What other travelers are saying about Hakone Yuryo, Kanagawa
PROS
➕ Large onsen with nature view
➕ Other amenities
➕ Affordable
CONS
➖ None
Date visited: 05/06/2024
We arrived at the Hakone Yuryo bathhouse on foot. There were buses running from the train station, but it was already late.
According to the staff, we had about an hour to bathe, so we got right to it. For a low price, we were handed a locker key and directed to the men’s section.
On the way, I noticed the facility had plenty to offer—souvenirs, snacks, a garden, and a rest area complete with shelves of manga, just to name a few. There were even private baths, which I was glad I hadn’t reserved. It was already dark outside, so I didn’t linger too long. We headed straight to the onsen.
After stripping and placing our belongings in a locker, we met a local who explained all the onsen etiquette we needed to know—in fluent English. I’m still grateful for that. I’d recommend looking up the rules before you even consider visiting one of these public bathhouses. Armed with fresh bathing knowledge, we entered the onsen hall.
There were several pools with varying temperatures—all hot and steamy, in my opinion. I washed myself at one of the two washing stations before jumping into a pool, which turned out to be the warmest one.
I say “pool,” but they were designed to resemble natural hot springs, with rocks and boulders. Fallen leaves from nearby trees floated on the surface, adding beautifully to the ambience. A low fence bordered the onsen. Beyond it was darkness, but I could imagine the view would be stunning in daylight.
I soaked for a short while, hopping between pools to find the most comfortable one. I also tried the sauna, which was still running—thankfully. By then, it was just the two of us in there, but I wasn’t about to complain. We spent about half an hour bathing, just as I felt a headache starting to kick in.
A variety of vending machines were installed in the locker room, offering snacks and bathing necessities. I bought and drank a small bottle of milk to stay in the spirit of things.
We left just as quickly as we arrived. The process was swift and effortless. We returned the key and thanked the staff for their work, then left—but not before picking up some hotspring–boiled eggs.
Overall, I highly recommend this bathhouse and any bathhouses if you’re in Hakone. While private services are available, nothing beats bathing butt-naked with strangers in a public pool.
The clothed bathing areas allow guests to wear the provided yukata robes while soaking in outdoor pools, making it a social experience where mixed-gender groups can bathe together. The nude bathing sections are gender-separated traditional onsen areas where proper bathing etiquette requires washing before entering the pools. Both areas use the same natural hot spring water but offer distinctly different cultural experiences.
Yes, Hakone Yuryo operates free-access foot baths that do not require facility admission. These are located near the entrance and allow passersby or those on tight schedules to experience the hot spring water briefly without committing to a full bathing session.
While all pools use natural alkaline hot spring water from the same source, temperatures vary significantly across the 19 different baths, ranging from lukewarm to very hot. Some pools are positioned to receive more fresh spring water flow, while others may have slight mineral concentration differences based on their placement and design. The diversity allows guests to find their preferred temperature and bathing intensity.
Food cannot be consumed in the actual bathing pools, but Hakone Yuryo has designated rest areas and terraces where guests can order meals and refreshments while wearing their yukata between bathing sessions. This follows the traditional onsen custom of alternating between soaking and resting with food or drink.
The open-air baths remain fully operational during rain, and many visitors consider bathing in light rain an authentic Japanese onsen experience. The facility's design includes covered walkways and sheltered pools, though some exposure to weather is part of the outdoor bathing concept. Heavy rain or severe weather may affect certain pools, but indoor bathing and relaxation areas remain available.
Great experience! Always wanted to try a private onsen instead of a public one. This one was easy to access from tokyo 💕 I would recommend going to Hakone early in the morning to make the most of it though. We arrived on time for the onsen, and left right after as it became dark at 4pm.. everything was nice! ✨
Tldr: Great experience, go here if you have the time to do so in Hakone.
Me and my wife arrived in Hakone before lunchtime on a Sunday, the weather was overcast with a light drizzle and our check-in time at the hotel was in the afternoon so we decided to try this onsen on a whim.
From the station its a small walk, past a very cute shrine with statues of Buddha.
The facility is quite big and blends a modern and traditional aesthetic. There is an option to rent private spaces to bath but that has to be done in advance. Me and my wife took the option of the public bath (gender separated), the staff speaks excellent English and are very helpful.
You can buy towels and yukata for a small fee if it is needed.
The fee for the public bath is 2000 yen per person, towels cost a few hundred yen each to buy.
You can stay for the entire day if you like to as there is no timeslots as such. We found that 2 hours in the baths were a perfect time for us.
The baths consist of four types of pools.
A jacuzzi style pool right after the shower space, a big hot water pool in the central area, a smaller hot water pool on a balcony of sorts overlooking the nature. Finally there are two "bathtub style" pools with a bit lower temperature that only fits one person at a time.
There is also a sauna with a small cold water source (to rinse off with scoops of cold water) in the area.
Outside of the baths the facilities include massage rooms, resting spaces, a reading room and a restaurant.
We only tried the latter but can highly recommend it, the food was excellent and the price fair.
All in all you can easily spend the entire day at Hakone Yuryo, or just a short stop to get your energy back before continuing your Hakone adventure. An excellent choice for your onsen experience.
This was my first Time in an onsen, the front desk was very friendly and helpful, they guided me well with all the do's and don'td. It's a very friendly place, hygiene is well maintained. It has both indoor and out pools, with a cold onsen as well as a sauna.
It is a perfect onsen for a first timer. Initially sceptical I enjoyed a lot and stayed there for 3 hours, it's fantastic, will surely visit next time I am in Hakone.
1 indoor & 4 outdoor terraced baths looking out to trees, 1 cold plunge pool and a large sauna. Clean, modern facilities, great setting.
Went on a Fri evening 6pm, they close at 8pm. Not crowded at all (average 1-4 pax per pool) as it was dinner time.
