Hot Springs Hotels in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

"This was my second stay here. My previous visit with my child was so enjoyable that when a friend came to Japan, I brought them here for a night. Throughout our stay, the staff were incredibly kind and thoughtful. Both breakfast and dinner were very satisfying. However, at check-out, one particular staff member's attitude absolutely floored me. 1. For self-check-out, there were three machines. One was free, and there was no queue, so we just went ahead and used it. 2. After checking out, I wanted to inquire about the hotel shuttle and public bus routes and schedules, as we didn't have a car this time. Both manual check-out counters were busy with guests, so I stood behind them, waiting my turn. 3. Suddenly, a staff member came out from the side to guide guests queuing for check-out. She noticed I was inadvertently standing in front of the line she was directing. She gestured for me to move, and I apologized and immediately stepped aside. Then, when she had a moment, I asked her where I should queue to inquire about the hotel bus schedule. For some reason, she seemed extremely annoyed. She spoke to me with a blank expression for a couple of sentences, then realized I didn't speak Japanese, and that she couldn't explain it to me quickly. Our conversation wasn't even finished when she angrily turned and walked away... At first, I thought she was in a hurry to attend to the queuing guests, as it was peak check-out time, and that she'd get back to me. So I waited in a spot where I wouldn't bother her or her line. But then I realized she completely intended to ignore me! I just stood there waiting for her, hahaha. Eventually, I thought, 'This isn't right. Is getting a schedule really this difficult?' She was the only person available to ask, so I went up to her again and asked in English. She froze, looking at me with a surprised expression, perhaps not expecting me to come back after her impolite demeanor. So, she had to patiently, albeit reluctantly, quickly reply to me in English. I asked if she could give me a copy of the schedule. She didn't even say ”please wait a moment.” She just turned directly to the counter, grabbed a schedule, practically slapped it into my hand with a ”Pia!” sound, said absolutely nothing, and then spun around and walked away, hahaha. I even managed to say ”thank you” to her. I was stunned. A 2600 yen per night hotel, and in my two years in Japan, this was the first time I'd experienced such shockingly poor service. I suggest that during peak check-out times, more staff should be assigned, or essential information like schedules should be placed in a conspicuous location, which would also save staff the trouble. And while the hotel indicates Chinese-speaking service is available, if staff who only speak Chinese are discouraged from asking questions, then I suggest the hotel shouldn't be on platforms like Ctrip trying to attract Chinese customers in the first place."

"Our experience staying in Hakone was perfect! We stayed at the Tensein in Hakone-Yumoto, an easy location to take the bus, car or train to some popular tourist attractions in the area. The check in itself was rather slow but the staff do their best to speak good English and discuss every detail about your stay with you. The room had everything we needed, the shampoo and conditioners provided was wonderful and there was a variety of products to use. On check in, the private onsen was given at 50% discount at 1,100 Japanese yen per use, we got 2 vouchers so used it 2 times (as we have tattoos we could not go into the public onsen). On check in you have to collect your towel and your choice of Yukata (traditional Japanese robe) which you’re welcomed and encouraged to wear around the hotel and gardens. The hotel is strictly no shoes, so upon arrival you leave your shoes in a locked box and keep the key. If you wish to walk around the beautiful gardens, there are slider type shoes available to slip on, as well as umbrellas to use if it’s raining. Outside they have a onsen for your feet to enjoy with a drink. All of the food and drink (apart from breakfast which was included) was put on our bill at the end. There was a wide selection of drinks, nibbles and food available for dinner and lunches at the dining room and there was a large buffet dining room for buffet breakfast and dinner (if you booked it). The hotel is just a short 10 minute walk to the town and 15 minute walk to the Hakone-Yumoto station. Visiting Mt Fuji is easy, with a bus ‘H’ running from stand 2 opposite the Hakone -Yumoto station. Get off at ‘Motohakone’. From there, you can take another bus and a train to get you to another town ‘Gora’ and surrounding attractions to enjoy."

"Highly highly recommended Location: Super near Gora station very convenient to travel everywhere. There is even direct bus to and fro Gotemba premium outlet, Hakone-Yumoto and Odawara was convenient as well. Ryokan: Check in was great, front desk communicates and explains everything in English clearly. Was able to reserve my 2 night’s dinner upon checking in too. There were free snacks, lounge area with coffee/drinks/ice cream, you can choose your yukata for both male/female, daily nighttime free delicious ramen. Room: Excellent, bed was comfortable and there is an outdoor tub as well. Take note the tub will be filled with hot water instead of hot spring water. There was pyjamas as well. Onsen: There are 3 different outdoor private tubs which will light up when in used (first come first serve basis). We managed to try all 3 and our favourite was the wooden tub, followed by stone tub and lastly the one with 2 tubs (so each person to soak in 1). Queue can be quite long sometimes as this private onsen is popular among couples. To be considerate it is best to use it as quick as possible. Then there is the public onsen with both indoor and outdoor, hot, cold dips and sauna. Hot dips can reach up to 40-42 degrees. There is another human made hot water carbonation onsen which has lesser people since it is not hot spring water. I thoroughly enjoyed all the onsens. Meals: Highly recommend to opt the breakfast and dinner options. Restaurants close very early around 5pm so there are not a lot of dinner options outside the ryokan. Meals were excellent and Japanese Kaiseki style. Very delicious and there was so much food in the course meal. Overall 10/10 experience and I would choose this ryokan on my next trip."

"The room was spacious and very comfortable. We opted for the private hot spring, which was easy to book at the front desk for JPY 2200. Breakfast was Japanese style, with dishes prepared in advance based on room number, and the dining experience was excellent. The price was reasonable for the time of year, and the location is super convenient, just an 8-minute walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station. It's perfect for first-time visitors who aren't familiar with the area, and you can easily walk to dinner spots near the station without having to hike up hills. The only downside was that the front desk staff member was a bit aloof. He'd tilt his head and say 'thank you for your patronage' while looking elsewhere, which felt a bit dismissive. I hope they can improve on that!"

"Great hotel, good location, excellent quality for three stars. The hot springs are worth it. Very good hot sauna almost 100°C I will stay in this hotel again when I travel to Kawasaki."

"Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu is a truly comfortable and relaxing ryokan that made our stay very enjoyable. The staff were attentive and welcoming from the moment we arrived by car, and they promptly helped unload our luggage and delivered it to the hotel. They also assisted with carrying our luggage back to the car during check-out. The room was well-equipped, clean, and very hygienic, and the high-floor view was wide and beautiful. Breakfast and dinner buffet were both satisfying, with delicious food and a good variety of choices. The onsen was also impressive, with two levels of outdoor baths that are alternated between men and women at different times, allowing guests to enjoy both. The water park-style onsen area was a bit less impressive, but overall, this ryokan deserves a very high rating. The official site highlights its open-air onsen, private baths in all rooms, and well-regarded dining, which matches the strong overall experience here"

"I was so surprised that I could stay in such a nice hotel for this price! My friend and I went together, and it even included an all-you-can-drink alcohol and soft drink option, which we really enjoyed! I'd love to stay here again the next time I visit Hakone!"

"The free alcohol, drinks, bread, soup, and desserts were a fantastic touch! They also had a great selection of amenities like a comic book corner, darts, karaoke, and rental bikes. I definitely want to stay here again!"

"I absolutely loved this hotel! Everything from booking, arranging the shuttle via email, to check-in and check-out, was incredibly smooth. The private onsen, which I reserved in advance via email, was also a wonderful experience. The location is fantastic, right next to Togendai – just a 5-minute walk away. It's super convenient for visiting Owakudani and taking the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise. If the hotel shuttle schedule doesn't work for you, you can easily catch a bus from Togendai to Odawara hub. What's more, the Togendai bus runs every 15 minutes, and it's the starting point, so you'll never have to worry about not getting a seat or a place for your luggage. The hotel's buffet breakfast and dinner, with free-flowing drinks, were also a highlight. Most importantly, my husband left his headphones at the hotel. When we realized, we were already in Kamakura, preparing to head to Yokohama. We immediately called the hotel, and their response was incredibly fast. They quickly located the headphones and sent them via courier to the nearest express pickup point at our Yokohama hotel. We received them successfully before returning home. A huge thank you! I highly recommend this hotel to everyone. There was not a single thing to complain about throughout our stay."

"The lounge on the first floor had free drinks, a kitchen, and a space to relax, which was great. There is also a hot spring. Unfortunately I didn't have time to use it during my stay, but if I have the chance next time, I would like to try the hot spring. You can hear the sound of the trains, but earplugs are provided in the room, so I recommend using them if you are sensitive to noise."