Travelers planning an autumn visit to Hakone have three more dates to note: November 21, 22 and 23, 2026. An October 27 update from Hakone Navi lists those dates for a limited extension of some Odakyu Romancecar services onto the Hakone Tozan line between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto. It is a useful option to check for a trip that ends in Hakone, but it is not a daily service.
What the extra service means
The extension lets a designated Romancecar continue beyond Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto, where the usual Hakone Tozan Railway connects with the resort area. The operator’s detailed timetable identifies the special northbound departure as “Rinji 60.” It leaves Hakone-Yumoto at 7:12 p.m. and is scheduled to arrive at Shinjuku at 8:45 p.m. The train is the extension of the Odawara-bound Sagami 52; for the full journey, the operator says the train is named Rinji 60.
That direct ride can simplify the return leg for visitors staying around Hakone-Yumoto: instead of making a separate train transfer at Odawara, passengers on this service can board at Hakone-Yumoto for the journey toward Tokyo. The special dates are limited, however, so don’t build a return plan around this train unless it matches your travel day and you have confirmed the current timetable.
Check the date and ticket before you go
The October 27 notice lists three groups of operating dates. The October 10–12 dates have passed; October 31, November 1 and November 3 are the second group; and November 21–23 are the final listed group. The notice describes the Romancecar as a reserved-seat limited express. Odakyu’s booking guidance says passengers need both a limited-express ticket and a separate basic-fare ticket or valid pass. Check the specific train and available seats with Odakyu before setting out, particularly if you are traveling on one of the special dates.
For Hakone sightseeing, Hakone-Yumoto is also a useful transfer point, not just a departure station. The station guide lists the Romancecar on platform 1 and the Hakone Tozan Railway service for Gora on platform 3. Travelers can therefore plan a day that includes the mountain railway and then return to Hakone-Yumoto before taking the special evening train, if its operating date and available seats fit their itinerary. Allow time for the return to the station, and verify local train times separately.
A small change worth planning around
This is a modest seasonal timetable adjustment rather than a new year-round connection. Its value is practical: on the listed dates, the train extends the limited-express journey to Hakone-Yumoto and offers a scheduled evening ride back to Shinjuku. Visitors traveling on other days should compare the ordinary Hakone-Yumoto–Odawara connection with their onward train plans. If you are arranging other rail legs around Japan as part of the same trip, you can explore train-ticket options through Rail Monsters; check directly with Odakyu for this special Romancecar service and its booking conditions.
Before departure, recheck the operator’s service notice and booking information: limited-run trains can require more careful coordination than the regular local connection. The key details to verify are the date, the train’s endpoint, and whether reserved seats are available for your party.
