mmmmmmmmmmm, kind of quite today. . anyways, for those interested, sunrise tours has a special package for farangs, round trip shinkansen to odawara(near hakone, how near? don't know, but mrwunrfl could chime in), one nite at the hakone prince in the lake annex, for 9900Y. sounds good? what do you think?

That sounds very good. Is that a single person rate or is it a per person double occupancy rate? The shinkansen ticket would cost about 6000 JPY roundtrip, non-reserved. It looks like a nice hotel.

Here is access info to the hotel:
http://www.princehotels.co.jp/hakone-e/kotu.html

You can see Odawara station in the upper right corner of the map. You can use a Hakone Free Pass to travel in the area. Go the following page:
http://www.odakyu-group.co.jp/englis.../hakone_01.htm

This second map shows the transport lines in the area. The Pass would get you as far as the Odakyu Yamano Hotel which must be in the immediate area of the Prince.

You could use your Pass to go from Odawara to Hakone Yumoto then a bus to Moto-hakone. You could then take the boat across Ashi and then the bus south from Togendai. I think there is a road counter-clockwise around the lake from Moto-Hakone that would get you to the Prince. Read the details about the pass on that page.

Also take a look here: http://www.odakyu-group.co.jp/englis...pass/index.htm
and see the link about the Romance Car.

I think that you've already seen this:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/RTG/PTG/pdf/pg-307.pdf

mrwunrfl:

okini for the great and helpful info. as far as i know, that is a single rate. its just a train and hotel package. no meals, and you get to the hotel from odawara on your own. like you said though, its still a good deal. i think the hotel alone is 11200Y, then add the 6000Y for the train, wow.

ps: i think akron won't even get a first down. .

According to JTB website http://www.jtb.co.jp/sunrisetour/ there's a single room charge of 7,000 yen. Even at 16,900 yen it's still fair value, but it's easy to book a package like this at any travel agent, using cheaper and more convenient Odakyu line from Shinjuku which has direct trains to Hakone-Yumoto. See http://www.odakyu-group.co.jp/english/qtours.html, which offers a wider choice of hotels and includes meals.

hey gang, sorry for the bum dope. domo alec.

kuranosuke: Are you going to stay in the Hakone Prince? It looks like a great resort, right on middle of the lake. I can't book the tour specials as I am not leaving from Shinjuku, I am leaving from Yokohama to go to Hakone. But I see an internet special of 18,900 yen per person per night (for the Sat. night I will be there in March)for a two twin bed room on the lake, w/a balcony, that includes breakfast. I'd still have to add in dinner for us both. I don't think I can get the specials Alec referred to if leaving from Yokohama. Have you decided to stay at Prince in Oct.?

emd; i changed my mind, and will be going to nikko instead. during my next visit, i plan to take the hakone-kamakura loop(overnite in either hakone or kamakura), and maybe head to kyoto, takayama, mastumoto, etc.

looks like you have a great trip planned, don't forget to post your report, as alot of us could benefit from your experience.