Hakone Tozan Railway Switchback

Mountain-climbing train starting at Hakone Yumoto Stn.

Jessica A Paje Jun 09, 2013 - 1 min read

The switchback train from Hakone-Yumoto Sta to Gora Sta

The platform for Hakone-Yumoto Sta headed towards Gora Sta

If you're sitting on the left side of the train, you can catch a quick glimpse of Odwara Castle

A foreigner-friendly map of the route and popular places to visit

This is one of the switchback points where the train must stop and the Conductor & Driver switch seats since the single track follows a short zig-zag route

A view of Deyama iron bridge nestled in the lush green forest after departing from the switchback section

A birdseye view of another bridge seen from the Hakone Tozan Railway

A little photographer taking advantage of a photo opportunity at one of the stops along the Hakone Tozan Railway

Heading to Hakone? Take the Hakone Tozan Train from Hakone Yumoto and enjoy magnificent lush views of seasonal flowers, the riverbed and the green Deyama Bridge along the way. Just a 60 minute leisurely ride between Odawara and Gora (connect from Shinjuku or Odawara), a round-trip fare will run about ¥1,300. There are three switchback stops in which the driver & conductor switch seats since the train follows a zig-zag route in order to get from one station to another. Have your camera ready for fun photo opportunities such as the Romance Car, a train that looks like a bullet train.

Jessica A Paje @jessica.paje

Originally from San Diego, California, I lived in Yokosuka, Japan, for 5 years. In 2010, I arrived with a new outlook on my future. Mainly, to refocus on family and let my curiosities take us to places we’ve only dreamt of. Along the way, we’d hopefully develop new friendships and simply collect ...