Hakone has been one of Japan's most popular hot spring resorts for centuries. Nowadays, more than a dozen springs provide hot spring water to the many bath houses and ryokan in the Hakone region.
Yumoto, at the entrance to the Hakone area near Odawara, is Hakone's most famous hot spring with a particularly long history, high quality water and numerous baths and inns. Many more hot spring facilities are found across the hills and valleys of Hakone and along the shores of Lake Ashi.
Visitors can enjoy a hot spring bath in public bath houses or ryokan. Many ryokan open their baths not only to staying guests but also to daytime visitors. While staying guests can use the baths for free, daytime visitors pay an admission fee of typically between 500 and 2000 yen.
Below is a list of some of Hakone's better baths open to the general public (shown in blue on the map):
Yumoto
Tenzan•
Hours: 9:00 to 23:00 (entry until 22:00) Admission: 1300 yen
Collection of nicely done hot spring pools, most of which are outdoors at the foot of a wooded slope. The bath house is a beautiful traditional Japanese style building. A short walk from Oku-Yumoto Iriguchi bus stop (bus line K).
Hakone Kamon•
Daytime Hours: 10:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:00) Daytime Admission: 1800 yen Overnight Stay: From 23,000 yen per person with two meals
Multiple outdoor baths made of stone and wood including sauna and baths made of large ceramic pots. A cup of tea is served after the bath. Short shuttle bus ride from Yumoto Station (100 yen).
Hakone Yuryo•
Hours: 10:00 to 21:00 (weekends until 22:00), entry ends one hour earlier Admission: 1500 yen
Hakone Yuryo is a tasteful public bath opened in spring 2013 on the former site of the Hakone Begonia Garden. The facility features gender segregated indoor and outdoor baths with nice views into the forest. There is also a large selection of private baths (additional fees apply) for families and couples that wish to bath together. A free shuttle bus operates every 10-15 minutes to/from Hakone Yumoto Station.
Yunosato Okada
Hours: 6:00 to 9:00 and 11:00 to 23:00 (entry until 22:00) Admission: 1450 yen
Various pools, most of which are outdoors. Nice views of the valley can be enjoyed from the bath house, but unfortunately not from the pools. 10 minute shuttle bus ride from Yumoto Station (100 yen).
Kappa Tengoku
Daytime Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 Daytime Admission: 800 yen Overnight Stay: From 5,000 yen per person without meals
Outdoor baths in the wooded slope just above Yumoto Station. The wooden bath house is slightly run-down but remains atmospheric. A five minute walk from the station.
Yumoto Fujiya Hotel
Daytime Hours: 12:00 to 20:00 Daytime Admission: 1800 yen Overnight Stay: From 19,000 yen per person including 2 meals
Not to be confused with the historic Fujiya Hotel further up the valley, this hotel opens its baths to non-staying guests. The admission fee seems steep considering the hotel's rather average indoor and outdoor baths without views. Across the river from Yumoto Station.
Kowakudani
Hotel Kowakien Yunessun•
Yunessun Hours: 9:00 to 19:00 (until 21:00 in August) Mori no Yu Hours: 11:00 to 20:00 (until 21:00 in August) Admission ends one hour before closing Admission: 2500 yen (Yunessun), 1500 yen (Mori no Yu), 3500 yen (both)
More water park than hot spring, this resort is split into two areas: "Yunessun" with themed pools and water attractions (bathing suits required), and "Mori No Yu" with traditional hot spring baths (no bathing suits). Located across the street from Hotel Kowakien.
Sengoku
Hakone Green Plaza Hotel
Daytime Hours: 13:00 to 18:00 (from 15:00 on Wednesdays and Thursdays) Daytime Admission: 1600 yen Overnight Stay: From 13,000 yen per person including 2 meals
This hotel's large rotemburo (outdoor baths) are some of the surprisingly few baths in Hakone that have views of Mount Fuji on clear days. A short walk from Ubako Station along the Hakone Ropeway.
Ratings: best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
Housed in a renovated traditional building located in the Hakone area, Guesthouse Hakone Nennekoya is located a 3-minute walk from Miyagino Eigyosho-mae Bus Stop. This cosy accommodation offers free WiFi in all areas. It provides dormitory-type and Japanese-style rooms, a shared kitchen and a communal lounge which comes with complimentary drinks. Guests can make a visit to the Hakone Open Air Museum located a 7-minute bus ride away. Lake Ashi and Hakone Yumoto Train Station are a 20-minute bus ride away. JR Odawara Station is a 35-minute bus ride away. Hot spring bathhouses, a convenience store and restaurants can be reached within a 5-minute walk. The shared kitchen is equipped with a microwave, a fridge and an electric kettle. Washing machines are also available for use free of charge. Luggage can be stored for free upon request. Rooms are simply furnished and come with towels and linen. A garden view or mountain view can be enjoyed from the guestrooms. Bathroom facilities are shared.
Situated atop a hill in Hakone, Gyokutei offers an authentic Japanese accommodation with an indoor hot spring bath. Hakoneyumoto Train Station is a leisurely 8-minute walk from the ryokan. All rooms feature tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. Each are equipped with a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator and a private bathroom with a bath, shower and free toiletries. Extras include slippers, a hair dryer and yukata robes. Luggage storage space, a massage service and a garden are all on offer at Gyokutei Ryokan. For dinner, traditional kaiseki (multi-course) meals are served in guest rooms. Hakone Open-air Museum is 50-minute train ride away on the Hakone Tozan Line, while Hakone Gora Park is 55-minute train ride from the property. Lake Ashi is a 30-minute drive away.
Open in April 2017, Field Hakone Resort is set in Hakone, a 6-minute walk from Sengokuannaishomae Bus Stop. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and free private parking is available on site. Each room at this guest house is air conditioned and is fitted with a flat-screen TV. You will find a kettle in the room. The rooms are fitted with a private bathroom with a bath and bidet, with slippers and free toiletries provided. You will find a shared lounge at the property. Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is 800 metres from Field Hakone Resort, while Venetian Glass Museum is 1.3 km from the property. Tokyo Haneda International Airport is 76 km away.
Surrounded by bamboo trees and hills, Yoshimatsu is a traditional Sukiya-style Ryokan (inn) with beautiful outdoor hot spring baths. Overlooking Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi, it provides a free shuttle from Hakone Machi Bus Station. Fitted with tatami-mat flooring, these classic Japanese-style rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and Yukatas (Japanese-style bathrobes). En suite bathrooms have a bathtub. Yoshimatsu is a 5-minute walk from Lake Ashinoko Cruise Station and a 9-minute walk from Lake Ashinoko. It is within a 15-minute walk from Onshi Hakone Park and an 8-minute drive from Narukawa Museum. Breakfast and dinner are served to the guest rooms or in the main dining room upon request. These special Kyoto-style set meals are prepared according to the season's freshest ingredients. Guests can enjoy a relaxing stroll around the landscaped gardens and koi ponds. The hotel also provides massage, karaoke rooms and free parking. Free Wi-Fi is available at the lounge.
Featuring a restaurant, bar, shared lounge and free WiFi, Hakone Villa Bizan is located in Hakone, 600 metres from Hakone Shrine and 1.7 km from Hakone Checkpoint. Boasting family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The rooms come with a balcony. At the hotel, each room is equipped with a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. Guest rooms at Hakone Villa Bizan are equipped with a seating area. An American breakfast is available daily at the accommodation. Lake Ashi is 2.7 km from Hakone Villa Bizan, while Hakone Open-Air Museum is 9 km away. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 78 km from the hotel.
Located in Hakone, 2.8 km from Owakudani Valley, Hakone Yuyado Zen provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a shared lounge. 3.7 km from Hakone Lalique Museum and 3.9 km from Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands, the property features a garden and a terrace. The ryokan features a hot spring bath and room service. All units are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a kettle, a bidet, a hairdryer and a desk. Featuring a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries, rooms at the ryokan also provide guests with free WiFi. All guest rooms will provide guests with a wardrobe and a coffee machine. An Asian breakfast is available daily at Hakone Yuyado Zen. Venetian Glass Museum is 4.2 km from the accommodation, while Pola Museum is 5 km away. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 78 km from Hakone Yuyado Zen.
Set in Hakonefs natural beauty, Gora Kadan is located a 5-minute walk from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Line. Guests can leisurely soak in the hot spring bath, relax with a massage treatment or have a karaoke session. Free WiFi and free private parking is available. Gora Kadan is a member of Relais & Chateaux. The 24-hour front desk at Kadan Gora offers free luggage storage, concierge service and currency exchange. Shuttle service to the ryokan is also available upon request. Guests have free access to the indoor pool and fitness centre. Featuring mountain views, all rooms are fitted with a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle and a fridge. Rooms also come with a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer. Some rooms have a seating area to relax in after a busy day. Guests can savour traditional Japanese meals featuring fresh seasonal ingredients and beautiful garnishes at the on-site restaurant. Popular attractions in the area like the Hakone Open Air Museum and Hakone Gora Park can be reached within a 10-minute walk. Lake Ashi is a 25-minute drive away while the nearest airport is Haneda Airport, a 100-minute drive from the property.
Featuring 2-star accommodation, Onsen Guest House Tsutaya is situated in Hakone, 7 km from Hakone Lalique Museum and 7 km from Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. The ryokan offers a hot spring bath. Owakudani Valley is 9 km from Onsen Guest House Tsutaya, while Pola Museum is 25 km from the property. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 74 km from the accommodation.
MEIBI Hakone Yumoto has river views, free WiFi and free private parking, situated in Hakone, 10 km from Hakone Open-Air Museum. All units here are air-conditioned and feature a flat-screen TV, a living room, a well-equipped kitchen with a dining area, and a private bathroom with bidet, a hairdryer and free toiletries. A microwave, a fridge and stovetop are also available, as well as a kettle. Hiking can be enjoyed nearby. Hakone Gora Park is 10 km from the holiday home, while Hakone Shrine is 12 km from the property. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 70 km from MEIBI Hakone Yumoto.
Located in Hakone, 1.7 km from Hakone Gora Park, Gran Terrace Le Lien Hakone provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a garden and a spa and wellness centre. Each accommodation at the hotel has mountain views, and guests can enjoy access to a terrace and to a hot spring bath. The air-conditioned rooms provide a sea view and come with a desk and free WiFi. At the hotel, each room includes a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV and a shared bathroom. All units will provide guests with a fridge. Continental and buffet breakfast options are available daily at Gran Terrace Le Lien Hakone. Pola Museum is 1.9 km from the accommodation, while Owakudani Valley is 3.3 km away. The nearest airport is Oshima Airport, 83 km from Gran Terrace Le Lien Hakone.
best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
