Is the Hakone Free Pass Worth It? (Yes!)

Hakone is a popular trip from Tokyo, whether just for one day or an overnight stay. By getting the Hakone Free Pass, you could save time and money on your trip here.

This discount pass includes a return ticket from Shinjuku Station, unlimited access to public transport within the Hakone area and special discounts at over 70 locations around Hakone, including museums, restaurants and onsen.

In the guide below, we’ll go over the costs of the Hakone Free Pass, what’s included, when it’s worth buying one and a breakdown of how much money it saved us on our trip to Hakone.

What is the Hakone Free Pass?

The Hakone Free Pass is a discount pass created by the Odakyu Railway to help you explore Hakone. It includes a return ticket from Shinjuku Station, unlimited access to public transport in the Hakone area (including the ropeway and pirate ships), and discounts to several museums, restaurants and onsen.

There are 2- or 3-day versions of the pass available. Most people opt to use the return ticket from Shinjuku Station included in the pass, but you can also buy a cheaper version from Odawara Station that doesn’t include the return ticket from Shinjuku Station. From Odawara Station, you can use the Hakone Tozan Train to get to Hakone Station.

You’ll save a bit of money using the pass if you include all your public transport for the day, the famous sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi and the Hakone Ropeway towards Owakudani. This makes it a no-brainer if you’re visiting Hakone for the first time and are planning to follow the Hakone Loop.

The Hakone Free Pass will also save you a lot of hassle in Hakone. With the pass, you don’t have to worry about paying for bus fares or buying tickets for the sightseeing cruise. Instead, you just show your pass, and you’re good to go.

I used the pass when I visited Hakone for the first time, and it made my trip so much easier. If you want to follow the Hakone Loop, you will need to use a lot of public transport. With the pass, I didn’t need to worry about buying individual tickets, so I could just focus on enjoying my day out.

What’s Included in the Hakone Free Pass?

If you buy the Hakone Free Pass from Shinjuku, you can use the following services for the duration of your pass:

• One return train ticket from Shinjuku Station to Odawara Station
• Unlimited rides on the Hakone Tozan Train
• Unlimited rides on the Hakone Tozan Cable Car
• Unlimited rides on the Hakone Ropeway
• Unlimited rides on the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
• Unlimited rides on the Hakone Tozan Bus (designated areas)
• Unlimited rides on KANKO SHISETSU-MEGURI, Hakone Tozan’s sightseeing bus
• Unlimited rides on the Odakyu Highway Bus (designated areas)
• Unlimited rides on the Tokai Bus (designated areas)
• Discounts at 70+ museums, restaurants, onsen and more.

Passes from Odawara include all of the above except the train ticket to Shinjuku.

Romancecar Limited Express Tickets

For an additional fee, you can also upgrade your Shinjuku Station return tickets to seats on the Romancecar limited express. This direct express service is the fastest way to get from Hakone to Tokyo, taking around 80 minutes from Shinjuku Station. It will knock around 30 minutes off each leg of your return journey and also save you from changing trains at Odawara Station.

Romancecar tickets are not included in the Hakone Free Pass, but you can buy them for an additional fee of ¥1,200 each way (¥1,150 if you’re using the e-ticket, plus there are discounts for children aged 6–11). Romancecar tickets are available at the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Centres or online via the e-Romancecar Platform. The website is a little difficult to use, but Odakyu has a step-by-step guide if you’re up for a challenge.

Planning to visit Hakone for a few days? Check out our guide on where to stay in Hakone with the best hotels, guest houses and ryokan.

Hakone Free Pass Prices 2026

Here are the prices of the Hakone Free Pass when departing from Shinjuku Station:

If you don’t need the return train ticket from Shinjuku Station to Odawara Station, you can opt for a slightly cheaper version of the Hakone Free Pass. These can be bought at ticket vending machines at Odakyu Line train stations. Prices vary depending on the station.

The prices from Odawara Station are as follows:

Where to Buy the Hakone Free Pass

The Hakone Free Pass can be bought at several places in Japan, both as a physical or digital ticket. For our trip to Hakone, we bought a physical ticket online from Klook. We received the e-vouchers within minutes and exchanged them for our Hakone Free Passes at the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Centre at Shinjuku Station the next day. From there, we jumped on the train to Odawara, ready for our trip to Hakone.

You have a few different options for purchasing the pass, depending on whether you prefer a physical or digital version. Here are a few other ways that you can get hold of the pass.

Odakyu Sightseeing Service Centres

If you want to get a physical Hakone Free Pass, you will have to visit the Odakyu ticket offices. They also offer other helpful information in English. You can buy the tickets or exchange your e-voucher here.

There are two centres in Shinjuku (one on the south and one on the west side), one in Odawara Station and one in Hakone-Yumoto Station. You can find directions to all of the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Centres on the Odakyu website.

At Shinjuku Station, the Shinjuku South Centre is easier to find in most cases as it’s located on the ground floor near the station’s giant south exit. If you’re arriving at Shinjuku Station by JR, follow the signs for the South Gate.

If you’re still feeling a little overwhelmed by the Japanese trains, the staff will ensure that you get the right ticket and help you with any other questions about your trip. The ticket offices can get quite busy, especially during weekends and peak season. If you’re worried about timings, it may be better to buy the tickets in advance.

The Odakyu Website

Odakyu also offers a digital version of the Hakone Free Pass, which you can purchase on their website. These smartphone tickets include a QR code and a ticket screen, which you can scan at ticket gates around Hakone or show to transport staff.

To buy the online pass, go to Odakyu’s digital tickets page and click ‘Digital Hakone Freepass’. This will direct you to Odakyu’s official ticketing platform, EMot. Alternatively, you can buy the digital version of the pass through Klook here.

If you buy them on the Odakyu website, you will be asked to select the type of Hakone Free Pass you want (with or without a round trip from Shinjuku), the start date of your trip and other necessary information. If this is your first time using the service, you’ll need to create an account before completing your purchase.

If you’re travelling as part of a group, keep in mind that you can only have one digital pass per phone. Every person in your group must have their own smartphone to use the digital tickets. You can buy multiple tickets on one account and transfer them to other devices, but you need an EMot account to receive the tickets.

On the day of your trip, just log into the Odakyu website on your phone, activate the ticket and then be ready to show, scan and display your pass as you travel around Hakone.

The digital Hakone Free Pass is super convenient if you’re a planner like me. You can buy the tickets before you even arrive in Japan and activate them on the day. And there is no need to worry about losing your tickets or queuing at the ticket office.

The biggest drawback of the digital pass is the one ticket per device rule. Everyone in your group needs to have a smartphone and manage their own ticket on the day, which is not the best if you’re travelling with young children. The physical ticket may then be a better option.

Other Locations

You can also buy the pass at Odakyu Line train stations, 7-Eleven convenience stores, travel agencies and tourist information desks in Odawara, Hakone, Mishima, Gotemba and Numazu.

How Much Can You Save with the Hakone Free Pass?

The Hakone Free Pass will save you a bit of money if you follow the Hakone Loop. If you don’t get the pass, you can expect to pay the following individually:

• Return train journey Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto (base ticket): ¥2,380
• Hakone Tozan Bus from Hakone-Yumoto to Motohakone-ko: ¥1,210
• Lake Ashi Cruise: ¥1,700 (one-way)
• Hakone Ropeway: ¥1,800 (one-way)
• Hakone Tozan Train (Sounzan to Hakone-Yumoto): ¥460.

By using the pass, you will save at least ¥450 on a single day’s use. However, the main advantage of the Hakone Free Pass isn’t the few hundred yen you save, it’s the convenience of being able to freely travel throughout the Hakone Area without having to worry about buying individual tickets. The savings are just an added bonus.

Does the JR Pass Cover the Hakone Area?

Even though I wouldn’t recommend the JR Pass for most Japan itineraries anymore due to the sharp price increase a few years back, if you do have a JR Pass, it’s important to note that you cannot use the JR Pass in the Hakone area

You can use the JR Pass to take the Shinkansen to Odawara Station, but it stops there. If you want to save a bit of money on your travels around Hakone, getting a Hakone Free Pass from Odawara Station would be your best option.

Even if you have a JR Pass, it’s still worth getting the Hakone Free Pass for the ease of use. Instead of buying individual tickets for the train to Hakone, the bus to Lake Ashi, the sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi and the Hakone Ropeway, you can show your pass and walk through. It’ll save you a lot of time.

Is the Hakone Free Pass Worth It for a Day Trip?

Yes, the Hakone Free Pass is worth getting when visiting Hakone on a day trip if you’re planning to follow the Hakone Loop and see the main highlights. Even though there is no one-day pass available, the 2-day pass will still save you time and money (buy it here).

If you’re only going to Hakone for one day, keep in mind that bad weather can cause cancellations with the sightseeing cruise and ropeway. Keep an eye on the weather forecast before setting out in the morning.

When is it NOT Worth Buying the Hakone Free Pass?

While I think the Hakone Free Pass is great value for money and makes travelling to Hakone very easy, it may not be the right choice for you. Here are some reasons why you may not want to buy the Hakone Free Pass:

• If you’re heading off the main tourist trail, it could be cheaper to buy individual tickets. The pass is designed to help you save money on the Hakone Loop, which is a circular route that takes in the main sights, including the Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise and the ropeway to Owakudani. If you’re going elsewhere, do your research before picking up the pass.
• If you’re visiting Hakone as part of a guided tour, you won’t need to get a Hakone Free Pass. Guided day tours will include transport, so you don’t have to worry about the logistics. You can check out day tours to Hakone here.

Conclusion – Is the Hakone Free Pass Worth It?

In most cases, the Hakone Free Pass is worth getting. It saves you a bit of money when following the Hakone Loop, but its main advantage is the ease of use. With the pass, you won’t have to worry about buying tickets for every mode of transport in Hakone. You can just focus on having a great time!