10 Best Hotels
Hakone’s hot springs sit among wooded slopes, art museums and villages linked by mountain railway, cable car and boat. Gora is convenient for bathing and sculpture gardens, while Sengokuhara offers quieter forest stays and museums. Around Lake Ashi, cedar-lined paths lead to shrines and reminders of the old Tokaido road. Stay overnight to enjoy a ryokan dinner and a private soak, and keep plans flexible: Mount Fuji views and ropeway journeys depend on the weather.
Gora Kadan
Gora, Japan
Gora Kadan brings the measured rituals of a ryokan to a particularly polished setting. Its grounds occupy a former imperial retreat, while the accommodation combines Japanese materials with contemporary comfort. Seasonal kaiseki and hot-spring bathing give a stay its rhythm. Room styles vary considerably, from tatami accommodation to suites with private outdoor baths, so choose the layout and bathing arrangements that suit you before reserving.
Traditional hospitality with contemporary comfort
ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu
Miyanoshita, Japan
A private cable-car descent into the Hayakawa valley makes arriving at ESPACIO feel unusually removed from the road above. Nine villas sit among forest and river scenery, with interiors that draw on lacquer, intricate woodwork and Japanese paper. The appeal is privacy and the opportunity to spend time with those details. Compare individual villas carefully: layouts, bathing spaces and additional facilities differ, and the hotel is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace.
Secluded villas and Japanese craftsmanship
FUFU Hakone
Gora, Japan
FUFU gives the hot-spring retreat a contemporary look, with warm materials, comfortable furnishings and the intimacy of a small resort. Bathing is central to the stay, with private room baths complemented by communal facilities that draw on a different spring. Seasonal Japanese dining rounds out the experience. It suits travellers who want the pleasures of a ryokan with modern interiors; check the individual room plan and included meals when booking.
A contemporary hot-spring retreat
The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Sengokuhara
Sengokuhara, Japan
Dinner is a central reason to stay at this small Sengokuhara hotel. The kitchen now follows an Italian direction, while the dining rooms offer either garden views or works of art to enjoy between courses. Every room has its own hot-spring bath, making it easy to alternate bathing with reading and leisurely meals. Choose it for a food-focused retreat, and compare the main building and residence accommodation before booking.
Italian dining and private spring baths
Hakone Gora Karaku
Gora, Japan
Every guest room at Karaku has an outdoor hot-spring bath, giving even a short stay room for a private soak. Beyond the accommodation are larger bathing facilities, terraces and lounges that make the property feel more like a resort than a small inn. Rooms combine contemporary comfort with Japanese touches. Compare the east and west wings for their outlooks, and leave time to enjoy the hotel rather than filling every hour with sightseeing.
Private baths with resort facilities
Hakone Honbako
Gora, Japan
Books fill the shelves and shared spaces at Honbako, a small hotel whose name means bookcase. The collection ranges from new titles to older volumes, and books can be bought to take home. Individually designed rooms each have a private outdoor hot-spring bath. Local ingredients shape the Italian cooking, with a kitchen tour adding interest to dinner. It is a particularly good choice for readers who want to spend an afternoon indoors without feeling they have missed anything.
Books, design and quiet afternoons
Matsuzakaya Honten
Ashinoyu, Japan
Matsuzakaya Honten offers the pleasure of an old inn rather than a uniformly modern resort. Timber, tatami, gardens and period details give its buildings character, while hot-spring bathing remains at the centre of the stay. The rooms vary in size and style, so choosing carefully matters here. It suits travellers drawn to traditional interiors and a quieter Ashinoyu setting, with time set aside for dinner, bathing and lingering over breakfast.
Historic ryokan atmosphere
Hakone Retreat Villa1/f
Sengokuhara, Japan
These detached villas make the most of Sengokuhara’s wooded setting, with natural materials, generous windows and private hot-spring bathing. They belong to a wider retreat with dining, a café and shared facilities, so seclusion need not mean staying entirely in your room. Choose the villa accommodation specifically when reserving, since the property also has a separate hotel called före. This is a good base for a quiet stay punctuated by visits to nearby museums.
Private woodland accommodation
Gen Hakone Gora
Gora, Japan
Gen keeps much of the ryokan experience within your own accommodation. Each room has an outdoor hot-spring bath, and both dinner and breakfast are served privately, making it easy to settle in after a day around Hakone. Japanese meals draw on regional produce and seafood. Larger communal bathing facilities provide another option. Choose it when privacy matters more than a busy social scene, and discuss dietary requirements with the inn before arrival.
Private bathing and meals in your room
Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa
Gora, Japan
Hyatt’s Gora resort is a comfortable choice for travellers who prefer a familiar hotel format. Spacious rooms, a spa and communal hot-spring baths make it easy to relax, while the accommodation includes both Western and Japanese-style options. The larger scale brings a different atmosphere from Hakone’s intimate inns. Compare room layouts before booking, particularly if travelling as a family, and allow time to enjoy the bathing facilities between museum visits.
Spacious rooms and international resort comfort