YuYu Onsen Hotel — Hotel in Hakone

A Must-Have Experience for Any Tourist in Japan

Staying at YuYu Hakone offers a modern twist on the centuries-old tradition of Japanese ryokan inns. It combines the charm of classical tatami rooms and futons with modern touches and stylish amenities. The room even includes a lovely private balcony.

Pros:

Private Onsen Experience: Each room includes access to a private hot spring bath for 50 minutes. Book in advance! Perfect for couples who want a relaxing soak in total privacy.

Spacious and Spotless Rooms: Traditional Japanese interior with a clean, cozy feel. Great blend of authenticity and comfort.

Peaceful Location: Surrounded by nature, with no visible neighbors. A true retreat.

Exceptional Staff: Warm, welcoming, and always ready to help.

Cons (if you can even call them that):

Remote Location: You’ll need a rental car, as there are no convenience stores or restaurants within walking distance. That said, parking is ample and free.

Small Public Onsen: There’s just one shower area and a small hot tub. It would be great if they added a chair or space to change out of your yukata.

Restaurant Feels Underused: The in-house restaurant isn’t busy, but it does serve a full range of classic Japanese dishes.

Final Thoughts:

Still a solid 5-star experience with no regrets. Hakone and the surrounding area are breathtaking—rent a car and explore! There’s so much to...

My lovely wife and I found this hotel last minute- the night before leaving Yokohama, immediately fell in love with the place upon arrival. Location is high up in the mountains, busy small town vibes, surrounded by trees and where thermal pockets of sulfur plumes roam free, LEGIT!!! Upon arrival we kicked off our shoes and threw on the comfortable slippers at the entry and began to be unwind. The staff were so nice, helpful, generous, and accommodating. Rooms are large and TRADITIONAL!, which is the best part of the experience that I like to see. Outdoor balcony seating, WiFi, Netflix, food, snacks, soft drinks, cocktails and BEER! are at your disposal. You can also schedule a private Onsen experience for 50 minutes, either indoor and or outdoor. We chose the outdoor slot and I got to experience a beautiful private Onsen session with my lovely wife and a cold beer at hand. This hotel gives an experience that is totally different and that is also family friendly. If you were looking for something more private as far as a personal shower and private Onsen in your own room then odds are you are not gunna like it here. But what makes this place so special is how affordable and family oriented this hotel is. I would consider staying here again in the future and recommend others to...

We stayed at the Yuyu Onsen Hotel for two nights and liked the stay overall. But besides the great opportunity to visit a private onsen (we were even able to do this twice), there were also a few disadvantages:

Although the “J” bus line with the bus stop is right in front of the hotel the hotel, the bus is NOT included in the HAKONE FREE PASS. If, like us, you have bought a Hakone Free Pass and not want to pay for the whole way from Odawara/Hakone-Yumoto, then it's best to take the “T” bus to Togendai and walk over to Kojiri, where it is only a few stops to the hotel and you will pay considerably less. Unfortunately the J-bus line is often late.

As already described in the other reviews, there are only limited dining options, so we always ate out or brought snacks from the 7-Eleven.

We had a room with two futon beds and a balcony - the balcony was very nice, the futon beds were adequate. Fortunately, our room had its own toilet and washbasin, but there is no separate shower, instead there is a shower room for women and a shower room for men in the basement.

Overall, you can tell that the hotel is getting a bit long in the tooth and we would only recommend it because of the J-bus line and the remoteness if you really want a private onsen...