Odawara is the gateway to the one of most well known Onsen resort, Hakone. If you take JR trains, you have to change the trains to Hakone at this station, Odawara. Odawara station is not a mega terminal station. But there is JR Tokaido line, Shinkansen and Odakyu/Hakone Tozan Railway. It may make you be confused.
In this post, I show you many images of all transfer exit, ticket gates and platforms. You will find how to transfer the train at this station, Odawara.
- Station structure, tracks and platforms
- Ticket gate/Exit
- How to transfer from the Shinkansen to Odakyu Railway / Hakone Tozan Railway
- How to transfer from JR Tokaido and Shonan Shinjuku line to Odakyu / Hakone Tozan Railway
- Odakyu / Hakone Tozan Railway’s Odawara station
- How to transfer from Shinkansen to JR Tokaido and Shonan Shinjuku line
- Connection time
Station structure, tracks and platforms
Please see the map below.
You also can get a map at JR East official site (English).
At Odawara station, there are four railway companies, Izu-Hakone Railway Daiyuzan line, JR Tokaido line, Odakyu / Hakone Tozan Railway, and JR Tokaido Shinkansen. Most of you do not need to take Izu-Hakone Railway Daiyuzan line. This railway actually does not go either Hakone and Izu. I explain for other three railways in this post because Izu-Hakone Railway is a commute line for locals.
* Strictly speaking, Odakyu Railway and Hakone Tozan Railway are the different railway companies. However Odakyu Railway is the parent company of Hakone Tozan Railway. And the segment between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto belongs to Hakone Tozan Raliway. However all trains are operated by Odakyu Railway’s fleets. So you can think Odakyu and Hakone Tozan Railway are the same company.
On the ground floor, there are Tokaido line platforms, Odakyu / Hakone Tozan Railway platforms and Shinkansen exit/ticket gate. Both JR Tokaido line and Odakyu exits/ticket gates are located at the overpass. All exits/ticket gates are connected the overpass. You can find the overpass to be shown by white shade in the station map above.
Only Shinkansen’s platform is located at overhead.
All platforms and tracks of Odawara station are the following:
Track# | Lines/Trains | Destination |
1,2 | Izu-Hakone Railway Daiyuzan line | Daiyuzan |
3,4 | JR Tokaido line | Atami, Ito, Numazu |
5,6 | JR Tokaido line Ueno-Tokyo line Shonan-Shinjku line | Tokyo, Yokohama, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno |
7,11 | Odakyu Hakone Tozan Railway | Hakone-Yumoto, Gora |
9,10 | Odakyu | Shinjuku |
13 | The Tokaido Shinkansen | Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka |
14 | The Tokaido Shinkansen | Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama |
Ticket gate/Exit
As you saw the map above, all railways have one ticket gate/exit. And there is Shinkansen transfer gate between Shinkansen and JR Tokaido line. If you transfer between JR trains and Shinkansen, you can go through this gate. You do not have to exit the gate. Because you can use one same base fare ticket for both JR trains and Shinkansen. If you use JR Pass, you can show your pass to the staff at the gate.
However if you go to Hakone, you have to get on Odakyu/Hakone Tozan Railway. In this case, you have to exit and then enter Odakyu railway platform.
I explain you how to change the trains at Odawara station.
How to transfer from the Shinkansen to Odakyu Railway / Hakone Tozan Railway
You can find all transfer ways in the movie below. I recorded it by myself. You can find the location of lockers and storage service too:
I show you several photos and explain step by step. It is not far and very easy to transfer.
First of all, when you get off Shinkansen just follow the sign to exit and go down the stairs, escalators or elevators.
You will see Shinkansen exit.
When you exit Shinkansen gate, you will see the concourse.
You will find the stairs and escalators on your right hand side.
Proceed to upstairs and you will find Odakyu and Hakone Tozan Railway’s ticket gate right after you get upstairs.
How to transfer from JR Tokaido and Shonan Shinjuku line to Odakyu / Hakone Tozan Railway
Go upstairs from the platform and you will find ticket gate. There is a big lentern above.
Proceed to the left on the concourse.
And you will get Odakyu / Hakone Tozan Railway’s ticket gate soon.
Odakyu / Hakone Tozan Railway’s Odawara station
Some of you want to purchase the Odakyu Railway’s ticket or Hakone Free Pass. There is Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center just beside Odakyu Railway’s ticket gate. You can purchase these tickets/passes. You can book Odakyu’s limited express “Romancecar” here.
After you go through ticket gate, you will the signage above.
And also there are lots of sign of “To Hakone” and “Hakone Tozan Railway”. All you have to do is just following these sign.
You will find the train that goes to Hakone-Yumoto.
If you take Romancecar from Odakyu Shinjuku, the train goes to Hakone-Yumoto directly. You don’t need to transfer at Odawara. But if you take local train, you have to transfer to Hakone-Yumoto. There is no direct trains from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto other than Romancecar.
How to transfer from Shinkansen to JR Tokaido and Shonan Shinjuku line
In this case, you don’t need to exit. You may proceed Shinkansen transfer gate.
And you will go through connection path and get in the station of Tokaido / Shonan-Shijuku line station.
It’s shown by Orange shade in the station map above.
Connection time
If you just transfer the trains, you can make it in 10 minutes. However if you need to purchase a ticket or pass, you have to add 10 more minutes at least. In the peak season, Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center is busy. It may take 15 minutes there. So give yourself a plenty of time.
Comments
1st time visiting Hokkaido needs transportation guidance
Hi Takeshi San,
Our family of 6 adults will be visiting Hokkaido on 10th May and leaving on 15th May morning to Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
We would like to seek your guidance on the transportation by Train and bus to/from the itinerary as follows:
1. Day 1 – Sapporo, stay one night
2. Day 2 – Otaru, stay one night
3. Day 3 to 5 – Hakodate, stay 3 nights
We intend to spend one day in Noboribetsu, visiting Hell Valley
from Hakodate as the accommodations in Noboribetsu is way above our budget.
Which airport (Chitose/ Hakodate) is more appropriate to/from Haneda Airport by Domestic Flight.
Kindly advise which pass to use for both Train/bus/subway.
and also the nearest station to our Hotel at Sapporo/ Otaru/ Hakodate.
Sapporo: Hotel Emisia Sapporo
Otaru: Dormy Inn Premium Otaru Natural Hot Spring
Hakodate: Smile Hotel Hakodate
Thanks a lot.
Best regards,
Lilian
Hi Lilian san,
I have already replied to your inquiry in the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/shinagawa-station-guide-transfer-among-shinkansen-keihin-kyuko-to-haneda-narita-express.html/comment-page-8#comment-282898
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi,
Can I stay overnight at Odawara station? Because i want to go to Kyoto at Dawn
Thank you
Hi Pia,
You cannot stay overnight at any stations in Japan. All stations are closed from the last train to the first train. (usually from midnight to around 5:00 am)
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Mr. Takeshi,
It looks like there are multiple train stations in Hakone. For the train transfer from Odawara to Hakone, which station is it in Hakone ?
Also, I will travel from Nagoya to visit Hakone and Mount Fuji for two days and then go to Tokyo. So a key thing for me is to store luggage during my second day in Hakone while I go to Mount Fuji and pick them up at night when I go to Tokyo.
With this itinerary and for families with children, would you recommend to stay near Hakone station or Odawara station ?
Thanks.
Michael,
Hi Michael,
I have replied to your previous inquiry already. You may find some more info in the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/how-to-build-the-trip-plan-to-hakone-various-sample-itineraries-of-hakone.html
Hakone is a large area. There are many stations there and all stations are in Hakone. Odawara is not in Hakone.
http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello,
I am a bit lost in all the other passes than JR Pass.
My itinerary is fixed and I don’t know, if the Fuji Hakone Pass covers everything on my list:
Itinerary:
30.04.2018 from Kamakura to Odawara with JR Pass
30.04.2018 from Odawara to Hakone Gora
Gora cable car to Sounzan and back
01.05.2018 from Hakone Gora to Kawaguchiko for 2 days and maybe we would take the ropeway to the Mt. Fuji 5th station
3.05.2018 from Kawaguchiko to Fuji city
From city Fuji we can switch to JR Pass again and go to Kyoto
Thank you for advising what option we need to buy to get around as described above.
Hi Eleonora
Fuji Hakone Pass does not cover Kawaguchiko to Fuji city. If you want to use the pass, you have to go through Hakone but you will spend lots of time and it’s not a good idea. I think you may use express bus from Kawaguchiko to Mishima. This bus is not covered by Fuji Hakone Pass. But this is the best way to get back to JR pass coverage area.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I am travelling to Japan next week. We do have Japan rail pass.
Our travel plan is Stay in Tokyo for few day then pick up a train to go to Hakone, stay over night and then go to Kyoto by train. Stay few day in Kyoto then go back to Tokyo via train.
If you can help me which JApan rail I need to take for Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto-Tokyo.
Appreciate your help.
Hi anjan p,
You can take Tokaido Shinkansen.
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-departure-arrival-stations/stations-in-tokai/nagoya-toyohashi/what-is-shinkansen-bullet-train.html
You can get Hakone from Odawara. But train from Odawara to Hakone and all transportation in Hakone, such as ropeway, bus, are not covered by JR pass.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
In Tokyo and Kyoto, you may need to pay another fare to take city bus, subway and Non JR trains. Please see the links below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
hi Takeshi San ,
i’m traveling from Gora station to Odawara station via Hakoneyumoto station by Hakonetozan Line , according to the timetable the transit time only 1 minute at the Hakoneyumoto , Therefore would i have any problem with the 1 minute transit time ? Are the train using the same platform ?
lastly can i use ICOCA card for my journey from Gora Station to Jogasaki-Kaigan ?
Thank you !
Hi Peggy san,
There is one platform and easy to transfer. Actually one minute transfer is on purpose. Timetable was made for passengers’ convenience.
You can find the photo of platform in the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/trip-report/2014-winter-aizu-nikko-hakone-tip/trip-to-aizu-nikko-and-hakone-in-2014-winter-part-13-hakone-to-shinjuku.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi! I want to go to Mt fuji hakone. It says that I can go to odawara station to go to hakone. But how would I go to hakone once I’m at odawara station?
Thank you.
Hi Maffy,
You can get Hakone by Hakone Tozan railway. Please see the links below to find more info:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
My travel plan is Nagoya – Hakone- Tokyo.
How can I get to Odawara Station from Nagoya?
Many thanks!
Ann
Hi Ann,
You can take Tokaido Shinkansen.
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-departure-arrival-stations/stations-in-tokai/nagoya-toyohashi/what-is-shinkansen-bullet-train.html
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/eastbound.pdf
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
What is the best way to get from Kyoto to Miyajima I am not sure if I will purchase Shinkansen have about 7 to 8 days inthis area coming from Kanazawa then
Having to go back to Hakone Yumoto after Miyajima. Is there a pass available covering this area? I will be going in Nov. Also how long would it take will spend one night on Miyajima as well. Thank you
Hi Karen,
The following link shows you about day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka and Kyoto. But you can find the route.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/day-trip-to-hiroshima-and-miyajima-from-osakakyoto.html
Only JR pass covers whole part of your trip.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
I think 14 days pass may work.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi there.
This guide was very helpful. We had 8mins to transfer from Shinkansen line to odakyu and this guide made it possible.
Forever in your debt.
Hi Andrew,
I’m truly happy to hear that!
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com