Hakone Yumoto hotel
7/10 Very good - Based on 302 reviews
Hakone Yumoto Hotel sits amid wooded hills in Hakone and blends renovated modern comfort with traditional Japanese details. The property reopened after renovation in 2018 and features a garden-centered terrace, mountain-facing balconies and an orange shuttle that connects the hotel with the nearby station. Rooms range from compact standard units to larger premium suites with views over the hills. This ryokan with onsen in Hakone, Kanagawa provides easy access to Hakone’s trails and museums.
Guest accommodation mixes Japanese-style tatami rooms and Western twin or hybrid layouts; room sizes span roughly 12–44 m² and many include balconies, refrigerators and modern bath facilities. In-room amenities include Wi‑Fi, air purifiers and washlet toilets, and the hotel can host families with multi‑bed configurations. The on-site restaurant presents regional and European dishes—local seafood and mountain produce alongside house-baked bread, casual Neapolitan-style pizza and soba—while a buffet breakfast is served each morning. Free parking and multilingual staff support practical needs for day trips around Hakone.
The bathing facilities draw directly from Yumoto Hot Spring and comprise gender-separated indoor baths plus open-air baths identified on the property as Ajisai no Yu and Kajika no Yu; the hotel describes the water as rich in metasilicic acid and traditionally valued for skin care. The indoor bath is generally available daily while open-air options and public bathing times may vary, so guests are advised to check availability on arrival. With shuttle access and proximity to the historic stone-paved Kyukaido route, the hotel serves as a practical base for exploring Hakone’s museums, walking routes and onsen-town atmosphere.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Hakone Yumoto hotel
Positive Reviews
Excellent onsen and bathing facilities
Many guests praise the hot-spring baths (indoor and outdoor), describing them as spacious, welcoming and a highlight of the stay. Reviewers mention well-equipped sulfur baths and an enjoyable onsen experience.
Friendly, attentive staff
Staff are frequently described as kind, helpful and attentive — assisting with late arrivals, providing yukata and being welcoming throughout the stay.
Good breakfast and varied dining options
Multiple guests appreciated the buffet breakfast (wide Japanese and Western selection) and found dinner buffets varied and generally tasty; several reviews mention complimentary drinks or afternoon open-bar offerings.
Authentic Japanese atmosphere and comfortable rooms
Reviewers liked the traditional Japanese-style rooms (tatami, futons), the relaxed, authentic ambience and comfortable, often large rooms with pleasant views.
Useful facilities and transport connections
Guests noted additional facilities (snacks, table tennis, karaoke) and practical transport options — shuttle/bus connections and walkable routes from the station (though uphill) which made access manageable for many.
Negative Reviews
Property is dated and needs maintenance
Numerous reviews point out that the hotel is somewhat run-down and would benefit from renovations or touch-ups (worn mattresses, older bathrooms, general need for TLC).
Cleanliness and hygiene concerns
Several guests reported cleanliness problems including mold, damp smells, dust, visible hairs or insects (dead cockroach, spiders) and unclean balconies or shower areas, sometimes causing strong negative reactions.
Location and accessibility issues
The hotel sits away from the main station area on steep, narrow roads; many reviewers found it far from Hakone Yumoto’s shops and restaurants and recommended planning transport in advance.
Dinner price and inconsistent food quality
Some guests felt the dinner buffet was expensive and at times poor quality (hot dishes served cold, crowded service). A few mentioned disappointment with buffet format versus expectations.
Lack or inconsistency of room amenities and services
Reports mention missing or not-automatically-provided items (towels, robes, toiletries), no international TV channels or in-room coffee/tea, occasional closures of outdoor onsen, and inconsistent housekeeping (e.g., no mid-stay cleaning).
Frequently Asked Questions
Most room types list occupancy up to 5 adults; family-style Japanese rooms with multiple futons can accommodate larger groups—check room description when booking.
Yes; the property advertises gender-separated public baths and an open-air bath using Yumoto hot spring water for guests.
Yes; the local Orange bus/shuttle serves the hotel and the trip from Hakone-Yumoto Station takes around 10 minutes; the front desk can help arrange pick-up on request.
From Tokyo you can take the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto or travel by shinkansen to Odawara and transfer by local train or bus; from major airports use train or airport transfer services to reach central Tokyo or Odawara, then proceed to Hakone-Yumoto.
The hotel states it has multilingual staff and foreign staff at reception, so basic English assistance is available though some services may be primarily in Japanese.
Check-in is listed from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM and check-out is between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM; contact the hotel in advance if you need different arrangements.
The property highlights public baths but does not prominently advertise private onsen rental or pet-friendly rooms; contact the hotel directly to request private-bath options or to confirm pet policies.
There are limited shops immediately around the hotel; the Hakone-Yumoto Station area within walking distance has convenience stores and more dining options.
The hotel has an on-site restaurant offering buffet breakfast and dinner with Japanese and Western choices, and staff can assist with basic dietary requests if informed in advance.
The hotel is in the Yumoto hot-spring area with access to historic stone-paved roads and is a short ride from attractions such as the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone Shrine, and lake/ropeway routes via local buses and trains.