for up to 2 guests and $650 USD for up to 5 in a wagon, with ride and entry tickets paid separately.
No. On a private tour you travel by car, so you only buy the rides you actually take, such as a one-way ropeway ticket for 2,000 yen and a one-way Lake Ashi cruise for 1,700 yen. You do not need the pass or the Romancecar.
Private tours for this destination
Ready to see it in person? These private tours cover the places in this guide.
