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You want to ride the Odakyu Romancecar, but you are not sure when booking opens, where to buy tickets, or how much it costs in total. You want an observation seat, but you do not know which trains have them. This article brings together how to book the Romancecar and its fares in one place.

• When you can reserve and purchase, and the difference between reserving and purchasing
• The four online services and how they differ from station ticket offices and ticket machines
• Fares and limited express charges by section
• Which trains have observation seats, and how to check which services use them
• Rules for changes and refunds, and what to do on the day of travel

The Romancecar is a limited express train operated by Odakyu Electric Railway, and all seats are reserved. The fares, times and conditions in this article were checked on the official Odakyu Electric Railway website on October 14, 2026.

The diagram below lets you look through the GSE (70000 series) in order, from the observation seats in Car 1, through the standard seats and the family-friendly car (Kosodate Oen-sha) in Car 3, to the observation seats in Car 7.

Romancecar Booking Opens at 10:00, One Month Before Your Travel Date

When You Can Reserve and Purchase

Limited express tickets can be reserved and purchased from 10:00, one month before the travel date. Online services are available from 4:00 to 2:00 the next day.

The Difference Between Reserving and Purchasing

"Reserving" means holding a seat, and "purchasing" means paying and getting the limited express ticket. The deadlines for choosing a seat on the online seat map are as follows.

You cannot reserve at ticket machines. Online, observation seats can only be purchased, not reserved.

Deadline for Collecting a Reserved Ticket

A reserved limited express ticket must be purchased at a ticket office, ticket machine or similar. If the deadline passes, the reservation is cancelled automatically.

If you reserved with the EMot app or EMot Online Tickets, you cannot complete the purchase at a ticket office or ticket machine, so you complete it in the app or on the website.

Riding on the Day Without a Reservation

Even without a reservation, you can ride if you buy a limited express ticket before boarding. If you board without a limited express ticket, you pay the limited express charge plus 350 yen on board (no seat is assigned). For sections connecting to the Tokyo Metro line, a further 100 yen is added.

Limited express tickets between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto (200 yen) are sold on the platforms at Odawara Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station at the time of boarding, only when seats are available that day.

How to Reserve and Purchase (Four Online Services and Stations)

The Four Online Services

For every service, sales open at 10:00, one month before the travel date. Limited express tickets connecting to the JR Gotemba Line are bought on e-Romancecar. With EMot and EMot Online Tickets, you can buy a digital free pass and a limited express ticket at the same time.

Ticket Machines and Ticket Offices

Credit cards cannot be used at the limited express ticket machines on the platforms. The ticket offices at Hadano Station and Yamato Station closed on April 15, 2024. Telephone reservations for limited express tickets have ended.

If you would like an observation seat, a window seat, a family-friendly seat (Kosodate Oen-seki) or similar, ask when you buy.

Ticket Issuing and Boarding

A Fare Ticket Is Needed Separately

In addition to the limited express ticket, you need a regular ticket (fare ticket) or similar to your destination. Regular tickets cannot be reserved, so buy one at your departure station on the day. Transit IC cards such as PASMO and free passes can also be used.

Romancecar Price = Fare + Limited Express Charge

Limited Express Charges and Fares from Shinjuku

To ride the Romancecar, you pay both the fare and the limited express charge. The limited express charge differs between the "ticketless limited express charge" for tickets bought online and the "limited express charge" for tickets bought at ticket offices, ticket machines and so on.

Limited Express Charges for Kita-Senju and Gotemba

Limited Express Charges for Children and Infants

The child limited express charge is half the adult charge (amounts under 10 yen are rounded up to the nearest 10 yen). If an infant under 6 uses a limited express seat, a child limited express ticket and a regular ticket are required.

Fare Rules for Limited Express Tickets To or From Machida

If you use a regular ticket to or from a station between Odakyu-Sagamihara and Odawara or between Higashi-Rinkan and Katase-Enoshima, together with a limited express ticket to or from Machida (excluding Shinjuku to Machida), you do not need to pay a separate fare for Machida to Sagami-Ono, as long as you do not exit at Machida Station.

How to Get Observation Seats

Observation Seats Are on the GSE (70000 series)

The current Romancecar fleet consists of four types: GSE (70000 series), MSE (60000 series), EXEα (30000 series) and EXE (30000 series). The GSE (70000 series) is the one introduced as the observation car. The GSE entered service in March 2018.

Observation seats are at the ends of Car 1 and Car 7, with 4 rows of 2 + 2 seats (16 seats) in each. You can ride in the observation seats at the regular price (fare + limited express charge) with no extra charge.

Trains With Observation Seats Are Listed in the Official Operation Schedule

Odakyu Electric Railway publishes an "Operation Schedule of Limited Express Romancecars with Observation Seats" on its official website. The October and November schedule was posted on September 30, 2026. The schedule shows the days each train has observation seats.

The main trains in the October and November schedule (from Shinjuku toward Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto) are as follows. Operating days differ by train, so check the dates in the schedule.

The schedule also lists trains toward Katase-Enoshima (Homeway 83, 87 and 89) and trains bound for Shinjuku.

Observation Seats Can Only Be Purchased Online

Online, observation seats can only be purchased, not reserved. If you want an observation seat at a ticket office, ask when you buy. The official website advises buying early because observation seats are limited.

Choosing a Seat (GSE)

Car 3 Is the Family-Friendly Car

Car 3 of the Romancecar is the family-friendly car (Kosodate Oen-sha). The official website describes it as "Car 3, close to the restroom," and anyone can use it. When buying online, choose "family-friendly seat (Kosodate Oen-seki)" as the seat type. Travel agencies do not handle the family-friendly car.

Power Outlets and Tables at Every Seat

On the GSE, every seat has a power outlet in the armrest. Tables are stored in the armrest of each seat, so everyone can use their own table even when the seats are turned to face each other.

Rotating Seats and Luggage

Seats rotate 180° when you pull the lever on the side. There is luggage space under the seats (except some seats).

Doors on Cars 4 and 7

On the Odakyu Line, the doors of Cars 4 and 7 on the EXE, EXEα and MSE do not open.

Rules for Changes and Refunds

Refunds

If you apply by the departure time at the ticket office where you bought the ticket or at any Odakyu Line station, you are refunded the amount minus a fee of 100 yen per ticket. For limited express tickets connecting to the JR Gotemba Line, the fee is 340 yen up to 2 days before the travel date, and after that, up to the departure time, an amount equal to 30% (340 yen if this is less than 340 yen).

Cancellations and Delays

If you bought at a ticket office or ticket machine, apply at the ticket office where you bought or at any Odakyu Line station. If you bought on Romancecar@Club, e-Romancecar or EMot, the refund is made automatically without applying.

Changes

Changes are accepted only if you apply by the departure time from the boarding station shown on the ticket, and only if seats are available on the new train. For JR Central Gotemba Line connections, changes are limited to once. Limited express tickets bought on EMot can be changed only for the same section, the same number of people and the same purchase amount.

Changing Your Section on Board

If you change your travel section on board the limited express, you pay a separate limited express charge for the section between the original destination and the new station (except when the limited express charge is the same before and after the change).

On the Day of Travel

At the starting station, there may be a short wait for cleaning of the train. After buying a limited express ticket, you are advised to check the train name, train type, departure time and seat number.

Summary

• Reserving and purchasing open at 10:00, one month before the travel date: online from 4:00 to 2:00 the next day. Reserve up to 45 minutes before departure, purchase up to 3 minutes before departure
• Four online services: e-Romancecar requires no membership. Romancecar@Club earns points. EMot accepts PayPay
• Price = fare + limited express charge: Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto is a ticketless limited express charge of 1,150 yen, and the fare is 1,261 yen with an IC card
• Observation seats: 16 each in Car 1 and Car 7 of the GSE: no extra charge. Trains with observation seats are listed in the official operation schedule. Online, purchase only
• Refunds up to the departure time, 100 yen per ticket: a change of travel date is free of charge once only

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This article is based on information as of October 2026. Fares, timetables and service specifications may change. Please confirm the final details yourself on the official Odakyu Electric Railway website.