Family Travelogue: May 2016

Hakone sightseeing cruise from Motohakoneko to Togendaiko

Our day trip to Hakone started at Shinjuku. We got some bread and hot cocoa inside the station while we were on the way to Odakyu's platforms. I got stressed a bit, my daughter ordered french toast. We were to take it away and to eat in the train. We just learned later the french toast was so long to prepare and could not be taken away. We were running out of time, I insisted and begged the to take it away and even hand over a serviette. Reluctantly, they inserted the toast in the bag. The guy made an effort on the design of the cream, yet just tossed inside the bag.

The romance car train was about to go, I panicked again not seeing our seat number. We took this train though during our 2014 visit, I thought I had to present our online booking for them to give us the seat number. I did not find any booth/cage to inquire, I approached the guy in uniform who assist the passengers (a bit matured) and showed to him our online booking and asked for our seat numbers. He was at first wondering what was my problem, then he showed me the seat number. Okey... I really do not know how to handle stress.

We were at Carriage 4 seat 7a and 7b. I knew we were in front of carriage 7, so I was trying to go to the front to the carriage 4 when the guy in uniform hand gestured to go inside the nearest door since the train was about to go. I saw carriage 7 sign. I got confused again, I thought the guy in uniform told us to go in that carriage because that was our carriage. As we got in, I looked for our seats 7a and 7b. There was a man seating on 7a and we kind of showing him that he was on the wrong seat. He checked his phone booking if he got the wrong seat. then my daughter asked me if we were at carriage 4. I suddenly awaken, embarrassed much, I said sorry to the man and quickly zoomed off to our carriage. Well that was the end of my stupidity for that day. Everything went smoothly in Hakone and I was really so happy we were able to visit all the places we planned to visit. Likewise, took all the transportation rides covered by the Hakone Freepass., unlike our visit in 2014 which was totally a failure.

The fastest to get to Hakone from Shimjuku is by Romance Car train. It takes only 100 minutes to Hakone Yumoto compare to the regular trains which could take 2 hours. Romance car is Odakyu's limited express train. It costs 890yen per way plus the regular train fare. Hakone freepass covers the regular train fare.

Shinjuku station

Odakyu platform, Shinjuku station

inside the Romance car train

Above photos were taken during our 2014 trip to Japan.

Romance car at Hakone Yumoto station

Hakone Yumoto Station

view from Hakone Yumoto station

Hakone is popularly known for its abundant hot spring and onsen. It is very close to the highest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji. We never tried to bath in onsen, too shy being naked and soaked with strangers

Adventure in Hakone starts at Hakone Yumoto station. Latter is the main gateway to places of interests in Hakone. In 2014, our route was from this station to Gora to Sounza and had it not been windy, to Togendai then Motohakone and back to Hakone Yumoto. This trip, we opted for reversed route. We went down across the station to take Hakone Tozan bus#2 to Motohakoneko (Lake Motohakone). The bus covers by the Hakone Freepass.

view from Hakone Yumoto station

bus stop to Motohakone, across Hakone Yumoto station

Bus to Motohakone nad Hakone Machi

Hakone Tozan Bus

Bus No.1, going to Motohakone though, does not cover by the Freepass. Should you take this ride, you have to pay the regular fare.

Red bridge spanning Hayakawa river

Hayakawa River, next to bus stop to Hakone Machi

Hayagawa river

35 minutes by Hakon Tozan Bus from Hakone Yumoto station to Motohakone, Japan

Snow fall 2 days before, ice was already melting. You would notice later, Mt Fuji was still hiding. I believe still capped with snow.

We alighted at Motohakone, one stop before the lake itself, to wander. Motohakone is an onsen town located right next to Lake Ashi. Check out the beauty of the lake.

Lake Ashi, Motohakoneko, Japan

Lake Ashi Motohakone, Japan

We were not lucky enough to have good view of the Mt. Fuji. There was a snow fall 2 days before, a bit capped of snow.

Bus Terminal at Motohakone, Japan

Narukawa Art Museum

Narukawa Art Museum is situated opposite the Tozan Bus Station at Motohakoneko. The museum showcases Japanese masterpieces. On a clear day, you could have a clear view of Mt. fuji at the Panorama lounge.

Narukawa Museum

We did not stay long inside, we did not even view the artworks. We thought we could view Mt fuji upstairs. We went down and checked in for the Hakone Sightseeing cruise.

HAKONE SIGHTSEEING CRUISE

The cruise is also covered by the Hakone Freepass.No limit. Check out below timetable and fares.

On-season Timetable (Mar. 20–Nov. 30)

Departs Hakone-machi Port		Departs Moto-Hakone Port		Departs Togendai Port
9:30	Bound for Togendai Port via Moto-Hakone Port	9:40	Bound for Togendai Port	9:30	Terminates Hakone-machi Port
10:00	〃	10:10	〃	10:10	Bound for Moto-Hakone Port via Hakone-machi Port
				10:50	〃
10:40	〃	10:50	〃	11:20	〃
11:20	〃	11:30	〃	12:00	〃
11:50	〃	12:00	〃	12:40	〃
12:30	〃	12:40	〃	13:10	〃
13:10	〃	13:20	〃	13:50	〃
13:40	〃	13:50	〃	14:20	〃
14:20	〃	14:30	〃	15:00	〃
14:50	〃	15:00	〃	15:40	〃
15:30	〃	15:40	〃	16:20	Bound for Hakone-machi Port via Moto-Hakone Port
16:20	〃	16:30	〃	17:00	Terminates Hakone-machi Port
(17:00)	(Direct service to Togendai Port)	(16:50)	(Bound for Togendai Port via Hakone-machi Port)	(17:30)	(Terminates Hakone-machi Port)

● Times with ( ) are in service between July 26 and August 25.
● Timetable may be changed or service suspended to ensure safety during bad weather including heavy fog and strong winds.

Off-season Timetable (Dec. 1–Mar. 19)

Departs Hakone-machi Port		Departs Moto-Hakone Port		Departs Togendai Port
9:30	Direct service to Togendai Port			10:00	Bound for Moto-Hakone Port via Hakone-machi Port
10:00	Bound for Togendai Port via Moto-Hakone Port	10:10	Bound for Togendai Port	10:50	〃
10:40	〃	10:50	〃	11:30	〃
11:20	〃	11:30	〃	12:40	〃
12:00	〃	12:10	〃	13:20	〃
13:10	〃	13:20	〃	14:00	〃
14:00	〃	14:10	〃	14:50	〃
14:40	〃	14:50	〃	15:30	Bound for Hakone-machi Port via Moto-Hakone Port
15:30	〃	15:40	〃	16:10	Terminates Hakone-machi Port
(16:10)	(Direct service to Togendai Port)	(16:00)	(Bound for Togendai Port via Hakone-machi Port)	(16:40)	(Direct service to Hakone-machi Port, terminates Hakone-machi Port)

● Times with ( ) are in service between March 1 and March 19.
● Special service times may be added.
● Timetable may be changed or service suspended to ensure safety during bad weather including heavy fog and strong winds.

Leaving Hakone-machi Port	● 10 min. to Moto-Hakone Port (40 min. to Togendai Port via Moto-Hakone Port) ● 30 min. with direct service to Togendai Port
Leaving Moto-Hakone Port	30 min. to Togendai Port (40 min. to Togendai Port via Hakone-machi Port)
Leaving Togendai Port	30 min. to Hakone-machi Port (40 min. to Hakone-machi Port via Moto-Hakone Port)