Hakone Romancecar Tickets 2026: Price, How to Book, Observation Seats and Luggage
Short answer: a Romancecar ride from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto is two tickets: the train fare (¥1,270, or ¥1,261 with Suica/PASMO) and the limited express fee (¥1,200, or ¥1,150 if you buy online). That makes ¥2,411 to ¥2,470 per adult one way, for about 80 minutes. The Hakone Freepass covers the fare but not the fee. Tickets go on sale at 10:00 one month before the travel day. Prices from Odakyu's official pages, checked 2026-10-10.
How much is the Romancecar to Hakone?
One way, per adult, from Shinjuku. Every Romancecar seat is reserved.
| To | Train fare (paper / IC card) | Limited express fee (station / online) | Total, cheapest way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hakone-Yumoto | ¥1,270 / ¥1,261 | ¥1,200 / ¥1,150 | ¥2,411 |
| Odawara | ¥910 / ¥901 | ¥1,000 / ¥950 | ¥1,851 |
- Children (6–11) pay half the limited express fee, rounded up to ¥10: ¥600 to Hakone-Yumoto at the station price. A child under 6 who uses a seat needs a child fee and a child fare ticket too.
- Round trip: double it. From Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto and back, one adult pays ¥4,822 at the cheapest (online fee + IC card).
- Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto only: the fee is ¥200. It is sold on the platform at Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto, and only when seats are free on the day.
With the Hakone Freepass: what you still pay
The Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku (¥7,100 for 2 days per adult) includes the Odakyu train fare to Hakone, so you only buy the limited express fee: ¥1,150 online or ¥1,200 at the station, each way. Hakone Navi, the official site, says: "An extra fee is required for the Limited Express Romancecar."
| Freepass from Shinjuku (adult) | Total transport |
|---|---|
| Regular trains both ways | ¥7,100 |
| + Romancecar one way (fee online) | ¥8,250 |
| + Romancecar both ways (fee online) | ¥9,400 |
Not sure the pass pays off for your rides? Check the Hakone Freepass calculator or read Is the Hakone Freepass worth it?
How to book Romancecar tickets
- Pick your train. Use Odakyu's timetable. Trains named Hakone and Super Hakone run to Hakone-Yumoto.
- Buy the limited express fee. Sales open at 10:00 (Japan time) one month before the travel day. Online options: e-Romancecar (no membership needed), the EMot app, or EMot Online Tickets (web). All take credit cards, and the online fee is ¥50 cheaper.
- Or buy at the station. Ticket machines at Odakyu stations sell Romancecar tickets from the first to the last train, up to 8 people at a time, and show a seat map. The ticket windows at Shinjuku, Machida and Odawara are open 7:30–20:00. Machines do not take advance reservations, and Odakyu no longer takes phone bookings.
- Pay the train fare separately. Tap Suica or PASMO at the gate (or use a paper ticket or the Hakone Freepass). Do not put the limited express ticket in the gate. You show it on board.
Buy before you board. If you ride without the limited express ticket, the fee is charged on board plus ¥350, and you get no seat.
Observation seats: how to get the front row
The GSE (70000 series) has observation seats at both ends of the train: 16 seats in car 1 and 16 in car 7. They cost nothing extra, just the normal fare and fee. Because there are only 32, Odakyu says to book early. When the sale opens, choose seats in car 1 or car 7 on a GSE train.
Not every Romancecar is a GSE. Odakyu publishes a monthly list of GSE trains. In the October 2026 plan (as of 31 August), GSE trains leave Shinjuku for Hakone at 10:00 and 13:20 on most days, with extra ones at 8:00, 11:20 and 15:00 on some weekends and holidays. The plan can change, so check the official GSE schedule (PDF, Japanese) for your date.
Luggage on the Romancecar
Odakyu lists these spaces:
| Train | Luggage space |
|---|---|
| GSE (70000) | Space for large luggage, plus room under the seats |
| EXEα (30000) | A luggage area made for suitcases, plus overhead racks |
| EXE (30000) | Overhead racks |
| MSE (60000) | Overhead racks |
Odakyu's pages do not give a size limit or a luggage reservation for the Romancecar. If you carry a big suitcase, a GSE or EXEα train gives you a proper place for it.
Changes, refunds and missed trains
- Refund: before departure only, with a ¥100 fee per ticket. No refund or change once the train has left.
- Change: before departure, to a train with free seats. You can change the date once for free. EMot tickets can change only to the same section, the same number of people and the same price.
- Cancelled train: the fee is refunded in full. Online tickets (e-Romancecar, EMot) are refunded automatically to your card.
- Late train: if the Romancecar arrives or leaves 1 hour or more late, the fee is refunded.
Romancecar or regular train?
Regular Odakyu trains cost the same fare (¥1,270 to Hakone-Yumoto) and no fee, but take about 2 hours with a change at Odawara to the Hakone Tozan Train, and seats are not reserved. The Romancecar costs ¥1,150–¥1,200 more each way and takes about 80 minutes with a reserved seat. For a day trip, the Romancecar on the way there gives you more time in Hakone; going home on a regular train saves money. See the full day in Hakone day trip itinerary and the budgets in Hakone day trip from Tokyo: cost and route.
Book the pass or skip the planning PR
- Romancecar tickets on Klook compare with the official online price above
- Hakone Freepass on Klook covers the Odakyu fare and the Hakone loop
- Hakone day tours from Tokyo on Viator transport arranged for you
Affiliate links: booking through them supports this site at no extra cost. Prices on partner sites may differ from the official fares on this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone?
¥2,470 per adult one way with paper tickets (fare ¥1,270 + fee ¥1,200), or ¥2,411 if you buy the fee online and pay the fare with Suica or PASMO. Children aged 6–11 pay half.
Is the Romancecar included in the Hakone Freepass?
No. The Freepass covers the Odakyu fare, but you pay the limited express fee on top: ¥1,150 online or ¥1,200 at the station, each way between Shinjuku and Hakone-Yumoto.
When do Romancecar tickets go on sale?
At 10:00 Japan time, one month before the travel day, online (e-Romancecar, EMot) or at Odakyu station windows.
Do observation seats cost extra?
No. The 32 observation seats on the GSE train (cars 1 and 7) cost the normal fare and fee. They sell out first, so book when sales open.
Can I use Suica or PASMO on the Romancecar?
Yes, for the train fare: tap your card at the gate. You still need a limited express ticket for the seat, bought before you board.
What happens if I board without a Romancecar ticket?
You pay the fee on board plus ¥350, and you do not get a reserved seat.
Official sources (checked 2026-10-10)
- Romancecar fees and fares, on-board surcharge, child rule (Japanese): https://www.odakyu.jp/romancecar/charges/
- How to book, sale start, ticket machines and windows (Japanese): https://www.odakyu.jp/romancecar/booking/
- Refunds and changes (Japanese): https://www.odakyu.jp/romancecar/cancel/
- Romancecar in English (80 minutes, online ¥50 cheaper, observation seats, luggage, IC cards): https://hakonetrip.odakyu-global.com/passes/romancecar/
- GSE observation seats (Japanese): https://www.odakyu.jp/romancecar/features/line_up/70000/
- GSE schedule, October 2026 (PDF, Japanese): https://www.odakyu.jp/romancecar/news/makhce0000001ez8-att/makhce0000001ezf.pdf
- End of phone booking and seat maps at machines (PDF, Japanese): https://www.odakyu.jp/romancecar/news/jl4d7l0000000u04-att/express_ticket_tel.pdf
- Romancecar timetable, weekdays to Odawara and Hakone (PDF): https://www.odakyu.jp/romancecar/timetable/doc/260314/weekday_down2026.pdf
- Hakone Freepass prices and the Romancecar fee rule: https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/discount_passes/free_pass
Prices and timetables change. Always confirm with Odakyu before you travel.
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