Getting from Narita, Haneda or Tokyo to Hakone: train and mountain railway versus a private car to your ryokan. Tax-included per-car fares from on request (Haneda) and on request (Narita), plus day-charter prices.
Hakone is the most popular hot-spring destination near Tokyo, but many of its ryokan sit in the hills rather than beside a railway station. How you get from the airport to the front door is easy to underestimate when planning. This guide compares the train-and-transfer route with a private car, and lists our prices from the airports and from Tokyo.
Two ways to get there
| Train, mountain railway and bus | Private car | |
|---|---|---|
| Changes | Usually several: a major station such as Shinjuku, then the Odakyu line, mountain railway or bus | None, airport or Tokyo hotel straight to your ryokan |
| Luggage | You carry it, including stairs and slopes in the hills | The driver helps and drops you at the agreed address |
| Pricing | Per person; see the official fares | Per car, so cheaper per head the more of you there are |
| Flexibility | Follows timetables; check the last services | 24-hour service, planned around your flight and check-in |
Rail fares and timetables change by season and ticket type, so we have not quoted figures here. Please check the official sources:
- Odakyu Electric Railway (Hakone Freepass, Romancecar): https://www.odakyu.jp/english/
- Hakone Tozan Railway: https://www.hakone-tozan.co.jp/en/
- Hakone Tourist Association: https://www.hakone.or.jp/en/
Who the train suits
Travellers with one or two light bags, a relaxed schedule and an interest in the scenery along the way will enjoy the train. If your ryokan is close to Hakone-Yumoto or Gora station, there are few changes.
If you are staying near Lake Ashi or in Sengokuhara, the train is usually followed by a mountain railway, cable car or bus, and often a final walk. With large suitcases, a pushchair or older relatives, those transfers add up quickly.
Private car: fares from the airports
One-way, per vehicle, tax included, with tolls and parking included. Journey time depends on traffic.
| From | Approx. journey | ECO (5 seats) | Alphard (7 seats) | Hiace (10 seats) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haneda | About 90–120 min | on request | ¥50,000 | ¥55,000 |
| Narita | About 150–180 min | on request | ¥70,000 | ¥80,000 |
- Per-car pricing: four people in an ECO from Haneda pay about on request each; six in an Alphard about ¥8,333 each.
- 90 minutes of free waiting at airport arrivals, so flight delays or long immigration queues are not a worry.
- Child seats available: up to three child safety seats and two boosters per booking.
- Late-night surcharge: a flat ¥4,000 between 22:00 and 06:00.
- 24-hour service for early-morning arrivals and late departures.
See the Alphard and Hiace pages for vehicle details, and the route pages for Narita to Hakone and Haneda to Hakone.
Day charter from Tokyo
If you are already in Tokyo and want to visit Hakone for the day, a 10-hour charter starting and ending in Tokyo is priced per vehicle:
| Vehicle | Price |
|---|---|
| ECO (5 seats) | on request |
| Alphard (7 seats) | ¥60,000 |
| Hiace (10 seats) | ¥70,000 |
Overtime is ¥3,000 per 30 minutes. Extra stops on the way can be arranged on request. With a charter you can reorder stops such as Lake Ashi and Owakudani according to the weather and crowds on the day.
Which should you choose?
- One or two people, light bags, budget first: the train is cheaper.
- Three or more, heavy luggage, children or older relatives: a private car can cost about the same per head and removes the transfers.
- Ryokan in the hills, or a late arrival: a direct car is easier and is not limited by last trains.
- Several sights in one day: consider a day charter.
What to have ready when booking
- Date, arrival flight and planned departure time.
- Ryokan name and address (ideally in Japanese, or a map link).
- Number of passengers, pieces of luggage and whether children are travelling.
Book your Hakone transfer
Submit your request on the booking page and our team will confirm the vehicle and price. The figures above are for reference; all quotes are subject to confirmation by our team.
FAQ
- How much is a private car from Haneda or Narita to Hakone?
- Haneda to Hakone: on request for an ECO sedan, ¥50,000 for an Alphard (7 seats) and ¥55,000 for a Hiace (10 seats). Narita to Hakone: on request, ¥70,000 and ¥80,000. Prices are per vehicle, include tax, tolls and parking. A flat ¥4,000 applies from 22:00 to 06:00. All quotes are subject to confirmation by our team.
- Is the price per person or per car?
- Per car, regardless of passenger count, as long as you stay within the seats and luggage capacity: ECO 5 seats and 4 pieces, Alphard 7 seats and 6 pieces, Hiace 10 seats and 9 pieces.
- How much is a day charter from Tokyo to Hakone?
- A 10-hour charter starting and ending in Tokyo costs on request (ECO), ¥60,000 (Alphard) or ¥70,000 (Hiace) per vehicle. Overtime is ¥3,000 per 30 minutes. All quotes are subject to confirmation by our team.
- Can the car take us to the door of our ryokan?
- Enter your ryokan's name and address when booking and the driver will go to that location. Some ryokan sit on narrow mountain roads, so please confirm the exact drop-off point with our team.
- Can you provide child seats?
- Yes. Child safety seats and booster seats are available, up to three child seats and two boosters per booking.