Hakone Romance Car Booking Guide
Tokyo Mate
Are you curious about the Hakone Romance Car, especially how to reserve the most popular observatory seats?
This comprehensive guide covers everything from online booking a month in advance to secure your preferred seats, all the way to boarding the train at the platform.
No more confusion—prepare for a comfortable journey with this complete guide.
⭐ If you're curious about the overall Hakone travel itinerary, it's also good to check out the travel guide below first.
➡️ Hakone Travel: Day Trip vs Ryokan 1-Night Perfect Course (Hakone Free Pass Complete Guide)
1. Understanding the Romance Car Limited Express 🚂
The Most Romantic Way to Hakone: Romance Car
From Shinjuku to Hakone in about 80 minutes. It's the best way to start your Hakone journey while enjoying the scenery through panoramic windows.
All seats are reserved, and the observatory seats at the front and rear are so popular they're like concert tickets.
Comparison: Romance Car vs. Regular Train
| Category | Limited Express Romance Car | Regular Train (Express, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Required Ticket | Basic Ticket (or Pass) + Limited Express Ticket | Basic Ticket (or Pass) |
| Seats | All Reserved Seats | Non-Reserved (Standard Subway Seating) |
| Travel Time | Approx. 80 min | Approx. 120 min |
| In-train Services | Restrooms, Luggage Storage | None |
What is a Limited Express?
In short, it's a 'reserved-seat special train that gets you there faster and more comfortably for an extra fee'!
Fare & Discount Tips
- Shinjuku ↔ Hakone-Yumoto: Regular fare 1,270 yen + Limited Express fee 1,200 yen = Total 2,470 yen
- Cheapest booking method: 50 yen discount for online reservations!
- Don't skip advance booking: 350 yen surcharge if boarding without a limited express ticket!
Romance Car Lineup (Features by Train Type)
- GSE (70000 series): 'Scenic Masterpiece' Observatory-Focused Train. The newest model featuring observatory seats and continuous windows
- MSE (60000 series): 'Blue' Subway Direct Train. The only Romance Car that also departs from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
- EXEα (30000 series): 'Most Comfortable' Renewed Train. Excellent amenities including dedicated luggage space and bidet-equipped restrooms
- EXE (30000 series): 'All-Purpose Workhorse' High-Capacity Train. Popular with both tourists and business passengers due to large capacity
📌 Pro Tip: You can check which train type operates at each time slot when searching the timetable on the official booking site!
➡️ View Romance Car Timetable on Official Booking Site
📌 Check this timetable if you're aiming for observatory seats (GSE)!
| GSE Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto | GSE Hakone-Yumoto → Shinjuku | ||
| Weekdays | Weekends, Holidays | Weekdays | Weekends, Holidays |
| 7:00 10:00 | 8:00 10:00 11:20 | 11:35 | 9:33 11:38 |
| 13:20 16:00 17:00 | 13:20 15:00 17:00 | 15:13 17:46 | 13:15 15:14 16:36 |
| 19:40 20:20 22:00 | 18:20 20:20 21:20 | 18:36 | 18:45 |
2. Romance Car Booking Complete Guide 🎫
Method 1: Online Advance Booking (Strongly Recommended)
Reservations open one month before the travel date at 10:00 AM. Set an alarm if you want observatory seats!
➡️ Go to e-Romancecar Online Booking
① Search for Seats
② Select Train and Seat Type
A list of available trains matching your search criteria will be displayed. Check the train times and lineup, then select your train. For the Romance Car GSE, the availability of front and rear observatory seats is shown separately.
③ Assign Seats Directly (Most Important!)
🟣 Romance Car GSE Front/Rear Observatory Seats - Select "Observatory Seat" in seat type and choose your preferred seat from the observatory seat layout.
🔵 How to select regular seats (Available until 3 minutes before departure!!!)
Check 'Select seats from seat map' to choose your preferred seat directly. Use this feature to sit next to friends or secure your desired window seat.
📌 Seat Recommendation for Hakone-bound trains: Sit in Row D on clear days to see Mt. Fuji!
④ Enter Information and Complete Payment
⑤ Confirm Reservation and Prepare Ticket
Capture or print the reservation confirmation screen. Prepare it along with a separate boarding pass (Free Pass or IC card).
➡️ Purchase Digital Hakone Free Pass on Klook
⚠️ Reservation Changes and Refunds
You can view your reservation list and make changes or refunds by entering the phone number and email address used at the time of booking in the 'Reservation Confirmation' menu on the website.
- Changes: Free changes to another train are possible until the departure time.
- Refunds: A handling fee of 100 yen per seat will be charged.
Method 2: On-Site Ticket Machine Purchase
Useful when you missed online booking or need to change plans urgently. Available at ticket machines at major Odakyu Line stations like Shinjuku.
1. Touch 'Limited Express Ticket'.
2. Touch 'Purchase' button. (Up to 8 people)
3. Select the desired date.
4. Select the boarding station.
5. Confirm date and station, then touch OK.
6. Select the destination station.
7. Select the number of tickets.
8. Select the time slot.
9. Select the train.
10. Select your seat. (Ordinary / Panorama Front / Panorama Rear)
11. Select desired seats and touch OK.
12. Confirm details and touch OK.
13. Pay with credit card, IC card, or cash.
Method 3: Travel Service Center On-Site Purchase
Convenient when you want to purchase with the help of staff.
- Shinjuku Station South Exit: 8:00–19:00 (Open year-round)
- Shinjuku Station West Entrance 1F (Basement): 8:00–16:00 (Open year-round)
- Odawara Station (Opposite Odakyu Line Counter): 8:30–16:30 (Open year-round)
- Hakone-Yumoto Station (Right side after exiting ticket gate): 9:00–19:00 (Open year-round)
3. Romance Car Booking to Boarding A to Z 🚉
After purchasing your ticket, follow these steps to board.
Step 1. Prepare Tickets (2 Types Required!)
You MUST have two types of tickets to board.
1. Boarding Pass: Basic fare (Hakone Free Pass, Suica, etc.)
2. Limited Express Ticket: Seat reservation (Online or paper ticket)
Step 2. Pass Through Ticket Gate
Use your boarding pass (Free Pass or IC card) at the automatic gate. Do not insert the limited express ticket!
Step 3. Find Your Platform
Check the electronic board for train name, departure time, and platform number.
Step 4. Find Your Seat and Board
Wait in front of your car number on the platform, then sit in your assigned seat.
4. Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A) ❓
Q1: Any tips to increase observatory seat booking success rate?
A1: Attempt online booking exactly at 10:00 AM on the reservation opening day (one month before travel). Weekend observatory seats often sell out within 1 minute.
Q2: Can I eat bento (ekiben) on the Romance Car?
A2: Yes! We recommend buying delicious ekiben beforehand at places like Shinjuku Station's basement food hall.
⭐ Related Tokyo Suburban Travel Guides
➡️ Hakone Travel: Day Trip vs Ryokan 1-Night Perfect Course (Hakone Free Pass Complete Guide)
➡️ Hakone Recommended Course: Open-Air Museum (Hakone Free Pass Admission Discount, Photo Zone Tips)
Editor's Note
This article is based on the author's actual experiences and original content from blog.naver.com/tokyomate. It has been translated and adapted to provide authentic travel information about Tokyo for global readers.