Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar

Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar

Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar
4
Public Transportation Systems
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The area

Neighborhood: Shinjuku
Shinjuku is the commuting capital of Tokyo, and contains the busiest train station in the world. To the west, there's an office district with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office at its center. To the east, there’s a district with long-established department stores, cinemas and theaters. Shinjuku Gyoen is a park originally built as the garden for the Imperial Household. It is quite famous as a venue for cherry-blossom viewing in March and April. In Shinjuku, many restaurants operate all night, and districts such as Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) or Shinjuku Golden Machi have back streets filled with tiny restaurants and bars that reflect each owner’s unique taste and style.
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See what travelers are saying

  • John and Deb K
    Karratha, Australia820 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Observation Deck was Good.
    Ok I kept looking on line to try and book this in advance and you can only book one month into the future. We wanted the observation deck and it seemed that the observation deck was booked as soon as the clock clicked over. By some miracle I managed to book not the front observation deck but the rear, two very last seats. Anyway on arrival in Tokyo we had to collect our tickets that's when we learned that there was extra cost involved in buying a train ticket as well as the seat reservations. Anyway the seats were at the very back and facing the back - which was a bit disconcerting watching the back, but it was enjoyable and the seats were comfortable. Glad I persisted and booked the train with the observation deck.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 3, 2024
  • Fiona M
    10 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not very romantic
    There is nothing special about this train, we should have travelled by bullet train instead. Yes it has extra-big windows, but there isn't much to see. Scenery ranged from high-density urban to medium-density urban with only a few glimpses of green hills.
    Visited October 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 21, 2024
  • boon suan T
    Singapore, Singapore12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Refund for changes comes a few days later
    I bought the e- romance car ticket online for 11 Dec and had to change to an earlier timing on the same date. It was easy to make changes online but I was surprised to be charged a new fare. I read the fine prints and was assured they will refund that in a few days time. Change was done on 10 Dec and refund came on 13 Dec. So yes, the refund will come, so no worries ya!
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written December 16, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles263 reviews
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100
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109
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34
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CanuckJames
Nishinomiya, Japan1,778 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
This is the special express train that has double-wide seats so that couples can sit together - ergo the nomenclature "Romance Car".

Since it is designed to take tourists from Tokyo to Hakone, each car has an area to place your luggage. However, their overhead luggage space is strangely shaped (probably due to the shape of the train itself) so backpacks are too wide to fit in.

As for the ride itself, it was just a ride. Nothing special however they did have larger windows than standard.

They do have a Romance Car museum at Ebina Station.

Like all special trains, you need to purchase two tickets for one ride. The price of the trip plus the Romance Car ticket. But the trip itself isn't that expensive so it isn't a burden.
Written October 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John D
London, UK312 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014 • Couples
Travelled return journey on the Limited Express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku to Hakone in November 2014 in the rear panorama car of the LSE train. An enjoyable and quirky experience - I think perhaps people get the wrong idea when they read the word "Romancecar"! This isn't some kind of "love train", it's just an ordinary train which doesn't have armrests between the seats. Some of the trains also have panoramic views in the front and rear carriages. Be aware that these seats get sold out very quickly (I'll come onto this later). We weren't able to get seats in the forward facing car but in fact, the rear facing car was perhaps more interesting as you get to see the barriers at the level crossings come up as you pass them which is fun (they are very quick in Japan!) Ultimately, this is just a train journey from Tokyo to Odawara/Hakone but I'd recommend it over the Shinkansen just for something a little different. Here are some tips:

(i) Seat reservations: check the timetable on the Odakyu website well in advance. Seat reservations open up at 10am (Japanese time) on month earlier. There are several different types of train (http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/lineup/). The VSE is the newest and has front and rear panoramic cars as well as private cabins (for 4 passengers) and a comprehensive food/drink service. The LSE is the oldest but still has front and rear panoramic cars. If you want a chance of getting the front seat in a panoramic car, you need to be in front of your computer on the booking site exactly at 10am one month prior to the date you want to travel. This will probably mean getting up in the middle of the night if you are based in Europe so set an alarm! If you are unsure about the booking process, e-mail the Odakyu Service Centre - they are very helpful and will guide you through the process.

(ii) Hakone free pass: You can buy the 2/3 day Hakone Free Pass in Shinjuku which covers the journey to Hakone and all Odakyu transport in Hakone (Tozan line, cable car, ropeway, bus etc). Combine this with the seat reservations to get the best fare to Hakone.

One last point, if you do book the front seat in a panoramic car, be aware that you may end up with bright sunlight shining into your eyes so if you are not keen on this/you are travelling in the summer months while the sun is still low in the sky, you may want to sit elsewhere.
Written November 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CCDownunder72
Tumbi Umbi, Australia167 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2018 • Family
We are a family of 5, 2 adults and 3 kids under 10. We had 10 days in Tokyo and wanted to visit Hakone.

I had read reviews and decided to purchase the tickets the day before we wanted to travel. The booking center is easy to find just outside the Odakyu Department Store on Level 2 of Shinjuku Station.

It looks like university students work there which was fine as their English was perfect.
We purchased our Hakone Freepass tickets and we wanted the Romancecar in both directions. We selected the first train leaving at 7am and the 4:26pm return.

Just to explain the pricing:
- Per adult we payed 5140 for the Freepass + 1090 One way Romancecar + 1090 Return Romancecar = 7320
- Per child we payed 1500 for the Freepass + 550 One way Romancecar + 550 Return Romancecar = 2600
So in total 2 A + 3K = 22440

We arrived at Shinjuku station early for our 7am train which was a red 8000 series, the seats are comfortable you have free WiFi and and a fold down tray.
We traveled to Hakone-Yumoto which is the end of the line for the Romancecar train.
Next we transferred to the Hakone Tozan Train headed for Gora. As the track is so steep the train goes thru a series of tunnels and switchbacks.
Arriving at Gora you transfer to the to Hakone Tozan Cable Car a funicular that travels up the steep incline for about 1.5km. We got off at Koen-kami station as the Hakone Freepass gives you free entry into Hakone Gora Park.
The park was well worth the visit and had an awesome Bonsai display.
Back on the funicular to finish the ride to Sounzan.
At Sounzan we transferred to the Hakone Ropeway, unfortunately the weather was cloudy with light rain and by the time we got to the top station at Owakudani, you could not see a thing let alone Mt Fuji.
You transfer to another Ropeway at Owakudani which travels to Togendai-Ko.

We had lunch at the Lakeview Restaurant overlooking the lake at Togendai-Ko. Make sure you show them your Freepasss as you get a 5% discount.

The sun started to come out after lunch so we boarding the "Pirate Ship" as they are affectionately known for a cruise on the lake to Hakonemachi-Ko. You change to another "Pirate Ship" for the last leg to Motohakone-Ko.

There were some nice shops at Motohakone-Ko that had very reasonably prices souvenirs.

From Motohakone-Ko we caught the Hakone Tozan Highway Bus "R" which is the express bus back to Hakone.

We got back to Hakone as 3pm and as the weather had turned fro the worst we asked at the Odakyu counter would it be possible to get an earlier train instead of waiting for the 4:26pm. They were very helpful and gave us new tickets on the 3:12pm train.

This train was a white 5000 series.

We arrived back at Shinjuku at 4:40pm. So 10 hours all together.

If anyone is interested in travelling on different forms of transport or seeing a regional area close to Tokyo in an easy going, comfortable trip then the Hakone Freepass with Romancecar option is definitely worth considering and if you happen to see Mt Fuji then that is an added bonus.
Written October 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PiedmontWalker
Piedmont, CA205 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
After paying the Odakyu fare at 9:50 AM the RomanceCar departing at 10:00 AM the same day was cancelled at 10:00 AM with lines of passengers, many with luggage, lined up waiting to board. A similar failure happened to me a year ago when an Odakyu train that was not the advertised red RomanceCar train transported the RomanceCar passengers to Hakone. On the return, neither the RomanceCar nor the limited express substitute was available, and I had to take the much slower local train back to Shinjuku. I would suggest not relying on the RomanceCar, taking the faster Shinkansen from Tokyo station to Odawara, and then the HakoneTozan train from there.
Written June 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kasteelfreak
Southern California128 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
I’m on the MSE 6000 now and it SUCKS. We left 20 minutes late and now seem to be in back of the queue for right of way, as we keep stopping for no apparent reason, and rarely moving more than crawl speed. It is also roasting hot with no air flow at all. The back of my t-shirt is wet from sweat. The other passengers are also extremely noisy. I would rather be on the regular, crowded train with air flow and silence. And now we stopped in Odawa and they told us to get off because the last leg to Hakone-Yumote was cancelled with no warning and no explanation (at least not in English). Terrible experience, and obviously not worth the extra 1200 yen I paid for the ticket compared to the regular Odyaku train price. Terrible experience.
Written June 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DthK
Singapore, Singapore243 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
This is not the train ride it’s made out to be. Nothing romantic, nothing excellent.

Basic train, so-so views, windows with large bars that obstruct views. Similar to the Swiss Excellent class trains in name but nowhere near the same standards. When booking seats, the diagrams are inaccurate - we ended selecting seats with blocked views for extra cost.

Very anal conductors will insist one remains in own seats even if cabin is empty and trying to get a photo from a better spot. Meant to be a quiet train but conductor didn’t tell the gibberish tourists in our cabin to give it a rest. Lousy inconsistent standards and service.

Take a bullet train and spend more time at Hakone. Forget about this romancetrain ride
Written June 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ramon R
2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
The emot ticket system is painful, impossible with a family. QR codes need to be online, only one per phone, website failed then we couldn’t activate half of our tickets. Would have missed the train if we didn’t just jump the barrier. The train was a train.
Written March 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kawaii5
United States448 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Family
In some trains they have an observation deck in the first car. We able to book the fourth rows for our trip to Hakone and the front row seats on our return to Shinjuku.

Although all first four rows are considered as observation deck, only the first and second rows actually have a good view. The third row aisle seats have partial view of the front, the third row window seats are blocked by pillars which make them worst than normal window seats. The fourth row aisle seats have even more limited frontal view and the window seats are just like regular window seats.

If you really want to book good seats make sure you go to Odakyu site exactly at 10:00 Japan time. It is a good idea to practice and get familiar to the booking process beforehand. All seats will be gone within 2 minutes. If you failed to book any observation deck seats, you can try again after 7 days since any booked but unpaid seats will be re-opened after a week.

Does it worth the trouble? Yes, for the first row and iffy for the rest. Good luck and have fun!
Written August 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FengXueSG
Singapore, Singapore1,631 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Family
So far this is probably only train ride I know which you can experience as a train driver. Of course, you have to book the observation deck seats (the 1st row is the best). The observation deck is at the most front part of car 1, where they design the driver seat on the top so you can sit where normally the driver sits and have a panoramic view.
You have to reserve the seats (and not all the trains have observation deck. LSE type has but MSE type does not have. You have to be careful). The ticket is on sale on Odakyu website at 10am Japanese time before the travel date. You must be very quick in order to get the observation deck seat. They accept credit card so you can pay the limited express fee (i.e. the fee for the seat reservation).
On the travel day itself, you have to purchase a normal ticket in order to get into the station. The normal ticket fee is part of Hakone Free pass also. So if you purchase Hakone Free pass, you don't have to buy the normal ticket.
All romance car is limited express train, which means no matter what you have to purchase normal ticket plus limited express ticket. So booking the seat online in advance does not incur any additional charge.
Written November 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nicholas B
6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2017 • Couples
Convenient way to travel from Shinjuku to Hakone. The reserved seats on the RomanceCar was fine.

BIG TIP : If you are travelling on the RomanceCar that has a Panoramic seat views (rear carriage) right in front in the noon time....DON'T. No tinting whatsoever. You will be roasted by the sun.
Written September 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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