8 Best Hotels In Hakone Japan: Where To Stay In 2023

Are you looking for the best hotels in Hakone Japan? Perfect! We are going to show you the 8 top rated cheap, mid range and luxury hotel options available around Hakone and Lake Ashi.

Instead of trawling through randomly listed hotel search engine results, use our research and data driven guide to find the best hotels in Hakone based on location, value, previous guest ratings and our own personal experiences in the region.

Here’s how we will break down the best hotels in Hakone Japan to help you find the perfect place to stay:

Our experience in Hakone
Best area to stay in Hakone
Hakone hotels map
8 best Hakone hotels

Let’s find you the perfect Hakone hotel for your trip to Japan!

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Table of Contents show

Our Experience In Hakone

We spent 2 nights at a fantastic low budget Hakone hotel with onsen near the end of our most recent visit to Japan for the cherry blossom season in April 2023.

After taking a bullet train from Osaka to Odawara JR Station, we took another train to Hakone Yumoto, followed by the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora and then the Hakone Ropeway cable car as far as Togendai Station.

It was less than 5 minutes walk from Togendai Station to reach Hakone Lake Hotel and our traditional Japanese style room. We used the hotel as a base to explore the north and south shores of Lake Ashi.

Overall, we really enjoyed our time in Hakone and would recommend it as a place to stop when planning a Japan itinerary. Hakone is a completely different experience to the likes of Tokyo and Kyoto.

Couple standing together in Hakone with Lake Ashi and Mt Fuji in the background — Mark and Kristen in Hakone with Lake Ashi and Mt Fuji behind

What Are The Best Places To Stay In Hakone?

Gora, Togendai and Hakone are the best places to stay in Hakone, Japan.

Technically, Hakone covers a large area within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, including Lake Ashi and the mountainous landscape to its north and east.

You can choose to stay in several different places during your visit to Hakone but we will focus on just the three best areas for a first visit in this guide.

At the end we will discuss alternative areas you can stay with some of the more unique places to stay in Hakone.

Let’s take a quick look at the 3 best areas to stay in Hakone on a first visit to the area.

Tourist with suitcase putting baggage into transport service — Kristen putting her suitcase into the baggage delivery service at Hakone Yumoto

1. Gora

Gora is the final stop on the Hakone Tozan Railway and the eastern terminal for catching the Hakone Ropeway down to Togendai and Lake Ashi.

You will find plenty of hotels around Gora and the nearby train stops a little further down the railway such as Kowakidani and Chokokunomori. There are far more hotels to choose between here than anywhere else in Hakone.

There is also a much greater selection of places you can eat out around Gora and the nearby train stops.

Gora serves as a good place to base yourself if you want to day trip down to Lake Ashi before spending your next day at the other attractions to the north of Gora such as the popular Venetian Glass Museum.

Canoes turned upside down on reedy shoreline with sunset over a lake — Sunset over Lake Ashi from Togendai

2. Togendai

Togendai is the tiny built up area on the north side of Lake Ashi. It can be accessed by bus (from several places including Shinjuku) or by the Hakone Ropeway from Gora.

There are very few places to eat out around Togendai Station so we strongly recommend booking your hotel here with breakfast and dinner included.

You cannot see Mount Fuji from hotels on the north side of Lake Ashi. The Hakone views of Mt Fuji are only from the southeast side of the lake or at elevation.

Togendai is a great place to stay if you want to experience a true Hakone escape with barely anyone else around.

Our Togendai Hotel

We stayed at Hakone Lake Hotel in Togendai for 2 nights with breakfast and dinner included. For a cheap Hakone hotel we have to say it was a fantastic experience.

We booked an authentic Japanese style room and wore our yukata to breakfast and dinner.

The gender separated public baths were awesome, with both indoor and outdoor pools, oversized tubs and a unique steam room.

Mt Fuji in the distance through nearby cherry blossoms — Photo we took of Mt Fuji through cherry blossoms in Hakone

3. Hakone

Hakone is the name for the greater region but it is also the name for the built up area to the southeast of Lake Ashi.

You can access Hakone only by bus or car, unless you take the cable car to Togendai and then hop on the Pirate Ship to Hakone which adds yet another leg to an already long list of transportation to catch.

This built up area of Hakone has views of Mt Fuji and more things to do when compared to Togendai, so it is definitely worth considering.

There are more places to eat at every meal time and it is busier in general, which makes this area the best place to stay if you want to visit Hakone but still be in civilization.

Lake Ashi in Japan with a reflection on water — Fun perspective photo we took of Lake Ashi from Hakone

What Are The Best Hotels In Hakone?

The term best can be interpreted in several ways and it has a different meaning for everyone.

Does best simply mean the highest rated? The highest quality? What about price and location?

In this guide we strive for inclusivity when we show you our version of the best hotels. Our list is based on the highest guest ratings and our own experiences but crucially we include every budget category so that every type of traveler can find the best hotel available.

Are you curious about the best hotels in Hakone based purely on ratings?

Here are the top 3 hotels in Hakone according to thousands of reviews from several popular online sources (with at least 100 authentic guest reviews – correct as of August 2023 but subject to frequent changes):

Booking

Hotels (Expedia)

Google

Tripadvisor

Ratings are good to use as a guide but they are subjective and will fluctuate over time. Look for hotels with high scores and a high number of ratings. That is the sign of a quality hotel.

One thing to note is that hotels with the best ratings often translate to hotels with the highest nightly cost. And that is why we do not simply list hotels with the highest ratings in our guides.

Tourist on the Hakone pirate ship in Japan — Mark on the pirate ship crossing from Togendai to Hakone

Are Hotels In Hakone Expensive?

Yes, hotels in Hakone are expensive when compared to other popular tourist spots in Japan.

We knew Hakone hotels were going to cost more than hotels in Osaka or Hiroshima for instance, but we were still quite surprised by the high nightly rates.

The most important thing to remember is that some hotels offer rooms with breakfast and dinner bundled into the price.

You can sometimes choose whether or not you want either breakfast or dinner included.

We booked our room with just breakfast included at first, but then we added in dinner later and even though it was expensive, we are glad we did because there were no other options in Togendai.

Expect to pay around US $220 per night at the cheapest hotels in Hakone on weekdays. On the other end of the spectrum you can quite easily spend US $800 per night if you want a luxury accommodation with private hot spring.

Hotel Tax In Hakone, Japan

Bear in mind when booking your hotel in Hakone that you will pay 10% hotel tax on top of your base rate as well as JPY150 hot springs tax per night (which is around US $1).

So let’s say the basic nightly room cost at a cheap Hakone hotel is US $200.00 for one night, your actual total cost is going to be $221.00.

When booking your hotel using Booking.com look under the price for includes taxes and fees. This means the price you see is final and will not be subject to further add ons.
Conversely, if you see text reading something like +$30 for taxes and fees, that means you will pay the hotel room cost + the additional 10% tax.

Certain Hakone hotels may also add on a property service tax which will also show in the included taxes section.

These are just things to be aware of so you avoid any nasty surprises when you come to pay.

Hakone Hotels Map

Let’s take a quick look at an interactive Google Map showing the locations of our 8 best Hakone hotels featured in this guide.

Map key:

Green stars – Cheap hotels in Hakone
Red stars – Mid range budget hotels in Hakone
Blue stars – Luxury hotels in Hakone

Click or touch the map to activate.

Zoom in and out, move around the Hakone and Lake Ashi area to see exactly where each lodging option is located.

Look for the area outlines showing Gora, Togendai and Hakone.

The famous heiwa no torii red gate in late afternoon with soft light — The popular Heiwa no Torii shrine near Hakone

8 Best Hotels In Hakone

OK, let’s take a look at each of the best Hakone hotels.

We have hand picked the top 8 Hakone hotels by compiling and comparing previous guest ratings, location, value for money and our own experiences in the area.

Featured hotels are listed in order of average nightly cost within three price range categories; cheap, mid range and luxury.

We selected three future dates in different seasons and collated prices in order to list with a degree of accuracy.

You will find 3 x cheap hotels, 2 x mid range hotels and 3 x luxury hotels. Each represents a top rated hotel within its price category.

Let’s kick things off with the best cheap hotels in Hakone Japan!

1. Hakone Lake Hotel

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 8.1 / 10
Google – 4.0 / 5

Mark and Kristen Morgan from Best Hotels Anywhere sitting up in twin beds on the tatami floor of the Hakone Lake Hotel in Japan wearing yukata — Mark and Kristen wearing yukata in our room at the Hakone Lake Hotel

Price: Cheap $
Amenities: Free WiFi, on site restaurant, breakfast and dinner options, hot spring bath, lake view
Location: Togendai
Transit: Togendai Station

Hakone Lake Hotel is the best cheap hotel in Hakone if you want to stay on the north side of Lake Ashi for easy access to the ropeway. We stayed here and very strongly recommend including the half board breakfast and dinner option, which is extremely affordable for the area.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Hakone Lake Hotel. The public onsens are great for a lower budget hotel option but there is not much to do in the area. We hiked to Kuzuryu Shrine Hongu and took the pirate ship to Hakone.

>> Book Hotel: Hakone Lake Hotel

2. Hakone Hotel

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 8.5 / 10
Google – 4.1 / 5

Entrance to the Hakone Hotel in Japan on a sunny day — Entrance to the Hakone Hotel in Japan

Price: Cheap $
Amenities: Free WiFi, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available, hot spring bath, lake view, Mt Fuji view
Location: Hakone
Transit: Motohakone Port

Hakone Hotel is the best place to stay in Hakone if you want Mt Fuji views at affordable rates. You can pay extra for breakfast but you must find lunch and dinner at restaurants in the area, some of which require reservations a day in advance.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Hakone Hotel. Comments and reviews are positive about the service, public baths and stunning views, so make sure you book a room with lake and volcano view here!

>> Book Hotel: Hakone Hotel

3. Hakone Yutowa

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
Google – 4.3 / 5

Exterior photo of a hotel courtyard in Hakone at night with lights on — Photo courtesy of Hakone Yutowa

Price: Cheap $
Amenities: Free WiFi, on site restaurant, breakfast included, hot spring baths, terrace
Location: Gora
Transit: Gora Station

Hakone Yutowa is one of the top rated cheap hotels in Hakone if you decide to stay up in Gora instead of on the shores of Lake Ashinoko. You can easily day trip down to the lake by crossing over the volcano via the Hakone Ropeway. Breakfast is served early so be ready for an early start.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Hakone Yutowa. There are both public and private onsens, it is located just 3 minutes from Gora Station and comments are positive about the cozy beds in the twin room.

>> Book Hotel: Hakone Yutowa

4. Odakyu Hotel de Yama

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 8.6 / 10
Google – 4.3 / 5

Photo of a hotel on the shores of Lake Ashi surrounded by trees — Odakyu Hotel de Yama as seen from the pirate ship

Price: Mid Range $$
Amenities: Free WiFi, on site restaurant and bar, hot spring bath, spa, breakfast and dinner available (extra), karaoke room, Japanese gardens
Location: Hakone
Transit: Motohakone Port

Odakyu Hotel de Yama is a wonderful Hakone hotel set alone in stunning gardens with spectacular views over Lake Ashi and Mt Fuji. It is a 5 minute drive to Motohakone Port but just a 7 minute walk to Heiwa no Torii, which is one of the most popular photo spots in Hakone.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Odakyu Hotel de Yama. This is one of the best places to stay in Hakone for solitude, escapism and peaceful surroundings. Food, drinks and massages are expensive but it is to be expected in this region.

>> Book Hotel: Odakyu Hotel de Yama

5. Hotel Indigo Hakone

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 8.4 / 10
Google – 4.1 / 5

Long multi story building on the banks of a river with green vegetation behind — Photo courtesy of IHG

Price: Mid Range $$
Amenities: Free WiFi, rooms with private onsen, publiic hot spring bath, river view, fitness center, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available, sauna
Location: Gora
Transit: Gora Station

Hotel Indigo Hakone is a boutique 5 star hotel in Hakone offering luxury at affordable price points if you time it right with dates. This is a western style hotel in which you wear swimsuits to the public onsen and do not receive yukata upon arrival, but rooms have private onsens on balconies overlooking the river.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and facilities the highest at Hotel Indigo Hakone. This is one of the best luxury hotels in Hakone but it is a little isolated near Gora and meals are expensive so you may have to take the free shuttle into town to eat out.

>> Book Hotel: Hotel Indigo Hakone

6. Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 8.8 / 10
Google – 4.3 / 5

Shallow pool with walkway to seating area and views — Photo courtesy of Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori

Price: Luxury $$$
Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast and dinner included, terrace with lake views, hot spring bath, spa, rooms with private hot spring baths
Location: Togendai
Transit: Togendai Station

Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori is a luxury Hakone hotel with classy facilities and amazing Lake Ashi views. This is one of the best places to stay in Hakone if you want to be next to Togendai Station and pirate ship. It is expensive but you get what you pay for here.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori. Comments are most positive about the food, various onsen options and handy location. Definitely one to consider on the upper end of budget.

>> Book Hotel: Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori

7. Hakone Kowakien Tenyu

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 8.9 / 10
Google – 4.3 / 5

Inside a guest bedroom with bed and table leading to open air hot spring bath on balcony — Photo courtesy of Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Price: Luxury $$$
Amenities: Free WiFi, open air onsen, rooms with private hot spring bath, breakfast and dinner options, gardens, terrace, sauna and spa lounge, on site restaurant and bar
Location: Gora
Transit: Kowakidani Station

Hakone Kowakien Tenyu is a luxury onsen hotel in Hakone with several stunning hot spring baths. You can bathe in an infinity hot spring and watch a sunrise, relax in the forest onsen with a waterfall or stay in your own private hot spring bath.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu. You will need to get off the Tozan Railway at Kowakidani Station and walk to the hotel but it is one of the most luxurious places you can stay in the Hakone area.

>> Book Hotel: Hakone Kowakien Tenyu

8. Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
Google – 4.5 / 5

Inside an upscale guest bedroom with bed leading to authentic Japanese tatami floor and a balcony — Photo courtesy of Hyatt

Price: Luxury $$$
Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, on site restaurant and bar, spa, hot spring bath, terrace, free shuttles to Gora and Odawara (specific times)
Location: Gora
Transit: Kami-Gora Station

Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort is a luxury Hakone hotel with a nice blend between western and Japanese styles. The onsen is enormous and quiet compared to other hotels in the area. Although the hotel is a little isolated, you can use free shuttles to Gora Station and Odawara JR Station.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and facilities the highest at Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort. This is a great place to stay in Hakone if you would prefer a trusted hotel brand that gives you the same authentic experience close to the ropeway for accessing Lake Ashi.

>> Book Hotel: Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort

Best Hotels In Hakone FAQ’s

Let’s take a quick look at some of the most frequently asked questions about where to stay in Hakone Japan.

What is the best cheap hotel in Hakone?

The Hakone Hotel is the best cheap hotel in Hakone to the southeast of Lake Ashi and the Hakone Lake Hotel is the best cheap hotel near Togendai Station on the north side of the lake. If you want to stay in Gora, Hakone Yutowa is the best cheap hotel.

What is the best luxury hotel in Hakone?

Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori is the best luxury hotel in Hakone near Togendai Station and Hakone Kowakien Tenyu is the most luxurious onsen hotel to stay in Gora. You could also stay at a more western style luxury hotel such as the Hyatt Regency.