『箱根全山』旅のテーマパーク箱根 - 箱根町観光情報ポータルサイト

#5  How to change money

Heidi:   I want to exchange money into Japanese Yen.   Where should I go?   Are there any banks around the station?

Peter:   Around Hakone-Yumoto stn, there are 2 banks, but they don't handlle exchanging foreign money into Japanese Yen.  
  
   There is an ATM on the concourse in the station building, but, sorry to say, it doesn't work well against the cash cards issued in the countries outside of Japan.

   Well, how can you change money in Hakone?

   There is a convenience store '7-11' about 5 minute-walk from Hakone-Yumoto stn.   They also provide an ATM there and the machine accepts most of those cards issued in foreign countries.

   There is an post office about 10 minutes on foot from the station, and there they also provide an ATM.   It also accepts most of the cards.   <Business hour:  8:45～18:00 on weekdays    9:00～17:00 on Sat., Sun. and Holidays>

   And at some large-scaled hotels, they change U.S. dollar into Japanese Yen.

   Anyway, please visit these facilities first and try your cash card. 

#4  How to get to Gotemba Premium Outlet (GPO)

Heidi:   I have plenty of time today, and would like to do some shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlet.   How can I get there?

Peter:   Sure!   At first, to my regret, you can not go to GPO directly from Hakone-Yumoto stn.   But there are 2 ways to get to GPO.

* 1st way :
   Take a train from track #3 and get off at Gora stn, the terminal(40 mins. ￥390).   Then take a Shisetsu-meguri bus to GPO(1hr 10 mins. ￥960).   On weekdays the bus departs at 9:40, 10:40, 11:40, 13:20, 14:40 and 16:20, and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at 9:30, 10:35, 11:35, 13:20, 14:35 and 16:20.   From Hakone-Yumoto stn to GPO via Gora stn, it takes about almost 2 hrs and costs ￥1,350 per person, one way.

* 2nd way:
   Take a bus from bus stop #3 for Togendai and get off at Sengoku・annnaijo mae(30 mins. ￥730).   Then, there you can take a Shisetsu-meguri bus to GPO(40 mins. ￥690).   Both on weekdays and Sat., Sun. and hokidays, the bus departs at 30 mins. later than the time described above.   From Hakone-Yumoto stn to GPO via Sengoku・annaijo mae by bus, it takes 1 hr 10 mins. and costs ￥1,720.

   The 1st one is cheaper but takes more time, and the 2nd one is a little bit expensive but faster.

   With Hakone Free Pass you can get to GPO and come back to Hakone (Gora stn).   The bus from GPO to Gora stn departs at 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 19:00 on both weekdays and Sat., Sun. and holidays.

   You can go back to Shinjuku by JR Gotemba line or by Odakyu Highway Bus via Gotemba stn.   From GPO, free shuttle buses to Gotemba stn available.   In case you take JR trains or Odakyu Highway Buses, you have to buy another tickets.   Hakone Free Pass is not available.

    
    

The Drawers of Wisdom oｎ Sight-seeing around Hakone!

#2   Onsen (Hot springs)

   Hakone has been very famous for Onsen.   Every year, great many tourists more over 5 milions in number from all over Japan and from abroad visit Hakone to enjoy Onsen.

   In Edo era, about 400 years ago, there were 7 spas in Hakone.   They located in Yumoto, Tonosawa, Dogashima, Miyanoshita, Sokokura, Ashinoyu and Ubako.   These spas were named "Hakone Shichito" (7 spas in Hakone) and had been always crowded with tourists from all over Japan.

   Hakone was located along old Tokaido, one of the main roads connecting Edo and Kyoto at that time, and so, lots of travelers dropped at to rest themselves on the way to Edo or Kyoto.   And, as Hakone was fairly close to Edo, the capital at Edo era, many people had come to Hakone to enjoy Onsen and to make themselves relaxed.   Today, most of the visitors come to Hakone with the same purpose.

   They say there are 17 to 21 spas in Hakone right now.   Almost of all accommodations such as Ryokans (Japanese inns) and Hotels provide their own Onsen facilities both inside bath and outside one.   If you stay at some accommodation, you can enjoy Onsen (natural hot spring) to your heart's content.   And even if you stay only one day, you can also enjoy Onsen not only at accommodations but also at some Onsen facilities limited to short time use (One day Onsen).

   So when you come to Hakone and want to enjoy Onsen, please drop at the tourist information desk inside of Hakone-Yumoto stn or the one opposite side of the station.
 

  

FAQ #3   How to get to Shin-Osaka (Nagoya, Kyoto) 

Heidi:   I'd like to go to Shin-Osaka this afternoon around 4:00.   Would you kindly teach me how I can get Shin-Osaka? 

Peter:   Sure.   By the way, do you have a JR Pass with you?   If you have, you can use it but have to buy a ticket to Odawara stn (￥300) unless you have a Hakone Free Pass.  If you don't, buy a ticket to Odawra, then you can buy a ticket for Shinkansen at Odawara stn.

   Anyway, after buying a ticket, take a train from track #2 to Odawara stn, and change to Shinkansen.   At Odawara stn, after passing through the ticket gate, you can find a stairway on your right.    Go downstairs and turn left.   The the ticket gates for Shinkansen are just 20 m ahead.   If you buy a Shinkansen ticket, there is the ticket office just around the corner.

   Well, please remember there are 3 kinds of Shinkansen, KODAMA (normal speed), HIKARI (faster) and NOZOMI (fastest).    You can take KODAMA or HIKARI from Odawara stn.

   When you go to Shin-Osaka, there are 3 ways you can choose.

   1st one:    Take KODAMA for Shin -Osaka departing at every 37 mins past the hour  (3 hrs 15 mins).   
   2nd one:  Take KODAMA for Nagoya departing at every 4 (sometimes 7) mins past the hour, and there change to HIKARI to Shin-Osaka (3 hrs 30 mins).
   3rd one:    Take HIKARI for Shin-Osaka departing at 4:09 (2 hrs 20 mins). 
             
※　HIKARI for Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka that stops at Odawara stn:
       6:16  7:04  8:09  10:09  12:09  14:09  16:09 and 18:09

   Please remember it takes about 15 mins by train from Hakone-Yumoto stn to Odawara stn.   Have a nice trip!