Hot Water Play Place Hakone no Yu — Local services in Hakone

We had a discounted ticket from our stay at Guesthouse Azito&bar which brought the price down to 500 Yen (from 1000 Yen) per person. The onsen is open from 10am to 10pm.

It was definitely worth even full price but the discount was a plus! It was a very relaxing experience - the onsen is separated into male and female sections and it is a traditional one (you can only go in with a small towel which you can rent there or bring your own).

When you first arrive, you're asked to take your shoes off and put them in a locker with a key. You then give that locker key to reception and they give you a key for a locker in the onsen changing room to keep your belongings.

Once you've done this, you'll go through the curtain for male or female and get changed in the changing room and putting your clothes and belongings in the locker.

The onsen itself has an inside section (one pool and several sit down showers) and several pools outside. Sit down and shower first (take your time!)and rinse everything once done. You can then go and try all the pools - there is a individual jacuzzi pool, a bigger pool and one with a small waterfall which is very massaging!

Once you're done, dry yourself with the small towel you took in (make sure you don't get it wet before hand or put it in the onsen water!), go to your locker, change and go back to reception to get your key to your shoe locker!

There is also a restaurant which is open until 18:30 but we didn't manage to go as it was closed.

Would highly recommend this onsen as it was great quality for the price and was very close...

Rude and judgemental owners, avoid at all costs!

I usually don’t post bad reviews as I tend to look at things from positive point of view, but I am posting this as a word of caution for those wanting to visit this place.

Came to this onsen with my mother, and after finish using the facility, my mother exit the onsen first and waited for me in the resting area. The old lady at the counter mistook my mother for a stranger who has not paid for their entry and began loudly shouting to everyone in the facility in Japanese that my mother “has not paid and wants to use the onsen for free”.

What’s even worse is that the we have literally just paid 30 minutes ago and the other shop owners at the counters pretend to not recognise us. I had to come out of the onsen to see what the commotion is about and tell them in Japanese that she is my mother and we have already paid! No apology whatsoever.

Save yourself a headache and avoid...

Very affordable. Staff were great and used translator app to communicate with us in English. All purchases via vending machine which they also help with if you can’t figure out for yourself. Lockers are free. I attended the men’s onsen. Plenty of space in two large outdoor baths. The third bath is like a relaxation bath with bubbles to give soft massage feeling. I didn’t try out the indoor bath as I enjoyed outdoors as a preference. Outdoor section is lovely to have a section uncovered by roof where rain could hit my face but felt so warmed by the onsen water.

Afterwards I was invited to use the free sitting area where we could purchase items from the vending machine. I was able to buy beers tickets from vending machine which was then poured fresh by staff. Lovely way to end our time relaxing that afternoon.

Byo towel to save hiring if u desire. I thought 1100 yen was very reasonable...