Located just 90 minutes from Tokyo, Hakone is renowned for its hot springs, museums, and various attractions.

With eight different transportation options, including the Hakone Pirate Ship, Hakone Tozan Bus, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, and Hakone Ropeway, getting around the area is a breeze.

This guide will help you plan the best sightseeing route in Hakone using the Hakone Freepass, ensuring you make the most of your visit.

The Hakone Freepass is a comprehensive transportation ticket that provides access to various modes of travel within Hakone.

This pass includes the Hakone Tozan Train, certain sections of the Hakone Tozan Bus, the Hakone Tozan sightseeing tour bus, the Odakyu Hakone Express Bus, the Hakone Tozan Cable Car, the Hakone Ropeway, and specific sections of the Tokai Bus. Additionally, it offers a discount on the Hakone Pirate Ship.

With the Freepass, you can easily travel on any vehicle displaying the pass logo. It also grants discounts and special offers at over 70 stores and facilities in Hakone.

Available for either two or three consecutive days, the Hakone Freepass includes a round-trip discount on the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku. A two-day pass costs 6,100 yen for adults and 1,100 yen for children, while the three-day pass is priced at 6,500 yen for adults and 1,350 yen for children, departing from Shinjuku Station.

Be aware that some transportation services in Hakone may be suspended due to typhoons or other unforeseen events. For the latest updates, please check the official website at https://www.odakyu.jp/english/passes/hakone/.

To begin your Hakone visit, we recommend starting at Hakone Yumoto Station, the gateway to the area. This is an ideal spot to relax after your journey. At the station, you can visit the Hakone Café, where you can enjoy baked goods and other treats prepared by the Odakyu Group hotel chef. The café also offers a wide variety of drinks.

From the seating area, you can watch the Romancecar trains come and go, adding to the charm of your experience. There's also a large model of the Hakone Tozan train on display, making it a delightful place to start your visit.

If you hold the Hakone Freepass, you can enjoy a 30 yen discount on both hot and cold coffee and tea at the café.

For a relaxing hot springs experience in Hakone Yumoto, we highly recommend visiting "Hakone Yuryo," just a 3-minute ride from the station via a free shuttle bus.

At Hakone Yuryo, you can immerse yourself in the soothing waters of Satoyama Onsen, surrounded by lush greenery. The facility features a variety of hot springs, both indoor and outdoor, including the largest private spa in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, with 19 private rooms.

If you're hungry, the on-site restaurant offers a delightful dining experience. Alternatively, if you're back near Hakone-Yumoto Station at dinner time, consider dining at "Irorisaryo Hachiri."

Admission to the public bath costs 1,600 yen for adults (junior high school students and older), rising to 1,900 yen on weekends and holidays, and 900 yen for children (elementary school students). The private open-air bath starts at 9,400 yen per hour.

Presenting your Hakone Freepass entitles you to a discount of 200 yen off the adult price and 100 yen off for children at the large bath. Additionally, you can get a 300 yen per hour discount on the private open-air bath.

After enjoying the hot springs in Hakone Yumoto, catch a bus to Gora Station. From there, take the sightseeing tour bus to the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone Forest.

This museum seamlessly blends art and nature, with its unique design standing just 8 meters above ground, allowing you to feel immersed in the natural surroundings of Hakone.

The museum's impressive collection includes over 9,500 items, featuring Western paintings by artists like Monet, Renoir, and Picasso, as well as Japanese paintings, prints, Asian ceramics, glass art, and ancient makeup tools from both the West and East. After exploring the museum, take a leisurely walk in the beautiful Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

If you're hungry, the museum offers a restaurant serving authentic European cuisine and a café where you can sip a drink while surrounded by nature. You don't need to enter the museum to visit the shop on the first floor, which sells French herbs, honey, imported confectionery, and small products from Hakone.

Admission is 1,800 yen for adults, 1,600 yen for seniors, and 1,300 yen for university and high school students. With a Hakone Freepass, you can receive a 200 yen discount for adults, university, and high school students, and elementary and junior high school students can enter for free.

The Hakone Venetian Glass Museum is a top attraction in Hakone, Japan. As the first museum in the country dedicated to Venetian glass, it features over 100 exquisite pieces from the 15th to 19th centuries, along with contemporary glass sculptures and seasonal exhibits.

The museum's garden offers a view of Owakudani 'Hell Valley' and showcases the "Light Corridor," a crystal glass arch that sparkles in seven colors when hit by sunlight. Visitors can also join glass-making workshops.

Enjoy live music performances at the museum's restaurant, held six times daily, and explore the shop with its vast array of Venetian glass items. Admission is 1,800 yen for adults, 1,300 yen for college and high school students, and 600 yen for junior high and elementary students. The Hakone Freepass provides a 100 yen discount.

For a delightful lunch near the Pola Museum of Art and the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum, we highly recommend the Hakone Highland Hotel. This artistic resort, originally a baron's villa, is located just steps away from the Glass Museum and features a beautiful garden that is stunning year-round.

The hotel offers a variety of seasonal course meals and à la carte options. With the Hakone Freepass, you can enjoy a 10% discount at the hotel lounge, with a few exceptions on certain days.

Start Day 2 with a visit to the rejuvenating Hakone Shrine. Take the Hakone Tozan Bus from Hakone Yumoto Station and get off at Hakone Shrine Entrance.

Visiting early in the morning provides a refreshing start to your day. The shrine, dedicated to a god of good luck, wish fulfillment, and safe travels, draws over 2 million visitors annually. The complex features several shrines, vermilion torii gates, and treasure halls with various displays.

Admission to the Hakone Shrine Treasure Hall is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. With a Hakone Freepass, you can enjoy a discount of 100 yen.

While strolling along the shores of Lake Ashi, make sure to visit the Hakone Sekisho checkpoint.

The Hakone Sekisho Museum has been carefully restored and is now open to the public. It used to be an inspection and checkpoint stop during the Edo period. The façade, walls, furnishings, and weapons have all been restored or reproduced to match their original appearance. The hall features life-size dolls of officials, giving visitors a realistic glimpse into life during the Edo period.

Admission is 500 yen for adults and 250 for children, but with the Hakone Freepass, visitors can get a 100-yen discount.

Our recommendation for lunch in the Lake Ashi area is Togendai View Restaurant. Take the Hakone Pirate Ship from Hakone-machi Port to Togendai Port, using the Hakone Freepass. The Pirate Ship sailing of Lake Ashi is exciting even to look at, but it’s even better when you board it.

At Togendai View Restaurant, you can enjoy a meal while admiring the pirate ship from a great location with a panoramic view of the lake. There are plenty of dishes prepared with local specialties, like “Fuwaru Omurice” (with salad) for 1,120 yen (tax not included), and “Pork Loin cutlet Curry” (with salad) for 1,210 yen (tax not included).

With the Hakone Freepass, you will receive a 5% discount on food and beverages. It’s a recommended restaurant to enjoy great food and sights at the same time.

One of the most popular hot spring facilities in Hakone is Hakone Kowakien Yunessun. From the Lake Ashi area, take the mountain climbing bus from Hakone-machi Port or Motohakone Port and get off at “Yunessan Mae.”

There is also an area where you can wear swimwear, as well as authentic hot spings, open-air baths, and cypress baths. You will be able to enjoy over 20 types of hot springs and spas, including some with very hot water, or unique ones like a coffee bath or a wine bath, or more traditional Japanese ones.

With the Hakone Freepass, you can get to the spa for 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for children.

While visiting the city of Hakone, you should also take time to go shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlets. This vast shopping complex is situated about 60 minutes away from Hakone Yumoto Station via Hakone Tozan Bus and 35-45 minutes by bus from Gora Station.

The mall comprises of approximately 210 popular shops, where you can shop for renowned brands both national and international at great prices. The stores range from high-fashion to outdoor clothing, sports gear, food, drinks, and much more, allowing you to enjoy a complete shopping experience.

At Gotemba Premium Outlets, you can benefit from exclusive coupons by presenting the Hakone Freepass. This is a fantastic way to conclude your visit, purchase souvenirs, and indulge in some delicious food.

Overall, the Hakone Freepass is an excellent option for travelers looking to explore the natural and cultural wonders of Hakone. With its combination of convenience, affordability, and access to various attractions, it's no wonder why it's a popular choice among visitors to Japan.