3 Hakone Onsen Hot Springs Perfect For a Day Trip (Including Swimsuit-OK Baths!)

1. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Hot Spring Amusement Park: A Wide Variety of Baths (and swimsuits are OK!)

For those who are self-conscious about being nude in public, Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is a fitting alternative. In addition to twenty kinds of hot springs, spas and open-air baths, the site also features an area in which bathing suits are allowed.

Yunessun is the only hot spring in Hakone that allows swimsuits!

Popular among overseas visitors are the “Wine Bath,” “Coffee Bath,” “Doctor Fish Footbath,” “Rodeo Mountain,” and “Outdoor Hot Spring With Scenic View Bath.” As the names suggest, “Wine Bath” and “Real Coffee Bath” use real wine and coffee.

Wine baths relax your mind and body with the scent of rich wine and are good for the skin. For families traveling together, children are also allowed in the wine bath.

Pleasantly scented “Wine Bath”

In “Doctor Fish Footbath,” small fish gently nibble at your feet with a pleasant tickling sensation. Each session costs 300 yen, but the business hours vary so, be sure to check if it’s open in advance.

The mysterious feeling of “Doctor Fish Footbath”

Rodeo Mountain, which boasts tremendous popularity among guests of all ages, is a water slide featuring hot water rapids. If you’re over 110 cm tall, be sure to try all three winding slides and conquer Rodeo Mountain!

Powerful Rodeo Mountain

At 40 meters in length, the Outdoor Hot Spring
With Scenic View Bath offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Hakone’s rich natural beauty. It’s highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy an authentic hot spring, and the whole experience is great for washing away fatigue.

Taking in Hakone’s Beauty from the Outdoor Hot Spring With Scenic View Bath

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun has swimwear rentals and guests with tattoos can enter if their tattoos are covered, making it a foreigner-friendly facility.

2. Hakone Yuryo: Private Open-Air Onsen Baths

Next is Hakone Yuryo, and classically-styled onsen where you can enjoy the finest bathing Hakone has to offer. With 19 private outdoor baths surrounded by lush forests, Hakone Yuryo is the largest facility of its type in the area. Time will seem to stand still while you enjoy bathing with your family or friends, all without worrying about prying eyes.

Private single-room open-air baths can be reserved up to a month before visiting, but same-day reservations may be made if openings are available. It’s the perfect place to rest your body and mind.

Private open-air baths

In addition to forming a beautiful memory of your travels in Japan, these relaxing Hakone onsen baths are also a great place to plan the next leg of your trip. Hakone Yuryo has three room sizes, so you’re sure to find one that fits the size of your group.

All room types are peaceful and modern, and you won’t want to leave!

After the hot spring, take a break in the private room

In addition to the private single-room open-air baths, there’s also a large public bath called Hondon Yurakun Oyu. Loyly is a traditional Finnish sauna bathing method in which steam is generated by pouring aromatic water over the sauna stones.

Loyly Master

A loyly master fans guests with a large fan, while the hot steam helps guests sweat, which is said to improve metabolism. It’s an experience popular for health and beauty and sauna enthusiasts alike.

The water used to produce steam includes aromas such as grapefruit, mint lime, chamomile, wine, peach, lavender, eucalyptus, and bergamot. The aromas change with time and season, so you’ll be able to enjoy different flavors no matter how many times you visit.

Loyly is also good for those who might not typically enjoy saunas. At only 80 degrees Celsius and with lower humidity levels, it’s not taxing on the body.

A relaxing massage

After the sauna, head to the “Hogushi an Yururuka” relaxation facility. A wealth of services that combine reflexology, lymphatic treatments, and stretching with unique techniques ensure that you’ll find a treatment that suits your individual needs.

If you’re short on time but still want to relax a bit, the “Hogushi Shozaraku” area is great for a 10- to 30-minute foot or face massage.

3. Ryuguden: Hakone Onsen Bathing With a Breathtaking View of Mount Fuji

Lastly, you can enjoy a striking view of Mount Fuji from the shores of Ashinoko (Lake Ashi) while relaxing at the Ryuguden Main Building. Originally built nearly 80 years ago and renovated in 2017, this impressive hotel resembles the Byodo-in temple in Uji, Kyoto is also registered as a Japanese cultural property.

Ryuguden Main Building seen from Ashinoko

Ryuguden’s best feature is the view of the Hakone rim, Ashinoko, and Mt. Fuji, visible from all the baths. The facility is popular with both local and overseas tourists.

Mt. Fuji seen from the men’s indoor bath

The men’s indoor bath affords visitors a simultaneous view of Ashinoko and Mt. Fuji. At the same time, a similar vista can be appreciated from the women’s outdoor bath, along with the refreshing breeze!

Mt. Fuji seen from the women’s outdoor bath

On clear days you can enjoy a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji and the sky and clouds reflected in Ashinoko. Even if the weather is less than perfect and Mt. Fuji isn’t visible, you can still enjoy the magnificence of Ashinoko.

Ashinoko seen from the women’s outdoor bath

Ryuguden’s hot springs feature minerals including calcium, sulfates, and sodium chloride and reportedly provide relief for nerve, muscle, and joint pain, so they provide excellent relief for tired bodies after a busy day of sightseeing.

In addition to relaxing hot springs, Ryuguden’s Fuji restaurant will be sure to satisfy your appetite for exquisite Japanese cuisine. The most popular item on the lunch menu is the Hakone Hime no Mizu Steamed Tofu, made with Hakone’s famous Hakone hime no mizu (Hakone Princess’s water). The water comes from a spring that a princess of the Hojo Clan is said to have bathed in the morning and evening for its beautifying effect.

Hakone Hime no Mizu Steamed Tofu Lunch 2,434 yen (tax included)

The dish is also available in combination with a bath plan for 9,900 yen (tax included), so if you decide to stay for lunch after a bath, you can make a reservation at the front desk.

Each of these hot springs offers unique features, so if you’re wondering where to go in Hakone, give one of them a try!

(This article was originally published in August 2019; prices were updated in July 2023. Plan contents may have changed. For the most updated information, please refer to facility websites directly.)