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3 Hakone Hot Springs Perfect For a Day Trip (Including Swimsuit-OK Baths!)

3 Hakone Hot Springs Perfect For a Day Trip (Including Swimsuit-OK Baths!)

Last updated: 12 October 2023

Hakone's hot spring area is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations in the greater Tokyo area, offering a wide range of attractions to visitors. If you're planning to experience a Japanese furo (bath), there are plenty of options available. However, with so many choices, it can be challenging to decide where to start.

In this guide, we will share three hot spring areas to help you plan your trip to Hakone more easily. Even if you're hesitant about nude public bathing, you can still enjoy the legendary Hakone hot springs while taking in the breathtaking views of Japan's natural beauty.

 
Table of Contents
  1. 1. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Hot Spring Amusement Park: A wide variety of baths (and swimsuits are OK!)
  2. 2. Hakone Yuryo: Private open-air hot springs baths
  3. 3. Ryuguden: Hakone Onsen Bathing With a Breathtaking View of Mount Fuji

1. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Hot Spring Amusement Park: A wide variety of baths (and swimsuits are OK!)

For those who are self-conscious about being nude in public, Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is a fitting alternative. In addition to twenty kinds of hot springs, spas and open-air baths, the site also features an area in which bathing suits are allowed.

Yunessun is the only hot spring in Hakone that allows swimsuits!
Yunessun is the only hot spring in Hakone that allows swimsuits!

Popular among overseas visitors are the “Wine Bath,” “Coffee Bath,” “Doctor Fish Footbath,” “Rodeo Mountain,” and “Outdoor Hot Spring With Scenic View Bath.” As the names suggest, "Wine Bath" and "Real Coffee Bath" use real wine and coffee.

Wine baths relax your mind and body with the scent of rich wine and are good for the skin. For families traveling together, children are also allowed in the wine bath.

Pleasantly scented “Wine Bath”
Pleasantly scented “Wine Bath”

In "Doctor Fish Footbath", small fish gently nibble at your feet for a pleasant tickling sensation. Sessions cost 300 yen but business hours vary, so check in advance.

The mysterious feeling of “Doctor Fish Footbath”
The mysterious feeling of “Doctor Fish Footbath”

Rodeo Mountain is a popular water slide with hot water rapids. Guests over 110cm can ride all three slides and conquer the mountain.

Powerful Rodeo Mountain
Powerful Rodeo Mountain

At 40 meters in length, the Outdoor Hot Spring With Scenic View Bath offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Hakone’s rich natural beauty. It’s highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy an authentic hot spring, and the whole experience is great for washing away fatigue.

Taking in Hakone’s Beauty from the Outdoor Hot Spring With Scenic View Bath
Taking in Hakone’s Beauty from the Outdoor Hot Spring With Scenic View Bath

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun has swimwear rentals and guests with tattoos can enter if their tattoos are covered, making it a foreigner-friendly facility.

2. Hakone Yuryo: Private open-air hot springs baths

Hakone Yuryo is a stunning onsen that offers an authentic Japanese-style bathing experience. It's an ideal place to enjoy the finest bathing experience that Hakone has to offer. The facility boasts 19 private outdoor baths, which are surrounded by lush forests, making it the largest of its kind in the area. You can relax, unwind, and spend quality time with your family or friends without worrying about prying eyes.

You can reserve private single-room open-air baths up to a month in advance, but if there are open spots available on the day of your visit, you can book them then. Hakone Yuryo is a great place to rest your mind and body and give yourself a well-deserved break.

Private open-air baths
Private open-air baths

In addition to forming a beautiful memory of your travels in Japan, these relaxing Hakone onsen baths are also a great place to plan the next leg of your trip. Hakone Yuryo has three room sizes, so you’re sure to find one that fits the size of your group.

All room types are peaceful and modern, and you won’t want to leave!

After the hot spring, take a break in the private room
After the hot spring, take a break in the private room

In addition to the private single-room open-air baths, there’s also a large public bath called Hondon Yurakun Oyu. Loyly is a traditional Finnish sauna bathing method in which steam is generated by pouring aromatic water over the sauna stones.

Loyly Master
Loyly Master

In a loyly sauna, guests are fanned with a large fan by a master. The hot steam causes sweating, which is believed to improve metabolism. This experience is popular among sauna enthusiasts and those seeking health and beauty benefits.

The steam is produced by water that includes a variety of aromas, such as grapefruit, mint, lime, chamomile, wine, peach, lavender, eucalyptus, and bergamot. The aromas change depending on the season and time, so you can enjoy different scents whenever you visit.

Loyly is also suitable for people who don't usually enjoy saunas. It's not too taxing on the body, as the temperature is only 80 degrees Celsius, and the humidity levels are lower.

A relaxing massage
A relaxing massage

After the sauna, head to the “Hogushi an Yururuka” relaxation facility. A wealth of services that combine reflexology, lymphatic treatments, and stretching with unique techniques ensure that you’ll find a treatment that suits your individual needs.

If you’re short on time but still want to relax a bit, the “Hogushi Shozaraku” area is great for a 10- to 30-minute foot or face massage.

  • Hakone Yuryo
    箱根湯寮
    • Address 4, Tonosawa, Ashigarashimo Gun Hakone Machi, Kanagawa Ken, 250-0315, Japan
    • Nearest Station Directions:
      3 minutes from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone Yumoto Station via free shuttle bus
      10 minutes by car from Odawara-Atsugi Road Hakoneguchi IC
      45 minutes from Tomei Expressway Gotemba IC
      Free parking available (92 spaces)
    • Phone Number 0460-85-8411
    • ・Hours: Weekdays 10 AM - 9 PM (last entry at 8 PM); Sat. & holidays 10 AM - 10 PM (final entry at 9 PM)
      ・Fees: Public bath - Adults (junior high school students and older) 1,600 yen, Children (elementary school and students younger) 900 yen. Private baths - 2 people, 18 sq. meters: Weekdays 9,400 yen (30-minute extension 2,350 yen), Weekends and holidays 10,400 yen (30 minutes extension 2,600 yen); 4 people, 24 sq. meters: Weekdays 11,400 yen (30-minute extension 2,850 yen), Weekends and holidays 12,400 yen (30 minutes extension 3,100 yen); 4 people, 32 sq. meters: Weekdays 13,400 yen (30-minute extension 3,350 yen), Weekends and holidays 14,400 yen (30 minutes extension 3,600 yen). All prices include tax, and usage time is 120 minutes for all rooms.

3. Ryuguden: Hakone Onsen Bathing With a Breathtaking View of Mount Fuji

Lastly, you can enjoy a striking view of Mount Fuji from the shores of Lake Ashi while relaxing at the Ryuguden Main Building. Originally built nearly 80 years ago and renovated in 2017, this impressive hotel resembles the Byodo-in temple in Uji, Kyoto, and is also registered as a Japanese cultural property.

Ryuguden Main Building seen from Lake Ashi
Ryuguden Main Building seen from Lake Ashi

Ryuguden’s best feature is the view of the Hakone rim, Lake Ashi, and Mt. Fuji, visible from all the baths. The facility is popular with both local and overseas tourists.

Mt. Fuji seen from the men’s indoor bath
Mt. Fuji seen from the men’s indoor bath

The men’s indoor bath affords visitors a simultaneous view of Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji. At the same time, a similar vista can be appreciated from the women’s outdoor bath, along with the refreshing breeze!

Mt. Fuji seen from the women’s outdoor bath
Mt. Fuji seen from the women’s outdoor bath

On days with clear weather, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mt. Fuji and the reflection of the sky and clouds in Lake Ashi. Even on days with less than perfect weather, when Mt. Fuji is not visible, you can still appreciate the splendor of the lake.

Lake Ashi seen from the women’s outdoor bath
Lake Ashi seen from the women’s outdoor bath

Ryuguden's hot springs feature minerals including calcium, sulfates, and sodium chloride and reportedly provide relief for nerve, muscle, and joint pain, so they provide excellent relief for tired bodies after a busy day of sightseeing.

In addition to relaxing hot springs, Ryuguden's Fuji restaurant will be sure to satisfy your appetite for exquisite Japanese cuisine. The most popular item on the lunch menu is the Hakone Hime no Mizu Steamed Tofu, made with Hakone’s famous Hakone hime no mizu (Hakone Princess’s water). The water comes from a spring that a princess of the Hojo Clan is said to have bathed in the morning and evening for its beautifying effect.

Hakone Hime no Mizu Steamed Tofu Lunch 2,390 yen (tax included) *not available as of October 2023
Hakone Hime no Mizu Steamed Tofu Lunch 2,390 yen (tax included) *not available as of October 2023

The dish is also available in combination with a bath plan for 5,100 yen (tax included), so if you decide to stay for lunch after a bath, you can make a reservation at the front desk.

  • Ryuguden
    • Address Motohakone 139, Hakone, Kanagawa, 250-0522
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Sounzan Station (Hakone Tozan Cable Car)

    Vacancy search, reservation

    Check with our partner site as the latest rates, rate details, and guest room requirements may vary.

Each of these hot springs offers unique features, so if you’re wondering where to go in Hakone, give one of them a try!

(This article was originally published in August 2019; prices were updated in October 2023. Plan contents may have changed. For the most updated information, please refer to facility websites directly.)

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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