Originally Posted by
LapLap
I don't know what the cost is, but an alternative way to combine a boat ride with a ropeway ride would be Nokogiriyama.
I've not been and don't know how much it costs to get there by ferry. So I've no idea if this is a cheaper option than getting the Hakone Free Pass. The Buddha at Nokogiri yama does look extremely impressive, I'm sure it would make a wonderful day trip.
I'd be glad for the information if anyone has it (or can read it) as it's an outing I'd like to go on myself one day (hopefully soon).
There are plenty of details here:
http://www.chibajet.com/wiki/Nokogiriyama
I did Nokogiriyama about a year ago. Great day trip. Basically, you take JR Yokosuka Line or Keikyu Main Line through Yokohama to Kurihama (this is also where the slow JR trains from NRT terminate), and then hike from there to the Tokyo Bay Ferry Terminal. Along the way, you can stop at the Commodore Perry Museum and the monument marking the spot where he landed in 1854.
The boat runs every 45 minutes or so and takes 35 minutes to cross the bay (700 yen one way, 1280 round-trip). Cars, bikes and motorcycles are all accepted at varying prices. Then you hike a little farther to the ropeway, which is 900 yen round-trip and open from 9 am to 5 pm.
There is also a direct train from the foot of the mountain to Chiba City (Uchibo Line), which is about 90 minutes and 1,110 yen each way. Chiba is between Tokyo and NRT on the JR line, so this is a convenient way to start or finish if you are flying the same day.
The stone Buddha at Nokogiriyama is the largest Buddha in Japan and well worth visiting (
photo). Note that there are LOTS of steps to climb and descend, even if you take the ropeway to the mountaintop and back, so you had better have strong legs and feet.