Hi all,
I will be stopping in Tokyo for 4 days. I intend to go to Hakone/Mount Fuji on a day trip. What is the best mode of transport? How long will it take? cost?
Do you think I should take a JR pass?
Thanks in advance. Lilly

The best way to get to Hakone is to take the train: either Odakyu (non-JR) train from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto, or JR bullet train from Tokyo/Shinagawa to Odawara then transfer to non-JR train to Hakone Yumoto. It would take 1.5-2hrs.

Hakone Yumoto is basically at the foot of the Hakone mountains--you take a cable car (non-JR), which can add another 1hr or so.

JR Pass makes sense only if you're travelling to other long-distance. I recall there was a regional pass that incorporated non-JR trains/cable cars.

Mt Fuji: not sure if you're planning to climb (hence need to get to the 5th station) or you just wanted to have a good view. If former, there are direct buses from Shinjuku Bus Terminal (depending on the season). If the latter, good viewing point is along Lake Ashi--combination of bus/cable car/ropeway from Hakone Yumoto.

Thanks W9London. I don't think i'm gonna climb Mount Fuji.I read it takes up to 5 hours and my hotel is in Tokyo during my whole stay. Is that right?

Can I also ask you whether there is daily passes for subway and JR line (I will be using the Yakamote line mainly and the subway) that are worth looking into?

Also when taking JR trains, do you have to reserve your seat systematically? do you know how much it costs?

Again, thank you so much! Lilly

You can get either Suica or Pasmo which are prepaid/pay-as-you-go cards. Suica is JR card and Pasmo is subway but I understand they are totally interchangeable so either should work fine for you.

If you're taking Narita Express, I do recall seeing a web promotion on NEX+Suica (not sure if this is still valid).

For JR long-distance trains, you can either make a reservation in advance or take unreserved cars. I understand you do need to make reservation on NEX out of Tokyo. (You'll get booking on the next available train coming from Narita Airport).

No, you should not get a JR pass. I think the reserved seat charge is 300 to 500 yen. Except for the Narita Express you don't have to pay to reserve a seat.

If you want to take a day trip to Hakone then there are bus tours from Tokyo. Or you can go on your own.

As W9 mentioned, there is an Odakyu train from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto. The town of Hakone Yumoto is a gateway to the park. There is a tourist circuit by bus from Hakone Yumoto to Moto Hakone where you can see Mt Fuji. Then take a bus across Ashi Lake. Then a cable car up a mountain, with views of Fuji-san. Funicular down the other side to a train that goes back to Hakone Yumoto.

The Hakone Free Pass can be used for this circuit. See:
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/freepass/hakone_01.html

You would actually take a boat, not a bus, across the lake. One of the boats is a pirate ship.

Thanks so much you two for your very useful answer! Arigato gosaimas! Lilly

mrwunrfl

we got to take the pirate ship across this past April. i didn't realize you had an option I just assumed they all would be the same.....live and learn

Aloha!

The Hakona Free Pass is definitely the best idea for a day in Hakone. Besides being a good deal financially, it plans the trip for you--just follow the loop of the different kinds of transportation and you will see everything!

Do NOT get a JR pass of any kind--even the regional ones are way too expensive. Except for the "Free Passes," which you can also get to Nikko and Kamakura, it's best just to pay your local train fares individually or with one of the cards mentioned above.

IIRC, it is like a riverboat, on the front end anyway:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:H...e_dsc05498.jpg

bookmarking - thanks