Dick H
New Member
This is one of the two most unusual and spectacular transport trips in Japan.
Rail fans visiting Japan should be sure to buy an Odakyu Railway's "Hakone Free Pass".
Not free, but certainly a bargain. It is good for two days with unlimited riding on seven types of transport, including a breathtaking ride over the "valley of the boiling hells", the crater of a huge vokcano that erupted aome 3000 years ago.
See the main route, I have done many times, on my zenfolio site.
Click "slideshow", upper right. To PAUSE, hit the Space bar. Hit it again to resume.
http://dickh.zenfolio.com/p340096673
You can start at Shinjuku and use the Odakyu Ry. for the whole trip, or if you have a JR Rail Pass take the Shinkansen to Odawara and buy the Free Pass there at a reduced price.
At Haokone-Yumoto, you change to the Hakone-Tozan Ry. (Tozan means Mt.). Some of the cars were built in the U.S. by Brill in 1919. There are three switchbacks, so for part of the trip up the mountain you will be facing backwards. For the most front views you should start at the back of the train. I suggest stopping at Miyanoshita where you can get lunch and see some unusual transport.
After crossing Lake Ashi you have at least three choices.
1) Return via the same route.
2) Take a bus back to Hakone-Yumoto.
3) Spectacular bus ride down to Yugawara a very old hot springs resort. Then you will
need to take a JR East train back to Odawara or Tokyo.
Rail fans visiting Japan should be sure to buy an Odakyu Railway's "Hakone Free Pass".
Not free, but certainly a bargain. It is good for two days with unlimited riding on seven types of transport, including a breathtaking ride over the "valley of the boiling hells", the crater of a huge vokcano that erupted aome 3000 years ago.
See the main route, I have done many times, on my zenfolio site.
Click "slideshow", upper right. To PAUSE, hit the Space bar. Hit it again to resume.
http://dickh.zenfolio.com/p340096673
You can start at Shinjuku and use the Odakyu Ry. for the whole trip, or if you have a JR Rail Pass take the Shinkansen to Odawara and buy the Free Pass there at a reduced price.
At Haokone-Yumoto, you change to the Hakone-Tozan Ry. (Tozan means Mt.). Some of the cars were built in the U.S. by Brill in 1919. There are three switchbacks, so for part of the trip up the mountain you will be facing backwards. For the most front views you should start at the back of the train. I suggest stopping at Miyanoshita where you can get lunch and see some unusual transport.
After crossing Lake Ashi you have at least three choices.
1) Return via the same route.
2) Take a bus back to Hakone-Yumoto.
3) Spectacular bus ride down to Yugawara a very old hot springs resort. Then you will
need to take a JR East train back to Odawara or Tokyo.
