Oku Yugawara Tsubaki
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Oku Yugawara Tsubaki sits in a wooded part of Yugawara, Kanagawa, presenting traditional ryokan accommodation with tatami floors, futon bedding and rooms that open onto garden or mountain views. The property pairs classic Japanese detailing—sliding shōji, timber finishes and a koi garden—with contemporary conveniences such as air conditioning, flat-screen TV, refrigerator and private bathrooms. Guest rooms range from compact Japanese-style futon rooms to larger tatami suites with balconies; the atmosphere is calm and inward-focused, for restorative stays. This ryokan with onsen in Kanagawa offers an authentic bathing rhythm.
Its thermal facilities include indoor public baths and an open-air hot spring, plus a sauna and relaxation lounge where guests can book massages; bathing areas overlook planted gardens. On-site amenities also include a bar and a lounge, Wi‑Fi and free private parking. The property maintains a non-smoking policy and limits late-night access between 00:00 and 05:00. Located in Yugawara, the ryokan is a quiet base for exploring nearby parks, waterfalls and the broader Hakone region.
Meals focus on seasonal Japanese preparations: evening multi-course dinners are served in a dining room or at-table service, and an Asian-style breakfast is available each morning, with menus that typically highlight local seafood and vegetables. Reception arranges transfers and local excursions, and staff can accommodate dietary requests with advance notice. Standard arrival is from 15:00 to 18:00 with departure between 08:00 and 12:00; guests are advised to check availability in advance for weekends and holiday periods to secure preferred room types and bathing times.
Highlights of this ryokan
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Oku Yugawara Tsubaki
Positive Reviews
Excellent cuisine
Many guests praised the meals as very tasty and memorable, mentioning both multi-course dinners and desserts (even special treats like sekihan and sakuramochi) and several reviewers highlighted that all the food was delicious.
Attentive, professional staff
Multiple reviews noted warm, helpful service from the staff and attendants (including quietly providing larger yukata sizes and attentive hospitality), which made stays comfortable and pleasant.
Relaxing onsen and bathing facilities
Guests enjoyed the hot spring experience—especially the outdoor baths and public bath views—and appreciated post-bath lounges, special touches like irises in the baths and the overall calming bathing environment.
Beautiful traditional setting and atmosphere
Reviewers valued the ryokan’s traditional character, natural surroundings and historic charm, with compliments for the building exterior, wide lobby, garden/pond views and the sense of tradition and formality.
Comfort and thoughtful extras
Many mentions of comfortable, clean rooms (when large), helpful room adjustments (table change), small extras like Haagen-Dazs after bathing, the ability to feed koi, and convenient amenities that enhanced relaxation.
Negative Reviews
Aging facilities and maintenance issues
Several guests reported signs of aging—old decor, dated carpet in corridors, older air-conditioning units and areas that felt neglected—which affected perceived cleanliness or modern comfort.
Inconsistent or declining food quality for some guests
While many loved the food, a few reviews said the meal quality had declined compared with previous stays or was poor for their booking (one guest described the dinner as disappointing, with weak flavors and cheap-looking tableware).
Room size and layout problems
Some guests found rooms or fittings cramped (very small rooms, narrow closets) and one guest described difficulty with a room door; others noted that rooms varied a lot in distance from facilities (some felt far from the large bath).
Public bath issues in some reports
Although many praised the onsen, a few reviewers found the large bath areas small, dimly lit or lacking a fresh feeling despite being cleaned, reducing the sense of cleanliness and spaciousness.
Minor convenience and comfort shortcomings
A small number of guests mentioned missing bedside reading lamps, cold dining rooms, the gift shop being hard to shop in, and some outdoor or property areas feeling neglected or overly large/confusing to navigate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Room capacity varies by type: a standard Japanese room takes up to 3 guests (3 futons) and some superior rooms can sleep up to 5; check the specific room description when booking.
Yes. The property offers public indoor and outdoor hot spring baths and a sauna; rooms include private bathrooms and some have en-suite bathtubs.
No regular hotel shuttle is listed; guests normally arrive by taxi or local bus from Atami or Yugawara stations, and the ryokan can be contacted to arrange a pick-up if needed.
Haneda is the most convenient major airport; take trains toward Atami or Yugawara and then a taxi or local bus for the final roughly 20‑minute transfer to the ryokan.
English is commonly used for reservations and guest services but proficiency can vary; inform the ryokan in advance for special requests or detailed assistance.
A traditional Japanese ryokan stay with tatami rooms, seasonal Japanese meals, a quiet garden setting and communal onsen bathing for an authentic local experience.
The ryokan provides convenient access to the Hakone area (Hakone‑Yumoto, Hakone Shrine, Hakone Checkpoint) and local Yugawara sights such as art museums and Manyo Park.
From either station you can take a local bus or a taxi; the taxi ride is roughly 20 minutes and bus services run between the stations and the Oku Yugawara area.
Standard check-in is 15:00–18:00 and check-out 08:00–12:00, and the property enforces a curfew with no access between 00:00 and 05:00.
The ryokan serves breakfast (Asian) and in-house Japanese dinners; pets are not allowed; some rooms have private en‑suite baths and private bathing may be arranged on request; convenience stores and supermarkets are a short drive away in Yugawara town.