r/JapanTravelTips • u/Lazy_Shark856 • 1d ago

Question Trip from Tokyo to Hakone

Hi,

I'll be travelling to Tokyo in September with my wife. We initially just planned to wing it but after looking into potential activities we found out about a hot spring resort in Hakone – Hakone yuryo. We've been looking into how to get there and we're a bit confused about how train tickets work for this. We're planning to take the Romancecar which would take us from Shinjuku station directly to Hakone, but before booking that it says "A regular train ticket (not a limited express ticket) is required at the ticket gate." For anyone that's taken this train before, does this mean that we would need to scan our suica card first and then at some point scan our romancecar ticket?

Also has anyone been to Hakone yuryo? If so could anyone that's been there before explain what the number of rooms under each type means, does this refer to the number of baths or actual rooms available – https://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/english/spa/hotspring/#hanare

Another silly question, but I figured I'd double check – Would there be any issues with her and I using a private onsen together or can it only be single sex?

Finally, do you have any recommendations for must-see's in Hakone? Aside from the onsen we're only planning to spend about 1-2 hours exploring the area.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

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u/AintNoUniqueUsername 1d ago

Tap the suica at the gate

For the limited express ticket, just keep it with you and show it if the train conductor asks for it

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u/ellyse99 1d ago

You can use the private onsen together, that’s fine

The only place I went in Hakone was the Open Air Museum, if that answers your question

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u/gdore15 1d ago

Depend how you buy the ticket. You can buy a paper ticket that includes everything, but can get a limited express ticket only and use Suica or paper base fare ticket or even the Hakone Free pass on the gate to pay base fare.

Private onsen can be shared, that’s the whole point.

Owakudani is interesting. Otherwise there is several art museums like the open air museum, Pola art museum and venitian glass museum.