Best 15 Ryokans in Hakone According to Traveler Reviews
Embark on an enchanting journey to Hakone, Japan, where luxury and tradition meet in harmony. As we unveil the top 15 ryokans of 2023 based on traveler reviews (Google, TripAdvisor, Rakuten, and Ikkyu), get ready to immerse yourself in the authentic beauty of Japanese culture. From soothing hot springs (onsen) to delectable Kaiseki cuisine, prepare to be enchanted by the finest hospitality Japan has to offer. We excluded western-style hotels like Fujiya Hotel, Fufu Hakone, or Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, which will be covered in a separate post.
Hakone: A Timeless Hot Spring Retreat (湯治場)
Steeped in history, Hakone has been a renowned hot spring healing spot or tojiba (湯治場) since Edo period（江戸時代 1600～1868). As depicted by Utagawa Hiroshige in the Tokaido Gojiyu-Go ukiyoe drawings, Hakone was a vital part of the Tokyo-Kyoto Tokaido path (yes, Tokaido Shinkansen is named after this path). It was in the 1950s that the development of railways made it easily accessible from Tokyo, turning it into a go-to weekend getaway for the city dwellers. Today, Hakone continues to attract millions of visitors annually from the greater Tokyo area, and it is this constant inflow of people and capital that makes Hakone distinct from other onsen destinations. Despite not having the best nature views or killer tourism content compared to other onsen resorts, Hakone’s ryokans have led the industry with its ever evolving room designs, quality of food, and the high standards of omotenashi hospitality.
Click the names to jump to the descriptions:
#1 Takuminoyado Yoshimatsu（匠の宿 佳松）Ave. rating：4.69
#2 Gora Hanaougi Madoka no Mori (強羅花扇 円かの杜）Ave. rating：4.68
#3 Hakone Suishoen（箱根 翠松園）Ave. rating：4.58
#4 Hakone Gora Byakutan（箱根強羅 白檀）Ave. rating：4.50
#5 Haknoe Ashinoyu Onsen Matsuzakaya Honten（箱根芦之湯温泉 松坂屋本店）Ave. rating：4.49
#6 Kinnotake Sengokuhara（金乃竹 仙石原）Ave. rating：4.48
#7 Centurion Hakone Bettei（仙石原温泉 センチュリオン箱根別邸）Ave. rating：4.45
#8 Hakone Kamon（箱根 花紋）Ave. rating：4.38
#9 Kitanokaze Saryou（きたの風茶寮）Ave. rating：4.36
#10 Senkyoro（仙郷楼）Ave. rating：4.34
#11 Gora Kadan（強羅花壇）Ave. rating：4.69
#12 Kinnotake Tonosawa（金乃竹 塔ノ澤）Ave. rating：4.68
#13 Hakone Yumoto Onsen Gyokutei（箱根湯本温泉 玉庭）Ave. rating：4.58
#14 Hatsuhana（はつはな）Ave. rating：4.50
#15 Hakone Yumoto Onsen Hanare Yamagaso（箱根湯本温泉 離れ山家荘）Ave. rating：4.49
#1 Takuminoyado Yoshimatsu（匠の宿 佳松）Ave. rating：4.69
Step into the world of traditional Japanese serenity – Yoshimatsu is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the authentic ryokan culture. With the large Japanese garden and outdoor onsen baths overlooking Lake Ashinoko, guests can leave their busy life behind and just relax. Savor a private Kaiseki-style dinner served right in your traditional sukiya zukuri (数寄屋造り) architecture room. Book early, as only 18 rooms are available for an intimate experience.
#2 Gora Hanaougi Madoka no Mori (強羅花扇 円かの杜）Ave. rating：4.68
Nestled in the picturesque valley of Hakone, this ryokan offers a premium experience. The simple yet stylish modern Japanese rooms feature fresh tatami floors, cedar wood furnishings, and private outdoor onsen baths. Enjoy a full-body healing treatment at the spa or cocktails and Cuban cigars at the bar. The Kaiseki dinner, crafted in the traditional Kyoto style, is a highlight of the ryokan’s culinary offering.
#3 Hakone Suishoen（箱根 翠松園）Ave. rating：4.58
Experience luxury in privacy at Suishoen. The amenities here are high-class and modern. The 23 stylish rooms are all equipped with private outdoor onsen baths. The main dining building is a national cultural heritage dating back to the Taisho era and was once a holiday home for the Mitsui family of the Mitsui zaibatsu. Here, the guests can savor the flavors of the season with the choice of Kaiseki or Teppanyaki dinner options, both featuring locally sourced ingredients.
#4 Hakone Gora Byakutan（箱根強羅 白檀）Ave. rating：4.50
Byakutan – a word for sandalwood in Japanese, expresses the elegance of what is offered here. This ryokan sits in the mountainside of the Gora area（強羅), which is a brand of its own within Hakone. The well-designed rooms with private outdoor baths will be a place for you to reconnect with nature. The Kaiseki dinner will feature locally sourced ingredients hand-picked by the chef, and vegetarian and gluten-free arrangements are available too.
#5 Haknoe Ashinoyu Onsen Matsuzakaya Honten（箱根芦之湯温泉 松坂屋本店）Ave. rating：4.49
If you are an onsen lover, Matsuzakaya might be the best choice. Established in 1662, this ryokan had its 350th anniversary in 2022. It has its fair share of history with VIP guests, including the members of the Japanese imperial family. Utagawa Hiroshige even drew it in one of his ukiyoe drawings. What makes Matsuzakaya unique is its sulfur spring onsen water(硫黄泉) which is very rare in Hakone.
Further, the emerald green water happens to flow from the source at just the right temperature with ample supply (200liters per min.), so they can have their onsen not heated or with no added water(無加温無加水). They are also generous enough to supply bath water with the free-flow system(源泉かけ流し) instead of a circulation system, so the water is 100% fresh. This allows the guests to enjoy and feel the effects of onsen minerals as it comes out of the spring source. The spacious and recently renovated rooms are traditional Japanese style but are fitted with modern amenities, and the view of the Japanese garden will tell the changing of seasons. During your stay, food and drinks, including alcohol and snacks at the lounge, are all included in the plan.
#6 Kinnotake Sengokuhara（金乃竹 仙石原）Ave. rating：4.48
Kinnotake Sengokuhara’s concept here is the Japanese tale of Taketori Monogatari (竹取物語）, which explains the heavenly experience you find here. The 11 rooms are all suites and designed with attention to detail to make you unwind and relax. For dinner, a Kyoto-style Kaiseki course is served in your rooms with a selection of wine and sake to choose from. In the afternoon, you can continue to enjoy the night at the bar or be treated with Thai style massage at the spa.
#7 Centurion Hakone Bettei（仙石原温泉 センチュリオン箱根別邸）Ave. rating：4.45
Nestled in the secluded Sengokuhara area, this exclusive ryokan offers a unique blend of modern elegance and traditional Japanese design. With only 13 guest rooms, each featuring a semi-outdoor private onsen bath, the ryokan is the perfect retreat for adults seeking a tranquil and relaxing getaway. The elegant restaurant offers an array of Japanese cuisine, including Shabu-shabu, sukiyaki, and Kaiseki.
#8 Hakone Kamon（箱根 花紋）Ave. rating：4.38
With only 16 rooms, each featuring a unique modern Japanese design, guests can expect a personalized and intimate experience at Hakone Kamon. The floors throughout the facility are fitted with soft tatami mats, adding to the overall ambiance of relaxation. The ryokan boasts ten different types of public onsen baths, all using its own sourced onsen water, providing guests with a diverse range of options to explore (湯めぐり）.
#9 Kitanokaze Saryou（きたの風茶寮）Ave. rating：4.36
Kitanokaze Saryou is a modern ryokan that combines Japanese design aesthetics with art space. Guests can choose from a variety of rooms, all with unique designs and characteristics. The ryokan also offers a French-inspired Japanese dinner course that incorporates seasonal specialties.
#10 Senkyoro（仙郷楼）Ave. rating：4.34
Escape the chaos of everyday life and rejuvenate at Senkyoro, a long-established hot-spring inn located in the scenic area of Hakone. The ryokan boasts 39 rooms, some with private outdoor onsen baths. For an added touch of luxury, Senkyoro offers exclusive villas set in a secluded and peaceful environment, the perfect place to unwind and relax.
#11 Gora Kadan（強羅花壇）Ave. rating：4.69
Experience the elegance of modern Japanese ryokan at Gora Kadan. It is situated in the Gora area of Hakone, and it stands on the grounds of the Kaninnomiya site, a former summer villa of a member of the imperial family.
#12 Kinnotake Tonosawa（金乃竹 塔ノ澤）Ave. rating：4.68
This beautiful ryokan has 23 rooms which are all spacious and fitted with private outdoor hot spring baths, allowing guests to unwind and take in the surrounding nature. Kaiseki-style dinner is served at the restaurant, which can be upgraded into a wagyu beef-featured course.
#13 Hakone Yumoto Onsen Gyokutei（箱根湯本温泉 玉庭）Ave. rating：4.58
Although it is only a 10-minute walk from Hakone Yomoto station, Gyokutei offers an escape to a secluded and tranquil oasis. With only eight sukiya zukuri-style villas surrounding the beautiful Japanese garden with a koi pond, this ryokan offers a quiet and calm experience. Guests can indulge in the privacy of their own natural onsen baths, in addition to the two large public baths. Enjoy delicious and seasonal Kaiseki cuisine, served in the comfort of your own room for breakfast and dinner.
#14 Hatsuhana（はつはな）Ave. rating：4.50
Operated by Odakyu Resorts, the modern guest rooms and fusion cuisine makes Hatsuhana more like a hotel than a ryokan. Nonetheless, the mountain views and the various onsen baths scattered within the premises will give you the relaxation you want at a Hakone stay.
#15 Hakone Yumoto Onsen Hanare Yamagaso（箱根湯本温泉 離れ山家荘）Ave. rating：4.49
The five villas in the Japanese garden of Yamagaso are traditional sukiya zukuri architecture, with perhaps the most old-fashioned rooms on this list. Privacy is assured because dinner and breakfast are served at your villa. You can stroll down to the affiliated hotel next door if you opt for aroma spa massages or a large public bath with mountain views.
Hakone is home to a diverse range of ryokans, each offering its own unique blend of traditional and modern Japanese hospitality. Whether you’re looking for a secluded retreat or a more modern and upscale experience, the ryokans listed in this article are sure to provide an unforgettable stay. We hope this guide will help you find the perfect ryokan for your next trip.
Lead photo credit: Kinnotake Sengokuhara
*Information as of January 2023.
