Hakone

Hakone is roughly 90mins train ride from Shinjuku station in Tokyo. It is a popular tourist destination, and weekender for Tokyo residents. A hilly scenic area by Lake Ashi between Tokyo and Mt Fuji.
One can take a Kodama Shinkansen train on half hourly departure from Tokyo (Shinawara station) for Y3200, taking just 1 hr, or an Odakyu train on 10 minute departure interval but taking 90mins.
We bought a Hakone Freepass at Shinjuku station for Y5000 per adult (Y1500 for Kristine, Kimberley travels free). That fare covers our return train tickets between Tokyo and Odawara on Odakyu trains, and unlimited passages on Tozan lines of trains, buses, sightseeing boats, Ropeway (aerial cable car) and funicular Cable car around Hakone.

We took a local train from Odawara (小田原） to Hakone Yumoto （箱根汤本）, then changed into a 'Switchback' train that went up a hill by switching head and tail at 4 different hillside sections --- the train never turns around on its ascend. It would go forward up a stetch of slope, then go backward up another stretch of hill slope, forward again, then backward again to the hilltop!
That took us to Sounzan, almost the hill top, passing many ryokan (Inns) along the tracks. The next mode of transport is a funicular cable car. As one car is pulled by cable up a steep slope, another is lowered on the same slope. This is the only place in Japan where we first witnessed a Japanese family jumping queue for the cable car. Still that is a rarity.

Then it was a Ropeway, over three sections, first uphill and then downhill to Togendai, where the sightseeing boats depart. The cablecar route took us over an onsen where steam spews out and yellow sulphur visibly accumulates.

The sightseeing boats were built to look like pirate ships, popular with kids. We took a round trip on the lake. Unfortunately, none of the photos taken with us in the foreground and Mt Fuji in background turned out well to show Mt Fuji.
Overnight at Uncle Jun's holiday home. With its own onsen baths, the kids had great fun.

http://www.japan-guide.com/