Hakone Round Course

The Hakone Round Course includes a ride on a Funicular Railway and Ropeway (tram). Unfortunately, There was a very low cloud ceiling on the only full day we were in Hakone. By the time we got to the walking portion of the tour, the rain was coming down in sheets horizontally. The tram ride is quite long and I'm sure the views are phenomenal when you have them. Still - riding the different modes of transportation was fun in and of itself and it got us out of the hotel room for an afternoon.

Both modes are covered by the Hakone Free Pass. There is a website that explains quite well how the round course works: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html.


	The Cable Car Line is a funicular railway that runs from the end of the Tozan Hakone railway at Gora station, to Sounzan Station, where you transfer to the tram line. A funicular is essentially a tram on rails. The rail car is connected to each end of the railway by cables. They are usually powered by electricity and used to traverse steep slopes in a straight line, since they eliminate the need for sharp curves. The funicular at Gora Station runs about 4,000 Ft. with an increase in elevation of about 700 Ft. The grade is 20% at it's steepest point. By comparison, the maximum grade of most mountain roads in the US is 6%-8%. The trip takes about 10 minutes. There is even a website devoted to funiculars. http://www.funiculars.net/.


	The 30 minute ride on the Hakone Ropeway was fun and definitely worth braving the weather. There is a recorded message playing as you ride the tram describing (in English & Japanese) the views of Mt. Fuji that you are experiencing. "On a clear day, you can see the Pacific Ocean in the distance beyond Mt. Fuji". As you can see by the pictures, our "views" were limited. The ride was kind of cool though, the wind made the gondolas rock quite a bit. There is a transfer midway with plenty of opportunities to eat or shop for souvenirs. Website