English below（Hakone Pirate Ship）：2026年7月18日、芦ノ湖で運航する箱根海賊船「ロワイヤルⅡ」の特別船室がリニューアルされました。それに先立ち、報道向け内覧会へ。実は「OWAKUDANI KITCHEN」の取材と同様に、こちらの船も重要なミッションでした。自分が制作した別媒体が発売されるまで書けなかったので、ようやく紹介できます！
芦ノ湖では2つの遊覧船が運航
箱根・芦ノ湖の遊覧船は、2社が運航しています。
箱根海賊船（小田急箱根）／小田急グループ
箱根遊船（箱根遊船）／富士急グループ
箱根遊船は、もともと西武グループの伊豆箱根鉄道が運営していましたが、2023年に富士急行へ譲渡され、社名も変わりました。当時、新聞やビジネス誌では、戦後の「箱根山戦争」になぞらえた記事が相次いだので、記憶に残っている方もいるかもしれません。
ちなみに、「箱根山戦争」とは、西武グループと小田急・東急グループが、箱根の観光開発や交通輸送シェアをめぐって激しく競った歴史を指します。現在は企業グループを越えた連携もみられます。たとえば毎年春に行われる「箱根スイーツコレクション」には、小田急グループだけでなく、プリンスホテルなど西武グループの施設も参加。競争関係を持ちながらも、箱根という観光地全体を盛り上げる取り組みで協力しています。
箱根遊船「SORAKAZE」は川西康之さんがデザイン
箱根遊船では、川西康之さんがデザインを手がけた「SORAKAZE」「箱根大茶会」が運航しています。「SORAKAZE」デビュー時の報道公開では川西さんの案内で乗船しました。多彩な座席やブランコ風ベンチなど、船内での過ごし方そのものを楽しませる工夫が印象的でした。詳しくは以前執筆した『るるぶ＆more.』の記事で紹介しています。
「ロワイヤルⅡ」の特別船室がリニューアル
さて、今回の主役は箱根海賊船。
箱根海賊船では、「ロワイヤルⅡ」「クイーン芦ノ湖」「ビクトリー」の3隻が運航しています。
今回リニューアルしたのは「ロワイヤルⅡ」の特別船室エリア。通常運賃に特別船室料金を追加して利用します。
（画像はプレスリリースより）
白とルージュレッドを基調に、ロココ様式を意識したインテリアで、クラシックな高級感があります。キラキラ、ギラギラしすぎていないので、落ち着いて過ごせます。船内の絵画は、オリジナルデザインの隠し絵になっています。

（画像はプレスリリースより）2階中央にある玉座の壁面には、新たなシンボルマークも。随所に18世紀フランスを思わせる意匠が取り入れられています。
通常の席でも十分楽しめますが、ゆったり座って過ごしたい人には特別船室がおすすめです。特別船室利用者専用のデッキもあり撮影もしやすいです。また、船内のショップではドリンクも販売しています。

デッキからは箱根神社の鳥居も見え、まさに芦ノ湖の遊覧船らしい風景。緊張もゆるんでいきます。

元箱根港の乗り場も、船旅の雰囲気を盛り上げてくれます。箱根遊船の「SORAKAZE」とはデザインの方向性が大きく異なりますが、どちらも芦ノ湖を移動するだけでなく、船内で過ごす時間そのものを楽しませようとしている点は共通しています。どちらに乗るかは乗船ルートや使用するチケットなども合わせて検討してみて。これから少しずつ涼しくなり、湖上を渡る風も心地よく、快適に芦ノ湖クルーズを楽しめそうです。
＜箱根海賊船「ロワイヤルⅡ」＞
乗船定員：565名（うち特別船室111名）
運航区間：桃源台港～箱根町港・元箱根港
運賃例　片道運賃　大人1,700円／小人850円（特別船室利用時は、片道特別船室料金　大人800円／小人400円別途）

On July 18, 2026, the Special Cabin aboard the Hakone Pirate Ship "Royale II," which operates on Lake Ashi, reopened after a renovation. Ahead of the official opening, I attended a press preview.
Like my visit to OWAKUDANI KITCHEN, covering this ship was another important assignment during my trip to Hakone. I had to wait until another publication I worked on was released before writing about it here, so I can finally introduce it!
Two sightseeing cruise operators on Lake Ashi
There are two main sightseeing cruise operators on Lake Ashi in Hakone:

Hakone Pirate Ship (Odakyu Hakone) / Odakyu Group
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise(Hakone Yusen)/ Fujikyu Group

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise was originally operated by Izuhakone Railway of the Seibu Group, but the business was transferred to Fujikyuko in 2023, and the company name was also changed.
At the time, newspapers and business magazines published a number of articles comparing the move to the postwar "Hakone Mountain War," so some readers may remember the story.
The "Hakone Mountain War" refers to the intense rivalry between the Seibu Group and the Odakyu-Tokyu camp over tourism development and transportation market share in Hakone.
Today, however, there are also examples of cooperation across corporate groups. The annual Hakone Sweets Collection, held every spring, includes not only Odakyu Group facilities but also Seibu Group properties such as Prince Hotels. Although the companies remain competitors, they also work together on initiatives designed to promote Hakone as a destination as a whole.
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise "SORAKAZE" was designed by Yasuyuki Kawanishi
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise operates vessels including "SORAKAZE" and "Hakone Dai-Chakai," both designed by Yasuyuki Kawanishi.
When SORAKAZE made its debut, I attended a press preview and toured the vessel with Mr. Kawanishi. I was particularly impressed by the variety of seating and playful features such as swing-style benches, all designed to make spending time aboard the ship part of the experience itself.
I previously wrote about SORAKAZE in more detail for Rurubu & more.(Japanese only)..
The Special Cabin aboard "Royale II" has been renewed
Now, on to the main focus of this article: the Hakone Pirate Ship.
The Hakone Pirate Ship fleet consists of three vessels: "Royale II," "Queen Ashinoko," and "Victory."
The area renovated this time is the Special Cabin aboard Royale II. Passengers can use it by paying an additional Special Cabin fare on top of the regular ticket price.
The interior is based on white and rouge red, with a Rococo-inspired design that gives the space a classic, elegant atmosphere. It feels luxurious without being overly glittery or flashy, making it a comfortable place to relax.
The paintings displayed inside the cabin also feature original hidden-image designs.
A new emblem has also been added to the wall behind the throne on the second floor. Decorative details throughout the cabin evoke the atmosphere of 18th-century France.
The regular seating is perfectly comfortable, but the Special Cabin is a good choice for anyone who wants to sit back and enjoy a more relaxed journey. There is also a private deck reserved for Special Cabin passengers, making it easier to take photos. Drinks are also available from the onboard shop.
From the deck, you can also see the torii gate of Hakone Shrine -- a classic Lake Ashi view. Watching the scenery from the water makes it easy to unwind.
The boarding area at Moto-Hakone Port also adds to the atmosphere of the cruise.
The design approach is very different from that of SORAKAZE, but both vessels have something in common: they are designed not simply to transport passengers across Lake Ashi, but to make the time spent aboard part of the travel experience.
When choosing which cruise to take, it is worth considering the route as well as the type of ticket or pass you plan to use.
As the weather gradually becomes cooler, the breeze across the lake should become even more pleasant. It is a lovely season to enjoy a cruise on Lake Ashi.

＜Hakone Pirate Ship "Royale II"＞
Capacity: 565 passengers, including 111 in the Special Cabin
Route: Togendai Port - Hakonemachi Port - Moto-Hakone Port
Example fare: Adult ¥1,700 / Child ¥850 one way
Special Cabin surcharge: Adult ¥800 / Child ¥400 one way