8 Best Ryokans in Hakone with Onsen Baths

Hakone is the easiest place to do a ryokan stay if you’re based in or near Tokyo. It’s 90 minutes by the Odakyu Romancecar, sits inside a national park, and has more hot spring sources than almost anywhere else in Japan.

But not every ryokan here delivers the same experience, and the price gaps are significant. Some are built around the onsen, some around the food, and some are genuinely more suited to first-timers than others.

I’ve narrowed it down to the best ryokans in Hakone, depending on what matters most to you.

Quick picks: best Hakone ryokans

If you don’t want to read the full list, this is where I’d start.

Best ryokans in Hakone

1. Matsuzakaya Honten — best overall and best for first-timers

Dating back to 1662, Matsuzakaya Honten is one of the best places to stay in Hakone.

Most onsen carry one or two minerals. This one carries three at once: sulfur, sulfate, and bicarbonate. You notice the softness the moment you step in.

Dinner is “Shukuba Kaiseki,” built around the eight seasonal turning points in the Japanese calendar. You’ll get sake pairings from Hakone and Odawara breweries.

And if you want the most atmospheric room on the property, HANARE is it. The pavilion was originally an Imperial villa and renovated in 2024.

• Best for: first ryokan stay, couples, all-inclusive experience.
• Price range: $$$$
• Room tip: Book any main pavilion with indoor and open-air baths. Avoid KAKUMEIKAN, which only has shower booths. HANARE is my pick.
• Location: Ashinoyu, quieter and more secluded than Gora or Yumoto.

2. Gora Kadan — best luxury ryokan

Gora Kadan sits on the grounds of a former Imperial family villa, and it’s been Japan’s only Relais & Châteaux member since 1992.

What I love most about it is how much there is to settle into without going anywhere. You can spend an entire day moving between the three hot spring sources, the Kadan Spa with its shiatsu and meridian therapy, the indoor pool, and the outdoor jacuzzi.

Kaiseki changes monthly and comes to your room, though there’s also a restaurant if you’d rather be out of it. And on nights when you want something different, Sushi Kadan restaurant is right there on-site.

• Best for: luxury stay, special occasions, onsen and spa combined.
• Price range: $$$$
• Room tip: The Kadan Suite has a private garden and open-air rock bath. Worth the upgrade if your budget allows.
• Location: Gora, 5-minute walk from the station and a great base for exploring Hakone.

3. Yama no Chaya — best for atmosphere

You don’t just arrive at Yama no Chaya. You cross a suspension bridge over the Hayakawa River, walk through a bamboo grove, and then the building appears against the mountain. That entrance sets the tone for the whole stay.

I’d come back here just for the baths. Take no Yu is its own little bath house inside the bamboo grove, with two outdoor tubs that couldn’t feel more different. One has water cascading down onto your back. The other is a curved stone tub that gets lit by lanterns after dark.

Beyond Take no Yu, there are three more communal baths spread across the property, each with its own character. The rooms have their own private outdoor baths too, if you’d rather not share.

The kitchen works with a culinary advisor who owns a Michelin-starred restaurant, and the food is worth looking forward to. And the shochu bar, with over 80 varieties, stands out too.

One thing to know before booking. There’s no elevator, so you’ll be using stairs throughout the property.

• Best for: atmosphere, nature-focused stays, something memorable without going ultra-luxury.
• Price range: $$$
• Room tip: I’d book Asebi if it’s available. It has three levels, private open-air bath, and a moon-viewing platform at the top.
• Location: Tonosawa (10-minute walk from the station or a short shuttle from Hakone-Yumoto).

4. Kinnotake Tonosawa — best luxury forest retreat

Kinnotake Tonosawa is where I’d go for something quieter and more private.

You arrive across a suspension bridge into a forest of bamboo and cedar, and every room opens onto a terrace that faces the trees.

The food is what sets this one apart. The kaiseki follows the seasonal calendar right down to the rice

If you want to upgrade, Teppanyaki Zen on-site is worth booking ahead. Limited seats, premium wagyu aged over 40 months, cooked in front of you.

Evenings here have a way of stretching out. Between the converted farmhouse spa, the bar, and the forest right outside your window, there’s nothing pushing you to go anywhere.

Adults only, so your whole stay will be quiet.

• Best for: ouples, forest immersion, the best food experience on this list.
• Price range: $$$$
• Room tip: I’d go for Ten or Sora if you want space and privacy. If not, any room with a terrace bath still works well.
• Location: Tonosawa, accessed via suspension bridge with a short transfer from the station.

5. Hakone Gora Byakudan — best for food

If food is the reason you’re booking a ryokan, Hakone Gora Byakudan is where I’d go.

The kaiseki draws from four distinct regions: Sagami Bay, Manazuru, the Hakone mountains, and Izu. It’s the combination of coastal and mountain ingredients that makes the menu feel different from most ryokans.

And the sake and wine pairings are matched to each seasonal menu specifically. Even breakfast gets this level of attention, with rice coming in earthenware pots.

The onsen deserves its own mention. The water flows from a private source at 88°C and has a natural golden tint that you don’t see anywhere else in Hakone.

One thing I’d flag. Vegetarian requests aren’t always handled consistently, so I’d confirm directly before booking if that matters to you.

• Best for: food-focused stays, strong onsen water quality, design-conscious travellers.
• Price range: $$$$
• Room tip: Ask for forest-facing or garden-facing when you book. Some rooms look toward the car park.
• Location: Kowakidani, with free pickup from the station if you request it in advance.

6. Kinnotake Sengokuhara — best for couples

Kinnotake Sengokuhara is one of the few places where privacy isn’t just a selling point. It’s actually built into the layout. Nine rooms spread through bamboo-filled grounds, arranged so you never cross paths with other guests.

Each room has its own open-air onsen filled with milky volcanic water from Owakudani. The water here is cloudier and feels warmer compared to most clear springs in Hakone.

Dinner is Kyoto-style kaiseki served in your room, with an option to upgrade to charcoal-grilled wagyu. Even the drinks in your room are included.

The only shared space is Bar Bamboo, which opens onto a golden-lit grove and water garden at night.

Adults only.

• Best for: couples, full privacy, in-room onsen stays.
• Price range: $$$$
• Room tip: I’d look at MIKADO or HIME for more space. YOI sits higher with a better open-air bath view.
• Location: Sengokuhara (more remote, about 15 minutes from Gora).

7. Gora Kansuiro — best heritage ryokan

If you want something that feels unchanged, Gora Kansuiro is the one I’d look at.

Built in 1920, the building started as a private villa for the Iwasaki family, the founders of Mitsubishi.

Walking through it feels nothing like a hotel. The wooden structure has weight to it, the Kasei-en garden has a mountain-fed stream.

The rotenburo overlooking the garden is one of my favorite outdoor baths in Hakone, especially early morning when everything is still.

For dinner, you’ll get Sagami Bay seafood and local vegetables, with the menu changing every two months.

There’s also a historical detail most people don’t realize. The Imperial family stayed here in 1955, and the Kinkatei villa where they slept can still be booked.

• Best for: heritage stays, wabi-sabi atmosphere, slower pace.
• Price range: $$$
• Room tip: Kinkatei villa for the most privacy and historical connection.
• Location: Gora, 3-minute walk from the station.

8. Ichinoyu Honkan — best value and most historic

Ichinoyu Honkan is great if you want the real ryokan experience without the luxury price tag.

It dates back to 1630 and is officially listed as a National Tangible Cultural Property. You’ll notice it in the structure straight away. The building still looks close to how it did in the Edo period, even down to the layout.

Every room faces the Hayakawa Gorge, and some have open-air baths where you can hear the river while you soak.

There’s one detail I always point out: the private family bath is built from Italian marble imported in 1917. A Taisho-era decision that still feels strange and wonderful today.

Dinner is seasonal Japanese cuisine served in a large Taisho-era banquet hall, with Hakone local pork as a highlight. Your stay also includes free onsen-hopping to all other Ichinoyu Group properties across Hakone.

Some areas show age. But for what you get at this price, nothing else on this list comes close.

• Best for: value stays, history lovers, first ryokan on a budget.
• Price range: $$
• Room tip: Top-floor corner room facing the gorge for river views from multiple windows.
• Location: Tonosawa, short drive or shuttle from Hakone-Yumoto.

Where to stay in Hakone

The area you choose changes the whole experience.

Hakone-Yumoto is the main entry point from Tokyo and the easiest first base. Good transport, plenty of shops, and everything connects from here.

Gora and Kowakidani are my pick if you want to explore as well as relax. The Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani, Lake Ashi, and the Open-Air Museum are all within easy reach, and Gora Kadan, Gora Kansuiro, and Byakudan are all based here.

Tonosawa and Miyanoshita are quieter and older, and I’d choose them if you care more about the feeling of a place than being close to the sightseeing circuit. Yama no Chaya and Kinnotake Tonosawa are here.

Sengokuhara suits people who want space, privacy, and a slower pace. The autumn pampas grass turns the whole plateau gold from late September, and it’s one of the most photographed landscapes in Hakone for good reason.

Ashinoyu and Lake Ashi are the most remote on this list. Best if the ryokan is the whole point and you don’t want much pulling you away from it.

How much do ryokans in Hakone cost?

Budget (¥10,000 to ¥20,000 per person)

This gets you a simpler room, shared baths, and a more straightforward meal setup. A good entry point if you want to try the experience without a big spend.

Mid-range (¥20,000 to ¥40,000 per person)

This is where I think Hakone makes the most sense for most travelers. You start getting better rooms, proper kaiseki, and sometimes private bath options without paying top-tier prices.

Luxury (¥50,000+ per person)

This is where private open-air baths, more attentive service, and serious food start to show up. Some of the best ryokan in Hakone sit well above this, especially if you’re booking a premium suite.

When to book a ryokan in Hakone

Hakone fills up faster than people expect, especially in spring and autumn.

For cherry blossom season or autumn foliage, I’d book two to four months ahead for smaller properties. Bigger ryokans have more flexibility, but the best rooms still go first regardless of size.

Weekends fill before weekdays across the board. If your dates are flexible, midweek is easier to secure and often cheaper.

And if you’ve found the right room, check now. Smaller ryokans only have a handful of them, and they don’t sit empty for long.

If you can only pick one

For a first Hakone ryokan stay, I’d book Matsuzakaya Honten.

The all-inclusive setup means nothing feels uncertain when you arrive. The spring water is one of the best in Hakone. And for a first experience of ryokan dining, Shukuba Kaiseki is exactly the right level, distinctive without being overwhelming.

→ Check availability for Matsuzakaya Honten.

If you want more help narrowing it down, my guide on how to choose a ryokan covers what actually matters. And before your first soak, the onsen etiquette guide is worth reading so you feel completely confident walking in.