Cho-ju Yu Hakone Sou — Local services in Hakone

My wife and I and two of our grandchildren (ages 11 and 13) stayed at this wonderful ryokan in mid-March of this year. It was exactly what we had wanted to experience - a quiet, rustic, ryokan, away from the hustle and bustle of busy cities. We loved our quaint room and we loved using the outdoor onsen! We had gotten lost walking there from the Togendai Station, and it was dark, rainy, snowy. When we arrived at the ryokan, the owner checked us in and recognized that we were hungry (it was almost 8pm), and let us know that their little 'tuck' shop had instant noodles and snacks available. He showed us around, explained how to use the indoor and the outdoor onsens, and was very kind. We had an incredible stay at this lovely ryokan. On the day that we were leaving, we didn't feel like walking back to Togendai Station in the snow and we asked the owner to arrange for a taxi for us. He tried three different taxi companies but none of them wanted to come pick us up there, so the owner drove us to the station in his work van! When we got there he refused to take any payment for the ride. Such a very kind person. We loved everything about this ryokan and would highly...

Nestled in a peaceful corner of Mt. Hakone, yet conveniently connected by bus, only a 5-10 mins walk. This charming little hotel offered an unforgettable immersion into Japanese culture, complete with tatami-matted floor, soft futon bedding and soothing onsen. With it's effortless check in and out, it's perfect for travelers seeking tranquility and authenticity without sacrificing to much convenience.Pros: If you plan to visit the Hakone pirate ship and the Hakone ropeway at Togendai, it will give you an early start because it's only 11 minutes by bus. Con: To get to the hotel you will need to go up a little hill, not too hard, but if you have a lot of luggage it could be a bit of a challenge (But it's an easy walk back to the bus stop)Be mindful of the bus time getting to the hotel as the bus tends to end around 5:00 p.m. Also, there aren't any places to eat near the hotel, so you may need to take food with you, order breakfast with the hotel or buy some snacks and instant noodles from...

A lovely elderly couple is running this older but very well maintained, very clean and cozy place. They prepared note cards, all in English for best of communication. It worked perfectly. This location is great for us who prefer quieter areas away from crowded areas, and the nearest bus stop is Ubako Onsen Iriguchi. The Ryokan style room was pretty spacious for 2 people with a little balcony and seating to have dinner. We used 2 layers of mattresses so it was still pretty comfortable. Bath facilities were shared but you book the time slot that you want for the outdoor bath so it’s actually for your private use during that booked slot. The indoor bath on the lower floor can be used whenever available as you wish but we never had to use it. We definitely enjoyed our daily morning and night hot onsen baths during our 3 night stay. You do need to plan your dinner meals as restaurants tend to close early in Hakone, or you can buy convenience food back to be heated up in the...