Choosing where to stay in Hakone, Japan can be overwhelming. With different scenic neighborhoods spread out across mountains, lakes, and valleys, and the huge range of hotels, ryokan, and even private onsen ryokan, it’s not obvious where you should stay in Hakone as a base for your trip.
This guide breaks down the different neighborhoods of Hakone based on your interests and how you plan to travel. I’ll explain the different main areas of Hakone and why people are drawn to each, so you can choose for yourself which Hakone neighborhood is best for you!
Different areas of Hakone summary
Before choosing where to stay in Hakone, it helps to understand the lay of the land. Hakone isn’t a single town, it’s a whole area, which is why picking just one place to stay can be difficult.
Each area has its own character, pace of life, and pros and cons depending on what kind of Hakone experience you’re after.
This map below, which accompanies the Odakyu Hakone Free Pass (perfect for day-trips to Hakone), shows you where each of these Hakone neighborhoods are in relation to one another.
It’s important to note that the different areas of Hakone aren’t connected by walkable routes – you’ll need to take public transportation or drive to get around.
Hakone-Yumoto: Hakone-Yumoto is the gateway to Hakone, and it’s where most visitors from Tokyo first arrive. It’s a lively and well-connected town, with many souvenir shops, restaurants, and river-side accommodation options.
Gora: Gora is located in the Hakone mountains, and is a relaxed little village full of traditional ryokan. Gora is well-connected by the Hakone Tozan cable car and the Hakone Tozan train line, and also has many points of interest like art museums and Japanese gardens.
Moto-Hakone (south side of Lake Ashi): Moto-Hakone is a quaint lakeside town most famous for its floating torii shrine gate. It has a traditional Japanese feel with many old-style onsen ryokan and of course, beautiful lakeside views and trails.
Sengokuhara (north side of Lake Ashi): Sengokuhara is the most secluded part of Hakone, because it’s located slightly off of the Hakone Free Pass loop. It’s a forested, open area that offers a nature-retreat-type atmosphere and a quieter base for staying in Hakone.
Next, we’ll take a closer look at each Hakone area, along with some well-known and highly rated ryokan, so you can decide which Hakone neighborhood is best for you!
1. Hakone-Yumoto
Hakone-Yumoto, or Hakone Yumoto Onsen, is the main getaway town in Hakone. Travelers arrive here to the large Hakone-Yumoto train station from Tokyo and other destinations around Japan to start their Hakone Loop (it’s well connected to Odawara, a station on the shinkansen bullet train line).
As a busy tourist onsen or hot springs town, there are plenty of souvenir stores, restaurants, and cafes to explore, all within walking distance. It’s a great place to stay in Hakone if you want to mix sightseeing with a casual onsen stay.
Things to do in Hakone-Yumoto Onsen:
- Explore the main shotengai shopping and dining street
- Try local sweets and street food
- Enjoy a riverside walk
- Stop by a day-use onsen
- Take part in traditional crafts like glass bead-making
Pros:
- Logistically, it has great connections to the rest of Japan’s transport network, which is important for late night arrivals or early morning exits.
- (Relative to the other areas) Hakone-Yumoto is a lively town, good for being in the ‘heart of the action’.
Cons:
- High foot traffic from travellers arriving to and from Tokyo
- Less scenic than lakeside or mountain areas
Top-rated places to stay in Hakone-Yumoto:
Budget-friendly
- Condominum Sakura – I’ve had my eye on this place as a great location to stay in Hakone with a large group. This three-bedroom house includes an onsen on-site and can accommodate up to 12 people.
- RoheN Hakone-Yumoto – This stylish, design-forward hotel and hostel feels more like a boutique stay than a budget accommodation. With private rooms available and great common areas, it’s a convenient and comfortable base in Hakone. The more the merrier – and cheaper!
Mid-range
- Hotel Okada – A long-standing Japanese ryokan that offers both indoor and outdoor public bathing facilities. Both Japanese-style and Western-style rooms are available, and some include private onsen while others have beautiful views of the Haya river.
- Hakone Suimeisou – A recently-renovated Japanese ryokan, also located along the Haya river, that offers rooms with private onsen. Most rooms here are Japanese-style with tatami flooring. A beautiful terrace space overlooks the Haya River, and traditional kaiseki (multi-course) meals are also available on-site.
Luxury
- Bansuirou Fukuzumi – This traditional Japanese ryokan lets visitors step back in time and experience an onsen hotel that was founded in 1625! It’s a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan that features Meiji-area architecture.
- Hakone Airu – This luxury ryokan with elements inspired by the jungles of Bali is one of the most popular onsen ryokan stays that readers of this travel blog book when staying in Hakone. It has great perks like private in-room onsen, and on-site dining, bar, and spa.
2. Gora
Gora is a small Hakone village tucked away in a forested valley. It’s an unmissable stop on the famous Hakone Loop course, because it’s where the cable car meets the train line. Gora is a quieter village than Hakone-Yumoto, with fewer stores and restaurants and more onsen ryokan and scenic surroundings.
Gora is a great base for exploring Hakone, being right at the base of the Owakudani volcanic sightseeing area. It’s also a calm and relaxing area once the tourist traffic dies down in the evening.
Things to do in Gora:
- Visit the famous Hakone Open-Air Museum which can be reached on foot or by bus from the cable car station.
- Relax at an onsen ryokan – many ryokan here offer rooms with private onsen
- Visit the Hakone Museum of Art and its spacious Japanese gardens and tea house.
Pros:
- Conveniently located for the Hakone loop course
- Major Hakone museum attractions are here
- Peaceful and natural setting, in a scenic mountain area
Cons:
- Fewer dining and shopping options, especially in the evening
- Less convenient for quick transfers
- Ryokan are spread out in a hilly area (lots of walking may be required)
Top-rated places to stay in Gora:
Budget-friendly
- Onsen Guesthouse Hakone Tent – I marked this boutique guesthouse when I was backpacking in Japan because of the amazing onsen amenities available at budget-friendly prices. This guesthouse has a shared kitchen, Hakone-style onsen bath, common area, and bar available on-site.
- Sundance Resort Hakone Gora – This is a surprisingly affordable Japanese resort hotel in Gora with modest and practical rooms available for guests. With amenities like a large public onsen and restaurant on-site, it has all of your basic needs covered.
Mid-range
- Gora Kansuiro – This is a top-rated onsen ryokan in Hakone that offers villa-style rooms overlooking Japanese gardens and Hakone’s beautiful natural scenery. It’s a solid choice for accommodation to experience a classic ryokan feel in Gora without breaking the bank.
- Setsugetsuka – Setsugetsuka is a traditional Hakone ryokan that offers Japanese tatami-style rooms, public onsen facilities, and multiple reservable private onsen baths as well. It’s a great option for couples who want a relaxing, nature-filled onsen retreat experience.
Luxury
- Gora Kadan – Gora Kadan is arguably the most famous and sought-after onsen ryokan in Hakone, with a whopping three Michelin keys to its name. It’s set on the former grounds of a retreat used by the Japanese imperial family. Today it’s known for its serene atmosphere and highly polished customer service.
- Hakone Gora Karaku – close behind Gora Kadan in Hakone onsen ryokan fame is Hakone Gora Karaku, a one-Michelin key hotel. It’s often compared to Gora Kadan, but it has a more contemporary aesthetic and a more relaxed atmosphere. Both are bucket-list Hakone ryokan stays!
3. Moto-Hakone
Moto-Hakone is a small lakeside village located on the southern shore of Lake Ashi (or Ashinoko in Japanese). It’s located near the former Tokaido Road that connects Tokyo to Kyoto, making it a place to stay in Hakone that’s full of history and culture. Most travelers come to Moto-Hakone to snap a pic with the scenic Hakone Shrine and torii gate in the water (the other famous floating torii being in Miyajima, hear Hiroshima, Japan).
Moto-Hakone doesn’t have a train station. Instead, it’s connected by boats and ferries on one side and by bus to the other side of the Hakone Loop. This means the pace of life is slower, with time spent walking alongside the lake, visiting historic sites, or enjoying the views of Mt. Fuji.
Things to do in Moto-Hakone:
- Walk the nature trails around the Hakone Shrine and take a picture with the torii gate
- Take a sightseeing cruise around Lake Ashi
- Admire some of the best views of Mt. Fuji in Hakone
Pros:
- Be first in line in the morning to snap a pic with the floating torii gate!
- Amazing Mt. Fuji views (on clear days)
- Great for travelers seeking nice scenery with historical elements
Cons:
- Fewer and less convenient transportation options
- The town itself is quite small and can feel underwhelming away from the lakeside
Top-rated places to stay in Moto-Hakone:
Budget-friendly
- RoheN Ashinoko – Same as the RoheN hotel described above in Hakone-Yumoto, RoheN Ashinoko is a design-forward boutique hotel that offers both dorm room beds and budget-friendly private rooms. It focues on stylish shared spaces like a common area and bar, appealing to young travelers.
- Hakone Lake Ashi Hotel RaKuun – A simple and budget-friendly hotel that prioritises affordability and practicality over luxury experiences. It’s a great place to stay for cheap if you plan to spend most of your time sightseeing around the lake.
Mid-range
- Hananoyado Fukuya – This mid-range ryokan offers a quiet and traditional stay experience. It’s the perfect place to stay for travelers looking for a calm and low-key atmosphere, rather than elaborate or large-scale resort facilities.
- Villa Noel Hakone Fuji Sauna & Open Air Bath – Villa Noel is a private villa-style stay that’s designed around welllness. It features a private sauna and open-air bath for their guests to enjoy.
Luxury
- Private resort Lake Ashi (プライベートリゾート芦ノ湖) – This private, four-bedroom villa provides a luxurious and comfortable accommodation near Lake Ashi for up to 10 people. Standout features include a fully equipped kitchen, in-villa laundry, a projector, and a dramatic two-level onsen room, making it ideal for longer or celebratory stays.
- Hotel Shikinoyakata Hakone Ashinoko – This is a high-end, 5-star hotel near Lake Ashi that provides a luxury, resort-style stay. With spacious rooms and modern layouts, it provides all the comfort and amenities you’ll need during your stay in Hakone.
4. Sengokuhara
Sengokuhara (or sometimes called Sengokubara) is a spacious and open highland area located on the northern side of Lake Ashi. It has a different feel to other parts of Hakone because of its open landscapes and distance from the Hakone loop. Accommmodation options here tend to include larger and more spacious onsen, resort hotels, and overall quieter and retreat-like stays. There’s even a country club here for golfers.
Because Sengokuhara’s points of interest and accommodation are spread out, it’s best suited to travellers with a car, or those happy to spend most of their time at their ryokan (which many people do to enjoy an onsen experience to the fullest!)
Things to do in Sengokuhara:
- Walk through the pampas grass fields (famous in autumn)
- Enjoy onsen relaxing at your ryokan or hotel
- Visit the Hakone Botanical Gardens
Pros:
- Peaceful and spacious setting unlike the more compact onsen villages
- Less foot traffic from day-trippers to Hakone
- More villa-type accommodation, great for families and bigger groups
Cons:
- Least convenient from a public transport perspective, without direct train access.
- Not ideal for travellers without a car or who want flexibility in getting around.
Top-rated places to stay in Sengokuhara:
Budget-friendly
- Hotel Green Plaza Hakone – this is a large, resort-style hotel that features on my list of hotels with Mt. Fuji views! With many large resort facilities like buffet-style dining, a gift shop, massive public onsen, and even a marriage chapel, this hotel has it all at a great price.
- Kagetsuen – Kagetsuen is a simple and affordable Hakone hotel that offers a Japanese resort hotel atmosphere on a small scale. Rooms and facilities are modest and practical, but comes at a great price tag.
Mid-range
- Hakone Hoshi no Akari – this quaint hotel is on my list of Hakone hotels with private onsen. Most rooms here are in the traditional Japanese style, and some come with the extra perk of a private onsen on the terrace. It’s a great option if you want to experience a private onsen without paying the luxury price bracket.
- Hakone Sengokuhara Prince Hotel – part of Japan’s famous Prince Hotel chain, this resort-style hotel puts visitors right next to the spacious country club in Sengokuhara. Rooms and facilities here are spacious and comfortable.
Luxury
- Hakone Fontaine Bleau Sengokutei – this luxury ryokan-style hotel offers a refined, adults-oriented atmosphere with a focus on privacy and spacious rooms. It’s a great place for couples who are looking for a calm, high-end retreat in Hakone.
- Sengokubara COCON – This is a boutique and luxury ryokan in Hakone that offers sleek interiors and modern amenities, perfect for guests who want to experience traditional Japanese elements like onsen and kaiseki meals, but in modern form.
Each area offers a very different experience, whether that’s the convenience of Hakone-Yumoto, the mountain setting of Gora, the lakeside calm of Moto-Hakone, or the retreat-like atmosphere of Sengokuhara.
Luckily, you don’t need to see everything on your first trip to Hakone! And don’t worry, once you choose the area that best matches your travel style and pace, the rest of your Hakone trip will fall into place.
Are You Prepared For Your Trip To Japan?
Be sure to check out my Japan home page for Japan travel information, insider tips, reading list, and must-haves for traveling to Japan!
- Book Your Flights – To find the cheapest flights, flexibility is key. I use both Google Flights for their low fare calendar, and Skiplagged, which uses airfare loopholes to get the lowest prices. For a trip to Japan, check flights to both Tokyo airports (Haneda, Narita) and to Osaka (Kansai).
- Getting Around Japan: Prepare your JR Pass and Suica transit card before you depart.
- Book Your Accommodation – Check out Booking.com for the largest selection of accommodation in Japan. Consider having a bit of fun at one of these Weirdest Hotels in Japan too 🙂
- Book Local Excursions – Don’t miss out on world-class experiences, like Teamlab Borderless or Tokyo Disneyland, by booking tickets online now. Check GetYourGuide and Klook for fun experiences all around Japan.
- Stay Connected: Order a pocket WiFi for airport pickup if you’re traveling with family or with a large group. Solo traveling to Japan? Order a SIM card just for you.
- Pack Your Essentials – Check out my posts about Long Term Travel Gear, and Carry-On Luggage Packing Essentials.
- Read more on my Travel Resources page!
