Tokyo to Hakone...
 

I'd like to take the Romance Car from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto and then purchase a Hakone Free Pass to use for the cable cars and ropeways, busses, etc. I'd like to know the easiest way to get from Tokyo Station to Shinjuku on a Tuesday morning. I'd also like to know whether I can reserve a Romance Car with the Hakone Free Pass and if this can all be done online ahead of time?

Also, if we're spending 2 nights in Hakone, assumably the 3-day pass would be needed, right? (ie. arrive in Hakone on Tuesday and depart on Thursday) Does it count by the number of hours or by the day itself?

Your best bet is probably to take the JR Chuo Line rapid service train (orange platform). Shinjuku is among the most confusing places to navigate in the world, but follow the signs for the Odakyu Line and you should be OK.

You should not need an advance reservation for a mid-week morning train.

Thanks so much!

As I understand, it takes roughly 15 min between the two stations?

Wouldn't reservations come in handy if we have a specific train to catch at Shinjuku (reserved seats in the front observation deck on the Romance Car) since we're already following a fixed schedule? Better to be safe and just book ahead, no? Or were you referring to the Hakone Free Pass? Would the JR fare between Tokyo Station and Shinjuku be included under the Free Pass or does the route begin at Shinjuku?

Midweek without reservation is fine. Tickets can be bought at the Odayaku counter at the plattform. The route of the romance car is rather unspectacular, mostly Tokyo surburbs without much to see.

Alternatively, you could use JR from Tokyo Station to Odawara and change there to the Hakone-Tozan Railway. Freepass can be bought on the plattfrom in Odawara.


Depending where you stay around Tokyo station it might be easier to take the subway to Shinjuku.

Thanks SQ325,

We're staying at The Peninsula nearby, which is only a 15 minute walk to the station or a 5-10 min. car transfer.

Originally, I'd intended to just take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Odwara Station, and then transfer to the Odakyū Odawara Electric Railway Line to Hakone-Yumoto.

I've since read about the Romance Car to Hakone and I would really like to take it; even if it is mostly suburbs (though I've read that there is some very pretty scenery of the ocean and Mt Fuji). It's our first time in Japan so even unspectacular scenery will be somewhat interesting. I'm going to try and book front row seats in the panorama car.

The panorama seats are in high demand. I checked the next 4 Tuesdays, and the front facing panorama seats are almost all sold out on the 10:00, 10:40 and 11:40 trains. The online booking system only go 30 days in advance.

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/

From the Peninsula you can take a short stroll to the Ginza station and take the Marunouchi line directly to Shinjuku.

Thanks msb0b,

We aren't travelling until Nov. 2nd so hopefully we'll get lucky with the panorama seats. I've already written to Boutique JTB for assistance.

We'd also prefer to leave from Tokyo Station so that we can have breakfast at Rokurinsha that morning before leaving for Shinjuku.

:confused:
Don't tell me that's a thing.

I don't know what that's supposed to mean but we're planning to grab a bowl of tsukemen at Rokurinsha Tokyo Ramen Station before leaving for Hakone.

Oh come on, "It's a thing," has been a thing for longer than I can remember.

"It's a thing" is a thing.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...7s%20a%20thing

http://english.stackexchange.com/que...erb-be-a-thing

http://www.itsathing.me/

What does that have to do with eating at Rokurinsha in Tokyo Station?

I'm not saying that it's inconceivable that I might get a yen for tsukemen for breakfast. I'm not saying that it's inconceivable that I might go to the effort of visiting one specific ramen restaurant based on its reputation. I'm not saying that it's inconceivable that I might plan ahead about where I'll breakfast in a town that I am visiting.

But there's something about the combination of those three that I can't conceive of. Unless ... it's a thing.

And if it's a thing ... how the heck did it get to be a thing? I mean, I can see how early morning sushi at the fish market became a thing. I can see how milk bread for breakfast at Haneda airport became a thing. I can even see how natto and rice for breakfast became a thing. But "On Tuesday we'll breakfast at Rokurinsha" ... I don't get. Unless ... it's a thing.

Well it's not a thing, whatever that's supposed to mean... I'm still not entirely sure. Unless you'd meant to place the word "convenient" in the middle of that sentence? In which, case, I suppose it is a convenient thing. We'd like to have lunch at Rokurinsha at Tokyo Station. Conveniently, we'll happen to be at Tokyo Station on this particular morning. Therefore given that our days in Tokyo are limited, it makes sense to eat at this particular restaurant on this particular morning when conveniently we'll find ourselves right there. It seems to be more of "a thing" for you actually...

I have a yen for such a thing-thing. Mont Thabor is my friend.