This day moves the trip on from the mountains and lake of Hakone to the waterfront city of Yokohama, with a stop at Odawara Castle along the way and an afternoon exploring the Minato Mirai and Red Brick Warehouse area once the hotel bags are dropped off.
Morning: Hakone to Odawara
A free shuttle bus connects The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko to Odawara Station — reservation is required, and can be made from six months before the stay up until 12:00 noon two days beforehand, so this is worth booking well ahead of the actual travel date.
At Odawara, the castle's main keep (Tenshukaku) is an easy stop right by the station — a rebuilt keep with a small museum inside and views out over the surrounding city, a good way to stretch your legs after the bus ride before the train legs that follow.
Midday: On to Yokohama
From Odawara, the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line runs directly through to Yokohama Station without a change, before one more short hop on to Sakuragicho. This is also the point in the day to check in and, if not ready to head to the room yet, drop bags at the front desk — the New Otani Inn Yokohama Premium offers luggage storage for exactly this kind of same-day arrival.
Afternoon: Minato Mirai & the Waterfront
With bags out of the way, the afternoon is free to explore the waterfront around Sakuragicho. The Nippon Maru Memorial Park sells a combined ticket covering both the historic sailing ship Nippon Maru and its adjoining museum (adult ¥800, ¥600 for visitors 65 and over with ID) — a nice stop for anyone interested in maritime history. From there, it's an easy walk to Yokohama World Porters for shopping, and on to the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, a pair of restored early-20th-century warehouses now home to shops, cafes, and event space right on the water. The Cup Noodles Museum is also in the area and worth considering if there's time.
Evening
Dinner and breakfast shopping for the next day can both be handled around the Sakuragicho/Minato Mirai area before heading back to the hotel to settle in for the next two nights.
- Seasonal notes: works in any season; the Red Brick Warehouse and World Porters area is a mix of indoor and open-air spaces, so it holds up reasonably well regardless of weather
- Backup rainy-day options: the Cup Noodles Museum, World Porters, and the Nippon Maru museum building are all fully indoors, making this a fairly rain-proof afternoon; Odawara Castle's grounds are the one outdoor stop, so consider shortening that visit in heavy rain
Before you go: The Hakone-to-Odawara shuttle bus requires a reservation made in advance (up to 12:00 noon two days before the stay) — don't plan around it without booking first, since same-day reservations are not accepted.
Time-Block Itinerary
Start: The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko
End: New Otani Inn Yokohama Premium
| Time | Stop | Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30 | Depart hotel → Odawara Station | — | Free shuttle bus (reservation required), ~50 min |
| 11:00 | Odawara Castle, Tenshukaku | — | Main keep and museum |
| 12:30 | Depart Odawara → Yokohama | JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line | ~45 min, no transfer |
| 13:30 | Depart Yokohama → Sakuragicho | JR Yokohama Line | ~5 min |
| ~13:40 | New Otani Inn Yokohama Premium | — | Check-in / luggage drop |
| 14:00 | Nippon Maru Memorial Park | — | Ship + museum combined ticket, ¥800 adult |
| ~15:00 | Yokohama World Porters | — | Shopping |
| ~16:00 | Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse | — | Waterfront shops, cafes, and event space |
| 18:00 | Dinner | — | Sakuragicho / Minato Mirai area |
| ~19:00 | Buy breakfast for tomorrow | — | Nearby convenience store or supermarket |
| ~19:15 | New Otani Inn Yokohama Premium | — | Return to hotel, end of day |
Transport Notes
- The shuttle bus from The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko to Odawara Station is reservation-only; book it well before the travel date, since same-day bookings aren't accepted.
- Odawara to Yokohama runs directly on the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line, with no transfer needed.
- Yokohama Station to Sakuragicho is a short additional hop on the JR Yokohama Line or the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line.
- No rail pass is useful for this particular day — all legs are ordinary JR/city transport.
Cost and Ticket Notes
- Odawara Castle, Tenshukaku: standard adult admission (confirm current pricing locally).
- Nippon Maru + museum combined ticket: ¥800, adult; ¥600, 65+ with ID.
- Budget for: the JR fares from Odawara to Sakuragicho, the Nippon Maru ticket, and dinner around Minato Mirai.
This day pairs well with:
- Hakone - Lake Ashi & Shrine Day — the day before, the last full day based in Hakone
- Yokohama - Kamakura & Enoshima Hub Day — the day after, staying at the same Sakuragicho hotel