Odakyu Hakone Freepass (箱根フリーパス) Guide: Unlimited Rides on 8 Transport Modes, Ropeway, Lake Ashi Pirate Ship, and Onsen Discounts from 6,100 Yen

For residents in the Greater Tokyo area looking for crisp Mount Fuji views, volcanic valleys, and outdoor hot springs just 85 minutes from Shinjuku, Hakone (箱根, Kanagawa Prefecture) is the ultimate weekend escape. However, exploring Hakone requires switching across switchback mountain trains, funicular cable cars, aerial ropeways, sightseeings ships on Lake Ashi, and mountain buses. Paying individual fares with a Suica or Pasmo IC card across the classic loop easily costs 8,200 to 9,500 yen per person.

The Hakone Freepass (箱根フリーパス) issued by Odakyu Electric Railway bundles round-trip rail travel from Shinjuku with unlimited rides on all 8 transport modes inside Hakone, saving you over 2,000 yen on day one alone. Here is how to pick the right pass, book panoramic Romancecar seats, and follow the clockwise “Hakone Golden Course.”

1. What Does the Hakone Freepass Cover? Pricing from Shinjuku vs. Odawara

Available in 2-day or 3-day consecutive versions, the 箱根フリーパス provides three core benefits:

1. Round-trip Odakyu Line rail ticket (小田急線往復きっぷ): From Shinjuku Station (or any Odakyu station) to Odawara / Hakone-Yumoto and back. *(If you travel to Odawara via JR train or car, you can buy the cheaper “Odawara-area” version that excludes the Odakyu main line).*
2. Unlimited hop-on, hop-off rides across 8 transportation networks inside the Hakone region.
3. Admission discounts (10% to 20% off) at more than 70 hot spring resorts, museums, and restaurants.

Hakone Freepass Option (箱根フリーパス)	Adult (2-Day Pass)	Adult (3-Day Pass)	Child (Ages 6–11, 2-Day)	Best For
From Shinjuku Station *(Includes round-trip Odakyu train)*	6,100 yen	6,500 yen	1,100 yen	Tokyo residents departing directly from Shinjuku
From Odawara / Hakone-Yumoto *(Excludes Odakyu main line)*	5,000 yen	5,400 yen	1,000 yen	Yokohama/Shizuoka residents arriving at Odawara via JR
Odakyu Romancecar Limited Express Supplement *(One-way add-on)*	+1,150 yen *(Digital ticket)*	+1,150 yen *(Digital ticket)*	+580 yen	Nonstop 85-minute reserved panoramic seating

*(Family tip: The 2-day child pass from Shinjuku costs just 1,100 yen total for ages 6 to 11, covering the train, ropeway, and pirate ship).*

2. The 8 Unlimited Transport Modes & How to Upgrade to the Odakyu Romancecar

One important detail first-timers often miss: Your base 6,100-yen Hakone Freepass already covers regular Odakyu Express (急行 – Kyuko) trains between Shinjuku and Odawara at no extra charge (taking roughly 115 minutes with a quick cross-platform transfer at Odawara).

If you prefer a direct, all-reserved ride aboard the iconic vermilion Odakyu Romancecar (小田急ロマンスカー GSE 70000) straight from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto in 85 minutes, simply purchase a Limited Express Supplement (特急券 – Tokkyuken) for +1,150 yen one way via the EMot app or e-Romancecar website. Front-row observation deck seats (展望席) open for booking at exactly 10:00 AM one month prior to departure.

Once inside Hakone, your pass grants unlimited rides on all 8 transport systems:

1. Hakone Tozan Train (箱根登山電車): Japan’s steepest mountain railway climbing through gorges via three switchbacks from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora (regular round-trip ~1,360 yen).
2. Hakone Tozan Cable Car (箱根登山ケーブルカー): Funicular climbing straight up the slope from Gora to Sounzan (~430 yen).
3. Hakone Ropeway (箱根ロープウェイ): Aerial gondola soaring directly over the steaming volcanic craters of Owakudani down to Togendai on Lake Ashi (normally 1,500 yen one way, 2,500 yen round-trip).
4. Hakone Pirate Ship (箱根海賊船): Ornate tall ships cruising across Lake Ashi between Togendai, Hakone-machi, and Moto-Hakone piers (normally 1,200 yen one way, 2,220 yen round-trip).
5. Hakone Tozan Bus (箱one登山バス – designated zone): Connects Moto-Hakone and Lake Ashi back to Hakone-Yumoto and Odawara (~1,100 yen).
6. Kanko Shisetsu-Meguri Sightseeing Bus (観光施設めぐりバス): Links Gora with the Venetian Glass Museum, Pola Museum, and Sengokuhara pampas grass fields.
7. Odakyu Highway Bus (小田急ハイウェイバス – designated Hakone to Gotemba section).
8. Tokai Bus (東海バス – designated Lake Ashi to Mishima Station route).

Completing just one standard loop across these modes would cost over 8,100 yen out of pocket, meaning the 6,100-yen pass saves you at least 2,000 yen per adult on a single day trip.

3. The Clockwise “Hakone Golden Course” (箱根ゴールデンコース) Itinerary

To experience all the highlights smoothly without backtracking, follow the classic clockwise Hakone Golden Course:

• 08:00 – 09:30: Ride from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅). Overnight guests can drop off suitcases at the platform baggage delivery counter (箱根キャリーサービス, 100 yen off with Freepass) to have luggage sent directly to their ryokan.
• 09:40 – 10:35: Take the switchback 箱根登山電車 up to Gora Station (強羅駅), then transfer directly to the ケーブルカー up to Sounzan Station (早雲山駅), where a free panoramic footbath (cu-mo箱根) awaits on the terrace.
• 11:00 – 12:30: Board the Hakone Ropeway (箱根ロープウェイ) across the active sulfur vents of Owakudani (大涌谷). Alight at Owakudani Station to try the famous black sulfur-boiled eggs (黒たまご – Kuro Tamago, 500 yen for 4 eggs), said in local folklore to add 7 years to your life.
• 12:45 – 13:30: Continue on the ropeway down to Togendai Port (桃源台港) while enjoying unobstructed views of snow-capped Mount Fuji on clear autumn and winter days.

• 13:45 – 14:20: Walk downstairs inside the Togendai terminal and board the Hakone Pirate Ship (箱根海賊船) for a 30-minute cruise across Lake Ashi to Moto-Hakone Port (元箱根港).
• 14:30 – 16:00: Stroll 10 minutes along cedar-lined paths to Hakone Shrine (箱根神社) and its lakeside red torii gate (平和の鳥居), then hop on a 箱根登山バス back to Hakone-Yumoto Station.

4. Day-Use Onsen Discounts & Buying the Digital Pass on Your Smartphone

Even if you are visiting on a day trip (日帰り), flashing your Hakone Freepass unlocks instant discounts at top hot springs and museums:

• Hakone Yuryo (箱根湯寮 – 3 minutes from Hakone-Yumoto via free shuttle bus): Forest open-air baths; weekday admission drops from 1,700 yen to 1,500 yen.
• Hakone Kowakien Yunessun (箱根小涌園ユネッサン): Up to 20% off entry to the wine/coffee spa resort and Mori no Yu traditional hot springs.
• Hakone Open-Air Museum (彫刻の森美術館) & Venetian Glass Museum (箱根ガラスの森美術館): 100 to 200 yen off admission.

To skip ticket lines on busy mornings, purchase the Digital Hakone Freepass (デジタル箱根フリーパス) via the EMot app or Hakone Navi website. You simply scan the in-app QR code at station gates and show the animated pass screen when boarding the pirate ship and buses.

Official Sources & References

• Odakyu Hakone Navi (箱根ナビ公式): Hakone Freepass Fares, Coverage Map, and 70+ Discount Facilities
• Odakyu Electric Railway (小田急電鉄公式): Romancecar Timetables and Online Seat Reservations
• Impress Travel Watch: Hakone Sightseeing Transport and Railway Guides