Irori Guesthouse TENMAKU — Hotel in Hakone

(Crossposting on Google bc Agoda truncated my review :()

I've been to Hakone before, usually on day trips, and each time it was Okay, but this time my stay at Tenmaku made it such that it was genuinely so difficult to leave 🥹😭😭

1. Room - I had the best sleeps of my life ever both nights I was there, the futon was so incredibly comfortable. In the morning the sunlight peels in through the windows and you can see the mountains beyond, which is simply stunning. (note - I don't know about the dorms unfortunately!)

2. Location - It's right next to the Hakone Open Air Museum (beautiful and absolutely worth a visit) and a short walk from its associated station, but I preferred the scenic 15 or so min walk to Gora station , where you can find a number of other attractions like the Hakone Gora Park and the Hakone Museum of Art, and their sister cafe Coffee Camp, where Tenmaku customers can get a discount :) Food there is great too, if a bit limited.

3. Activity - The "Shared Dinner" was actually why I opted for this place as a solo traveler, and it really didn't disappoint. The food is delicious and well worth the price, but besides that it creates a communal activity after nightfall for everyone to gather and share stories and the like. I opted for it both nights of my stay and met new friends! One night we even ended up having a karaoke session, which was really fun. You can get drinks at the bar, and I'd recommend basically everything from Hakone there (I think I tried nearly all of them). Even if you don't opt for the dinner it's in the same space as the bar, so if you're sociable you can still join in the conversation :)

You can also bring snacks to share with everyone - helpful if you're a solo traveler who bought 4 eggs at Owakudani lol

4. Staff - All the staff here are great and so friendly and so helpful! They'll welcome you back and chat with you about what you've seen, which makes the atmosphere so warm, which really is so crucial for a guesthouse 😊 Shout out to Masashi, who was on shift every day of my stay and was really nice to talk to - he speaks English just fine but he was also very willing to converse with me in Japanese :-) I learned a lot from him and got music recs as well HAHA if you need anything he's the guy!!

Overall (if you can't tell from this essay of a review), I really enjoyed my stay here - it made me so sad when I had to go 🥹 I'll be back in different seasons to see all the colours of Hakone!! Thank you...

If you’re looking for a traditional, budget-friendly stay in Hakone, Irori Guest House is a solid choice. It’s not your typical Tokyo-style capsule hotel — here, the “capsules” are more like large wooden bunk beds, giving off a cozy and authentic Japanese vibe. Basic amenities are provided, covering everything you need for a comfortable stay.

The room itself was clean and warm, which was important during the chilly early spring weather. My only small complaint was the pillow, which could have been a bit fluffier or at least doubled up for more comfort.

The common areas really stood out. The cozy lounge area, with its tatami flooring, creates a very homely atmosphere. Every night, the guest house hosts a Japanese-style dinner around the indoor irori (hearth), where guests wear provided kimonos — a fantastic experience for meeting fellow travelers. The kitchen is open 24/7, offering free coffee, tea, distilled water, and even a bar.

Staff were very friendly and spoke English well, making communication easy for international guests.

Location-wise, it’s excellent: just a short walk from the train station, a few minutes to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, and close to some local restaurants and convenience stores. There’s even a small café right outside in a charming trailer.

If I had to point out a downside, it would be the very narrow toilets. Some facilities could use renovation, though I hope they maintain the lovely traditional aesthetic that gives the place its character.

Overall, I’d recommend Irori Guest House to solo travelers, backpackers, and anyone looking for a social, authentic Japanese guesthouse experience without breaking the bank. For other reviews check my FB and YT...

It's 5min walk from Chokokunomori station and right next to the Hakone open-air museum, so if you're planning to visit there it's very handy as you can go to the museum when it opens and it's a little less crowded.||The staff in the hostel is super friendly, the decor is beautiful, the common area is nice and easy to meet other travellers, especially with the bar inside the hostel, beer on tap was a nice way to spend the night. Free coffee and tea are a nice addition. I stayed in the shared room, there are 8 beds and the beds are very spacious and comfortable. There's coin laundry as well. There are some small onsens just walking distance from the hostel, I tried one of them and it was really good. The big ones are about 15-30minutes walk. There are a few restaurants nearby, including 7-11 and Lawson. I didn't try dinner at the hostel as I'm not a big fan of fish, but it's a nice setup and good way to chat with other people, it would be nice to have something other than fish though. The internet was very good. ||Only one dislike, there is only one male toilet and one female toilet, and the shower area is mixed (4 showers). It wasn't a problem when I was there as there were not so many people but I wonder how it is if the...