Hotels in Kowakidani/Miyanoshita, Hakone

Highly recommend this place! The hot spring experience was absolutely fantastic, the warmth enveloped my whole body and completely washed away the fatigue from my travels. The buffet dinner offered a great variety of choices and the quality was excellent, definitely worth trying. The service was warm and attentive, with great attention to detail. The entire place was quiet and comfortable, with a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, making it perfect for both unwinding and vacationing. Some rooms even offer sunrise views!

This is a very nice hot spring resort hotel. Finding it at this price during the New Year period is great value. The hotel is quite close to Carved Forest Station, or you can go to Gora; there's a free shuttle bus. If you're taking public transport, you can get off at Tenyu Station. The rooms are large, with balconies, a reasonable layout, separate wet and dry areas, and heating. The hotel itself has a hot spring. If you want to dine at the hotel, you need to make a reservation in advance. There are also restaurants nearby; I arrived quite late and had some yakiniku (grilled meat) nearby.

Excellent experience we received in this Osen Ryokan. It was probably the most memorable experience in our honeymoon trip. We arrived there in a heavy rainy day. It was cold and we were extremely tired. Staff members were giving us big welcome and help. Most of them can speak Japanese and English so don’t worry on the language issue. The room was spacious and comfortable. The open air bath in room was awesome. We really enjoyed the time with it. The meals were great as expected. In between the meals they also served the refreshment which was remarkable. Must try.

I took a bus from Odawara Station, got off at the “Verde no Mori” bus stop, and reached the property in about an 8-minute walk. As it was my first time visiting Hakone, walking uphill from the bus stop while carrying a suitcase made me feel a bit uneasy at first. However, once I arrived, I was warmly welcomed with a welcome drink, and they kindly accommodated an early check-in, which was a big relief. The room was spacious with a beautiful view, and I was thrilled to finally experience a semi-open-air bath, something I had always dreamed of. The location is extremely quiet, making it a perfect place to truly relax and enjoy a peaceful escape from everyday life. There isn’t much around the property. If you have a car, this won’t be an issue, but for those without one (like me this time), I recommend bringing some snacks just in case. Although I didn’t use it, the hotel also seems to offer shuttle service to nearby bus stops. Dinner, which I reserved in advance, was served in a private dining room and featured a kaiseki-style menu. During my stay in late January, the sashimi course originally included bluefin tuna, amberjack, and ark shell. However, because “a Japanese guest (me!) was visiting,” they thoughtfully prepared usubahagi, a fish I had never encountered before. I was truly impressed by this considerate gesture. The sakura shrimp rice cooked in a small clay pot was another highlight. When I couldn’t finish it all, they kindly made rice balls for me to take, which was such a warm and thoughtful touch. Breakfast was also confirmed the day before, and I was able to receive some additional service. Both meals were excellent in quantity and flavor—I enjoyed everything immensely. The flowing hot spring bath in the room requires mixing in cold water and adjusting the temperature yourself, but by running the cold water about 5–7 minutes before bathing, it was not inconvenient at all. Honestly, this is a place that may divide opinions depending on personal preference. For me, however, it was a wonderful stay, and I definitely plan to return. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch his name, but the Japanese male staff member who took care of our meals was gentle, polite, and answered all my questions clearly, which made me feel very comfortable. There was also a young Southeast Asian female staff member; while there were minor communication misunderstandings, she worked very hard. As someone who also works abroad, I sincerely hope she continues sharing the beauty of Hakone and Japan with international guests visiting this inn. Next time, I will definitely stay for multiple nights!

Every city's soul resides in a hotel. The Peace Hotel in Shanghai, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, the Ritz Paris. These masterpieces, born from local spirit, aesthetics, and a unique mission, are irreplaceable classics, forever one-of-a-kind. They are undeniably the ultimate experiences to explore in these great cities. In 1871, a 20-year-old Japanese man moved to America for work. After saving enough money, he returned to Japan during the Meiji Restoration and enrolled at Keio University. There, he was enlightened by Fukuzawa Yukichi, the father of modern Japan, and first realized the importance of international tourism. In the same year (1874), Emperor Guangxu was only 3 years old; the gears of history began to turn. Fukuzawa's portrait is still on Japan's highest denomination banknote today. The young man, Yamaguchi, realized that Japan didn't have a true hotel for foreigners. So he picked up a blank piece of paper and began to draw the blueprint for Japan's future state guesthouse: 1. A place foreigners would love most. 2. Close to Tokyo, with beautiful scenery. 3. Must have natural hot springs. The intersection of these three coordinates landed in the Miyanoshita area of Hakone. In 1878, Japan's first resort hotel – Fujiya Hotel – was born. However, fate was cruel; just 5 years later, a major fire engulfed the hotel, along with all records since its opening, turning everything to ash. The once eternal legacy became as thin as a wisp of smoke. Fortunately, Yamaguchi resolutely chose to rebuild. In 1891, the new building was completed and has been operating ever since. The symmetrical facade and main entrance portico emphasize a solemn ”frontality.” Inside, there are sofas, fireplaces, and radiators. Even the height of the doorknobs and beds was customized to suit the stature of Westerners. Yet, at the same time, the graceful curves of the Japanese roof, vermillion railings, and dragon wood carvings constantly remind you – this is Japan. No other hotel can better interpret the four characters ”Wa-Yo setchū” (a blend of Japanese and Western styles) than Fujiya Hotel. During the war, it interned over 70 European and Central/South American diplomats. Over a hundred years, the countless celebrities, dignitaries, and royals it hosted are dazzling: Charlie Chaplin, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Yukio Mishima, The King of Belgium, the Crown Prince of Sweden, the Duke of Windsor, Emperor Hirohito, the Last Emperor Puyi, Chiang Kai-shek... For nearly 150 years, Fujiya Hotel has witnessed the collapse of countless colossal powers. How many kings and generals once stood by its west-facing windows, witnessing the twilight of their empires? I checked in during early summer, like pushing open a door to time. The hustle and bustle had long faded, but it still retained its former glory, humbly yet proudly refusing to awaken. Time stands still here, leaving amber-like imprints, as if nothing has ever truly left.

The guesthouse is just a few steps from the bus stop, with a nice and clean ambience. The lounge area is so huge with lots of seating space. Freebies like drip coffee and green tea are superb.The onsen hot spring is spacious and relaxing. I love both indoors and outdoors. The whole place is full of Fragrant aroma probably from the hot spring elements downstairs. Even the capsule Dormitory, each capsule is quite large and bright, spacious enough for me to sit down comfortably in that cubicle.the room is well air-conditioned in a scorching summer. As overall, the accommodation is much better than my expectations. I didn't expect a guest house at this price for this excellent service. 期待よりも素晴らしかった宿です。ホンマに印象深かったです。将来に機会があれば、又そちらへ遊びに行きます。

Cons: This onsen ryokan is located on a hill, so the location isn't the most convenient. It's quite difficult to explore the onsen town or walk around nearby. Perhaps because it's a smaller onsen, the public bath doesn't have an open-air bath, but the private open-air bath in the room somewhat makes up for it. Pros: The lobby offers expansive mountain views, the hotel interior is new, and the room layout is well-designed. Both dinner and breakfast are above the standard for an onsen ryokan; you can really feel the chef's dedication, not just a typical mass production. I wrote this review mainly to express my gratitude to our server, Ms. Saki Takano. She communicated with us in English and even used a few simple Chinese words to introduce the dishes. When we left, she wrote us a blessing card in Chinese characters. Her sincerity and warmth, without any pretense, truly made us feel at home. Thank you very much.

The hotel is near the bus station. There 3 bus route to ride to Hakone tourist spots. Staff with good service and the room with private bath. The meal is good and very traditional. There 3 private bath room for free. Love the hotel environment. Very relaxing and comfy. It’s very good and pleasant stay in this hotel. It’s good for family and friends to stay here. The room is spacious and comfy.

This was my second trip to Hakone, and since I was traveling with my 70-year-old parents, I chose Hakone Yutowa Hotel for its convenient location. The hotel is only 400 meters from Gora Station, about a 7-minute walk on flat ground. It's also super close to Gora Park, though that involves an uphill climb. We stayed for three days and two nights. Breakfast and dinner were both buffet style with unlimited drinks and alcohol. They offer afternoon tea from 3 PM to 7 PM, and an evening bar time from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM. After soaking in the hot springs, complimentary ice cream and milk were a lovely touch. Everything was absolutely wonderful; I'm so glad we chose Yutowa Hotel.