The connecting line between Odakyu and JR Gotemba Line is only used by the Limited Express “Fujisan” — three round trips per day. It’s unavoidable for completing every line, so I rode the shortest possible section.
The Connecting Line
Near Matsuda Station (Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa), there’s a connecting line linking the Odakyu Odawara Line and JR Tokai’s Gotemba Line.
Light blue is the Odakyu Odawara Line; green is JR Tokai’s Gotemba Line. The connecting line (shown in red) is used by the Limited Express “Fujisan,” which runs between Shinjuku and Gotemba, entering the JR Gotemba Line toward Gotemba. Three round trips per day as of July 2023.
Itinerary
This train doesn’t stop at Shibusawa Station, so the shortest section for riding the connecting line starts at Hadano. A ¥500 limited express surcharge is required. Matsuda Station and Shin-Matsuda Station are treated as the same station for fare calculation, so the base fare is ¥230 (Hadano to Shin-Matsuda).
After leaving Hadano, the train passes through natural scenery, then switches to the connecting line just before Shin-Matsuda Station. It proceeds slowly through the connecting line and arrives on JR Tokai’s Gotemba Line.
I rode only the minimum section due to time constraints, but riding all the way to Gotemba would also give access to the Gotemba Premium Outlets.
Lunch
I walked from Matsuda Station back to Shin-Matsuda Station to head home. Since it was lunchtime, I ate at “Tonkatsu Marushichi,” near Matsuda Station. Known for thick-cut tonkatsu — even the smallest regular size was a substantial portion.