Train Tickets from Hakone (Odawara) to Kyoto
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Getting from Hakone to Kyoto
Experience two of the most representative locations of Japan’s famous scenery at both Hakone and Kyoto! Hakone is a picturesque location in Kanagawa Prefecture near the foot of Mount Fuji, providing incredible views of the iconic mountain as well as warm and relaxing onsen hot springs from the nearby volcanic activity.
In Kansai, travelers can explore the ancient capital of Kyoto. This city is one of the most popular destinations for travelers to Japan, and for good reason. It’s home to 17 different UNESCO World Heritage sites and has one of the most interesting city layouts intended to preserve much of the historic character Kyoto is also blessed with gorgeous nature, surrounded by mountains on three sides along with flowing rivers and bamboo forests, like Arashiyama. Additionally, some of the most lauded restaurants call Kyoto home, highly praised by locals as well as authorities such as the Michelin Guide.
More information about your journey to Kyoto!
Hakone is an area of Japan that must be visited to be believed, blessed with gorgeous nature and art culture. There are many things to do that are distinctly part of the Hakone DNA. From enjoying views of Mount Fuji from a warm, luxurious onsen to seeing the unrivaled amount of art museums in the area to indulging in the signature black eggs that get their color from being boiled in the sulfur-rich waters of the area. Hakone is most easily explored using the Hakone Free Pass, which allows for unlimited travel using local transportation options.
Kyoto Station and Odawara Station, near the center of Hakone, are directly connected via the Tokaido Shinkansen and can be traveled between without transfers, depending on the time of departure and train. Visit these two key locations for your next trip to Japan!
Tickets booked with Japan Experience are issued through an official partnership with JR West, meaning you are dealing directly with the train operator that will take you from Hakone to Kyoto.
Reserve your seat with a view on Mount Fuji
On the way from Hakone, right after departing from Odawara Station, passengers can get a chance to see Mount Fuji from the train. To do so, select a window seat reservation and let yourself be amazed! This will be right before Shizuoka Station. After passing Mount Fuji, the natural landscapes of Japan will continue to offer their timeless charm to you before you reach your destination, Kyoto Station.
More about the Mount Fuji view seat option
When taking the train from Hakone to Kyoto, we highly recommend you book a window seat with a view on Mount Fuji, to get the chance to experience one of Japan's most iconic views from its modern landmark, the Shinkansen bullet train!
Please note that during peak travel seasons, we may have to change your train to another one up to 15 minutes earlier or later than the original booking to ensure a window seat reservation.
Advantages of taking the train from Hakone to Kyoto
How to book your Hakone to Kyoto train tickets
Shinkansen information
Hakone and Kyoto are connected via the Tokaido Shinkansen, which goes between Kanto and Kansai with an extension out to Kyushu with the Sanyo Shinkansen. For direct transit from Kyoto, it’s best for travelers to depart from Odawara Station. On the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Hikari and Kodama Shinkansen bullet trains will take commuters out to Odawara from Kyoto, traversing a little less than 420 kilometers in a little over 1 hour and 40 minutes.

More information about Odawara Station and Kyoto Station
Types of Shinkansen
The often mentioned Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansens are also part of this network, but DO NOT STOP at Odawara on the way to Kyoto. On the Shinkansen itself, there are onboard amenities such as power outlets and reclining seats. Enjoy your time commuting in Japan in style and comfort. Shinkansen trains rideable on this journey include the Hikari and Kodama.
How to get to Odawara Station
Odawara Station is located in Kanagawa Prefecture and is a short local train ride from central Hakone, departing from Hakone Yumoto Station. This transit is covered with the Hakone Free Pass, but Odawara and Odawara Station will be the main hub for travel to and from other parts of Japan, as it serves as a Shinkansen train stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line that goes between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka with an extension out to Kyushu with the Sanyo Shnkansen line.
Where to go from Kyoto Station
Kyoto Station is easily accessible by public transit from JR or Kintetsu, the regional rail company operating in the Kansai area, and is situated in the center of the former capital of Japan. Kyoto Station is also a stop on the Karasuma subway line. Kyoto Station is the hub of the city's renowned and vast bus network, which allows you to connect to a variety of bus routes and travel anywhere in Kyoto.
Why book your train tickets with Japan Experience
How to use your train tickets in Japan
When you purchase a train ticket with Japan Experience, you will receive a QR code via email. This QR code is your e-ticket, that you can use directly at the gates in stations by scanning it.
In case your QR code does not work, you will find right below it a registration number to show to station staff in order to board your train.
Please find more information below about ticket fares and train tickets usage conditions. With your QR code, you will also receive a detailed user guide to help you through the easy and efficient process of using your train tickets in Japan.
Read more about the conditions and validity of train tickets below
How far in advance can I book train tickets?
You can book train tickets in Japan between 9 months prior to your train's departure date and 3 days before departure.
Is there a special train ticket fare for children?
Yes, there are special fares applicable for children. Ages 12 and up are considered adults, but kids aged from 6 to 11 benefit from a reduced fare. Children under the age of 6 travel for free. This free fare is limited to 2 tickets, meaning any additional child under 6 will then pay the classic child fare.
How to use your train tickets in Japan
To use your Shinkansen e-tickets once you have received them, simply head to Odawara (Hakone) Station and scan your QR code at the Shinkansen gates at West exits, and head to the right platform to hop on your train.
Please note that your QR code will not scan at other ticket gates than Shinkansen ticket gates, which means you may need to exit the station and re-enter through the Shinkansen zone, depending on the following cases.
If you arrive to Odawara (Hakone) Station by a JR line:
If you have a prepaid IC card or paper JR tickets, you can transfer from the JR local lines area to the JR Shinkansen area. First scan your Shinkansen e-ticket, then tap your prepaid card (or insert your paper tickets). The gates will open on this second action.
If you are arriving in Odawara (Hakone) Station via subway lines:
You need to exit the station first, and then re-enter via the Shinkansen gates at West exits.
On board the train, find the seat number that is on your e-ticket if you have a seat reservation, and enjoy the ride!
Once you've arrived in Kyoto, scan the QR code again at the Shinkansen gates upon exiting Kyoto Station, and the city is now yours to explore.
If you need to transfer to a JR local line, you need to exit the Shinkansen gates first, and then purchase local tickets - or use your prepaid IC card to travel by scanning directly at the transfer gates.
Modification and Cancellation
You can find the conditions of modification and cancellation of our train tickets in our “Frequently Asked Questions” section at the bottom of the page.
Eligibility
All persons above the age of 12, with no restrictions on residence status or nationality, are eligible to purchase individual train tickets (unlike the Japan Rail Pass and some JR regional passes, for example). Japanese individuals as well as foreigners living in Japan can thus purchase train tickets online. Under the age of 12, the aforementioned child fare conditions apply.
Validity of train tickets
Train tickets issued are only valid for the date and time indicated on your booking and are to be used only on the Hakone to Kyoto route.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Train Tickets in Japan
Up to 72 hours before departure, you can modify your booking one time free of charge or cancel your booking (with a 15% cancellation fee). Please find more details below.
- How can I cancel or modify my booking?
You can cancel or modify your tickets by contacting Japan Experience by phone or email.
Modifications and cancellation are not possible in stations, neither at ticket machines (even those with a QR code reader) nor at JR counters (except when mentioned by our assistance*).
- What are the cancellation conditions?
You can cancel your train tickets up to 72 hours before departure, with a 15% cancellation fee applied. Past 72 hours before departure, no cancellation can be done.
- What if I miss my train?
If you have missed your train, your tickets allow you to board any train on the same route in the same day – in non-reserved seat cars only.
- What are the modification conditions?
You can modify your booking for free one time up to 72 hours before departure. Any extra modification will result in booking cancellation to make a new order, with a 15% cancellation fee applied.
Past 72 hours before departure, no modifications can be done.
If you want to modify:
- Seat and/or departure time (for e-tickets or e-voucher before paper tickets issued): Japan Experience can modify your booking for free, one time per booking.
- Departure date and/or ticket class: Japan Experience allows you to change your departure date/ticket class free of charge by canceling your order without fees in order to make a new booking. Please note that a new date in a higher travel season or an upper class will result in a price difference.
- Adding or removing passengers from the booking: Adding a passenger is free of charge, you only need to pay the extra ticket price. Removing a passenger equals to canceling the booking for that passenger only, cancellation conditions apply for the removed passenger ticket (15% fee).
- Departure station/arrival station: This change equals a cancellation, with a 15% cancellation fee applied.
*For the rare and only case of cancellation for e-voucher after paper tickets have been issued, you need to request a cancellation at Japan Railways counters (not machines) in stations, up to 10 minutes before departure. JR will refund you around 70% of your order, in cash (JPY ¥). Modifications at JR machines or counters in stations are also possible up to 10 minutes before departure (some fees may apply).
With over 40 years of dedicated experience dealing specifically with Japan travel and tourism, you can rest assured that we will have the best knowledge and familiarity with getting around the country. Our train tickets are acquired through an official partnership with JR West. We also offer reliable and expert assistance thanks to our onsite team in Japan, flexible modification options, and a fully digital booking experience with no hidden fees.
If your train's departure date is more than one month away from the date of booking, you will receive your QR code approximately a month before departure.
If your train's departure date is less than one month away from the date of booking, you will receive your QR code within 48 hours.
Reminder : you can book train tickets in Japan with Japan Experience between 9 months and 3 days prior to train departure.
The Shinkansen is the premier form of travel in Japan. “Shinkansen” is the Japanese word for “bullet train,” whose name is derived from the locomotive’s high speeds and shape. They are commonly used for traversing longer distances in Japan.
- There are different types of carriages on the Shinkansen, with different levels of accommodation. The Ordinary Car is the most general seating option, but Shinkansen bullet trains are, by default, more luxurious than other types of trains due to them being built for long-distance travel. These accommodations include reclinable chairs, overhead storage, hooks for outerwear, deployable trays, and electrical outlets.
- The Green Car is the next step up in luxury from the ordinary car, featuring even deeper reclining chairs and more legroom. All seats in these cars need a reservation. The oversized luggage area is also included with a seat on the Green Car.
- The Gran Class Car is much like the Green Car but with even more elevated accommodations. Seats are formatted 2x1, optimizing room, and often, snacks and refreshments are included. Gran Class cars exist only on JR East lines, such as Tokyo <-> Nagano and Tokyo <-> Kanazawa.
Reserving seats on the Shinkansen bullet train isn’t a necessity; however, we do suggest making a reservation during peak travel times, specifically during Spring (sakura season) and during New Year's, for example. Trains may also be crowded during major holidays and events, such as large festivals. You’ll also need to make a reservation for oversized luggage on the Shinkansen.
If you're traveling with baggage measuring less than 160 cm (length + width + height), you don't need to make an additional reservation, and you can store your baggage in the overhead compartment above your seat.
For baggage measuring more than 160 cm and up to 250 cm (length + width + height), you need to make an advance reservation before you can take your baggage on board the Shinkansen. On board, you'll need to stow your baggage in the areas reserved for bulky luggage, generally located behind the last seats in the car, and in special compartments located between the cars. This includes luggage such as sports equipment, musical instruments and strollers.
Luggage measuring more than 250 cm (length + width + height) is not permitted on board the Shinkansen. Each passenger can take up to two pieces of luggage on board the Shinkansen.
You can find more details about luggage rules aboard the Shinkansen here.
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