Best Places to Stay in Hakone
Famous for its hot springs and natural beauty, Hakone offers visitors some of Japan’s best ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses) and high-end hotels – and all within easy reach of Tokyo. On this page you will find the following information:
— Best Places to Stay in Hakone
— 20 Things to Do Around Hakone
— Book With Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator
Located within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the area broadly referred to as Hakone is known for its hot springs, traditional guesthouses, museums, autumn colours and outstanding views of Mount Fuji. Positioned between the mountain and Tokyo, Hakone is a popular destination throughout the year for both Japanese and international visitors, many of whom choose to stay at least one night to enjoy one of the area’s many hotels and ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses).
This page is intended to be read in conjunction with our ’15 Things to Do Around Hakone’ page. We hope that both pages inspire you to visit Hakone and are of assistance in finding the right accommodation for you.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN HAKONE
Hakone is one of Japan’s most famous ‘onsen’ (hot spring) areas. Spread over a large area, when booking your accommodation in Hakone it’s important to do your research and choose a hotel or guesthouse in a location that suits your needs. In this section we provide information on accommodation in the following areas:
HAKONE-YUMOTO STATION AREA – HAKONE: GORA STATION AREA – HAKONE: ASHINOKO (ASHI LAKE) AREA – HAKONE: SENGOKUHARA AREA – GOTEMBA STATION AREA – ENOSHIMA AREA — KAMAKURA: KAMAKURA STATION AREA — KAMAKURA: HASE STATION AREA
Most international visitors will travel to and from Hakone by train, making the area around Hakone-Yumoto Station a convenient and popular choice with a good range of accommodation options. Outside the central town, Gora is another popular accommodation area accessible by car or using the Hakone Tozan Railway. There are some excellent hotels and guesthouses in this area however being further away from Hakone-Yumoto Station, dining options are limited at night. Visitors intending to stay in and around Gora should prebook dinner at a nearby restaurant or eat at their hotel. Nearby Sengokuhara also has a good range of hotels and restaurants however is harder to reach using public transport while the hotels of Ashinoko are distant from the main accommodation and dining areas; while Gotemba, Enoshima and Kamakura are all within easy reach of Hakone, which can be enjoyed as a day-visit from any of those locations. Let’s start with the most convenient option:
HAKONE-YUMOTO STATION AREA
Easily accessible from Tokyo, Hakone-Yumoto Station is the gateway to Hakone and boasts a large range of accommodation and dining options along the main road and following the Sukumo and Haya Rivers. As such, it is an excellent base from where to explore the area with train services running from the station to Odawara and onto Tokyo, and the always popular Hakone Tozan Railway ascending to Gora Station above. Staying in the area is a good option for international visitors wanting easy access to the station and the main shopping and dining street of Hakone. There are numerous hotels and ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses) in the area, catering to all tastes and budgets. A short distance from the station, Tonosawa is a riverside area following the Haya River with multiple large hotels and traditional guesthouses offering a sense of seclusion away from the main area of town. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Hakone Onsen: Hakone-Yumoto Station Area’ hotel page.
HAKONE: GORA STATION AREA
The Hakone Tozan Railway runs from Hakone-Yumoto Station to Gora Station, around which you’ll find excellent accommodation ranging from international hotels such as the Hyatt to small, traditional guesthouses. Prices can be high however there are also good mid-range and budget options in the area. Gora is a forested and mountainous area with attractions including multiple museums and galleries, restaurants and the Hakone Ropeway, which descends from Gora Station to Ashinoko via Owakudani. Reaching the area requires visitors to take the Hakone Tozan Railway or local buses from the main area around Hakone-Yumoto Station however most travellers will venture to the area at some point given the array of attractions there making it an attractive place to stay. If you do so, consider booking your accommodation with meals included as restaurants around Gora often close early, limiting dinner options nearby. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Hakone Onsen: Gora Station Area’ hotel page.
HAKONE: ASHINOKO (ASHI LAKE) AREA
One of the most popular attractions in Hakone, Ashinoko or ‘Ashi Lake’ can be reached using the Hakone Ropeway from Gora Station or local buses. The lake itself is large and accommodation options are mostly limited to the eastern shore with most located nearby the ropeway station – the area from where boat cruises on the lake operate – or further to the south around the lower ropeway station for the Hakone-Komagatake Ropeway. On a clear day, visitors can enjoy some spectacular views of Mount Fuji to the west however it is worth noting that this is entirely reliant on the weather and on overcast days, you will not be able to see the mountain. When booking accommodation in this area, make sure to check the access information for your chosen hotel or guesthouse to make sure it suits your travel plans. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Hakone Onsen: Ashinoko (Ashi Lake) Area’ hotel page.
HAKONE: SENGOKUHARA AREA
Located to the north of Hakone-Yumoto Station and Gora Station, the Sengokuhara area of Hakone offers a large range of accommodation including luxury hotels, restaurants and vacation homes. This is the highest accommodation area in Hakone. More spread-out than other areas, Sengokuhara is a popular holiday area for Tokyoites. The area includes several golf courses, museum and galleries while the hot springs in this area are renowned for leaving your skin feeling smooth and refreshed. There is no train station in this area meaning that it’s most convenient for travellers with their own car otherwise you will need to use local buses or taxis to get around. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Hakone Onsen: Sengokuhara Area’ hotel page.
GOTEMBA STATION AREA
Moving away from Hakone, Gotemba is a city lying to the south-east of Mount Fuji. Known for its views of the mountain and shopping, including the popular Gotemba Premium Outlets, staying in Gotemba is best-suited to visitors driving themselves and wanting to combine visits to Hakone and the Mount Fuji area. Local buses also connect Hakone and Gotemba. The drive from Gotemba Station to Gora Station – from where the Hakone Ropeway operates – takes around 35 to 40-minutes. To be clear, staying in Gotemba will best-suit visitors driving themselves otherwise staying in one of the areas above will be the better option. For accommodation listings in the area, see our ‘Gotemba Station Area’ hotel page.
ENOSHIMA AREA
Further away from Hakone, Enoshima is a coastal area to the east – between 80 to 90 minutes by train from Hakone – affording visitors the option of staying at hotel beaches including the island of Enoshima. A popular destination with Japanese looking for a beach holidays within easy reach of Tokyo and Yokohama, there’s plenty of accommodation in the area ranging from mid-range to budget hotels along with self-contained options and basic guesthouses. Staying in Enoshima is best-suited to travellers wanting to visit Hakone as a day-trip. For more information including accommodation listings, see our ‘Enoshima Area’ hotel page.
KAMAKURA STATION AREA
Kamakura is one of Japan’s most historic and popular destinations, located between 80 to 90 minutes to the east of Hakone – allowing visitors to stay in one area and visit the other as a day-trip. The area immediately around Kamakura Station offers a variety of accommodation including small hotels, guesthouses and hostels. Prices are typically reasonable and staying in this area allows you walk to Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine and (for more energetic visitors) temples including Kencho-ji, Meigetsu-in, Engaku-ji, Hokoku-ji and Jomyo-ji.
To the south of Kamakura Station, the area around Yuigama and Zaikmokuza beaches offer a lot of accommodation given their popularity with Japanese as a summer destination. As such, most accommodation in the area caters to the domestic market ranging from large hotels to budget lodgings and is not that convenient if your primary interest is visiting the temples and shrines. For more information including accommodation listings, see our ‘Kamakura Station Area’ hotel page.
HASE STATION AREA
Hase Station is only 4 minutes by train from Kamakura Station and is another convenient area to stay for travellers wanting to visit the temples and shrines of Kamakura while visiting Hakone as a day-visit. Much like the area around Kamakura Station, in this area you’ll find a range of accommodation options ranging from high-end ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses), mid-range hotels and budget lodgings. To the southeast of Hase Station, the area around Yuigama and Zaikmokuza beaches offer a lot of accommodation given their popularity with Japanese as a summer destination. As such, most accommodation in the area caters to the domestic market ranging from large hotels to basic / budget lodgings. While all of these should be comfortable enough for international visitors, they aren’t the most convenient for accessing the temples and shrines as their location is determined by proximity to the beaches. Nevertheless, should you wish to stay in the area, you can find some decent options especially outside of summer when prices should be notably lower. For more information including accommodation listings, see our ‘Hase Station Area’ hotel page.
20 THINGS TO DO AROUND HAKONE
Hakone is one of Japan’s most famous and popular ‘onsen’ (natural hot spring) towns. Home to a huge range of accommodation, great restaurants, museum, galleries and outdoor attractions, Hakone is within easy reach of the capital and offers visitors some of the best views of Mount Fuji to the west. Our ’20 Things To Do Around Hakone & Where To Stay’ page has lots of great tips and suggestions of what’s on offer on including the best areas to stay when there.
HOW TO GET TO HAKONE
Hakone-Yumoto Station is the gateway to the Hakone area and readily accessible using trains services from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond. For information on how to get there, see our ‘How To Get To Hakone’ page.
BOOK WITH US! NAGANO’S NO.1 TOUR & CHARTER OPERATOR
Central Japan offers many, many reasons to visit. Operating all year round, we are Nagano’s No.1-rated tour and charter operator, offering a range of services including group tours, private tours and charters. We can arrange travel packages including accommodation and transport – with a private vehicle and driver – in Hakone and Central Japan.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule. All vehicles are fitted with a protective screen – separating the driver from passenger and luggage area – and our drivers wear protective masks, allowing you to move between your destinations in comfort and safety.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Central Japan and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Nagano.
Got a question about visiting Central Japan? Contact us and let’s get planning together!
