10 Best Luxury Ryokan & Resorts in Hakone
In-Room Onsen · Kaiseki · Gorge Views
¥28,000–¥120,000/night · Updated 2026

Score 9.5 across every platform — if you're going to start anywhere in luxury Hakone, you start with Gora Kadan. The property was a summer villa of the Imperial Kan-In family in the early 20th century before it became a ryokan, and it's a member of Relais & Châteaux, the highly selective association of the world's finest small hotels. Rooms are large and traditionally Japanese; the upper categories have a private open-air onsen on the terrace where you can soak while looking out over the garden. There's also an indoor pool, a spa, and communal onsen fed by real volcanic spring water. What guests come back raving about, almost without exception, is the kaiseki dinner — served course by course — and a level of service that's rare even among five-star peers. At ¥85,000+ for two (meals included), this is the most expensive entry here. But if you're coming to Hakone once and want it to be unforgettable, this is the property people recommend most. Ideal for honeymoons and anniversaries.

Score 9.5 on Trip.com — Gora Hanaougi has held the #1 spot out of 201 Hakone hotels on TripAdvisor for years, and the reason is clear. It sits in Gora, a five-minute walk from the station, and its defining feature is that every room has its own private open-air onsen on the terrace. No booking a time slot, no sharing — whenever you want to soak, you open the door and the hot volcanic water and valley view are waiting. Rooms are modern Japanese: warm wood, big windows pulling in the light. What guests write about over and over is the service — from the welcome at the foot-bath bar to a kaiseki dinner plated like artwork, the staff make you feel genuinely looked after. Honestly, at ¥70,000+ per night it's not cheap. But if a private in-room onsen and the most polished service in Hakone are your priorities, this is the front-runner.

Score 9.7 on Trip.com — Hakone Ginyu is a boutique luxury ryokan in Miyanoshita that perches on the edge of the Hayakawa gorge. The thing that makes people fall for it is the floor-to-ceiling glass that opens onto the green valley (or blazing red foliage in autumn). You see the view from the bed; you see it from the bath. Every room has a private open-air onsen and a terrace that juts out over the gorge. The design is contemporary Japanese — dark, warm wood set against all that green outside. Kaiseki dinner is served with the valley in view, and the staff speak better English than at most ryokan, which makes it a comfortable choice for international travellers. Honestly, it's up on the hillside with no shops to wander to — but that's the selling point: you come here to switch off from the world and soak above the gorge all evening. Ideal for a honeymoon where the view is the star.

Score 9.2 across platforms — The Fujiya Hotel isn't just a place to stay, it's one of the first Western-style hotels in Japan, open since 1878, and it has hosted foreign travellers, royalty and celebrities for well over a century (John Lennon stayed here). What makes it special is the Meiji-era blend of Japanese and Western architecture — carved wood ceilings, old staircases, corridors that feel like walking through a living museum. After a major 2020 renovation everything is beautiful again while keeping the original character. There's an on-site onsen, a vintage greenhouse-style hot pool, and a Japanese garden to wander. At a starting price of ¥40K it's far more accessible than the top three ryokan, yet it delivers a heritage experience you can't get anywhere else — and we've written a full Wherebest review of it (linked on this card). Ideal for history lovers who want a luxury stay without the bill running away.

Score 9.1 from 2,402 Booking reviews — the largest review base in this roundup, and holding a 9.1 across that many guests means the consistency is real. Kowakien Ten-yu is a modern ryokan whose Instagram-famous feature is a rooftop infinity onsen whose edge seems to merge with the Hakone mountains — best at sunrise. Just as importantly, every room has a private open-air onsen. Rooms are modern Japanese, spotless and comfortably sized, with shared lounge spaces to relax in; dinner is kaiseki, breakfast a buffet. Honestly, at ¥45K this gives you in-room onsen, the rooftop infinity bath, and the biggest pile of verified reviews of anything here — outstanding value for anyone trying a private-onsen ryokan for the first time without paying ¥70K+ like Gora Hanaougi. Ideal for couples on a mid-range budget and first-time Hakone visitors.

Score 9.2 on Booking — Hakone Suishoen is what a lot of travellers call Hakone's sweet spot: it gives you the luxury-ryokan feeling at a noticeably friendlier price than the top names, and it sits at #20 of 201 Hakone hotels on TripAdvisor. Its standout is rooms that are surprisingly spacious, decorated in a mix of Japanese and Western styles — perfect if you want the tatami feeling but still want to sleep in a comfortable bed. There are communal mineral onsen baths, and select rooms come with their own in-room open-air onsen; dinner is seasonal kaiseki, the service warm. It's only a 5-minute walk from Gora Station, so it's easy to head out to the Open-Air Museum or hop on the cable car. Honestly it isn't Gora Kadan-level luxury — but if you want big rooms and good onsen on a ¥42K budget, this is a smart pick. Ideal for families and first-time ryokan-goers who want comfort without overspending.

Score 9.3 on Booking (especially from couples) — Tensui Saryo is a modern Japanese ryokan in Gora, just a 3-minute walk from the station, the closest of any ryokan in this roundup. What impresses guests from the moment they arrive is the welcome at the foot-bath bar — you soak your feet in onsen water with a welcome drink while checking in. Rooms are clean-lined with soft wood and contemporary Japanese touches; select rooms have a private open-air onsen, while others use beautifully designed communal baths. The Japanese breakfast gets a lot of praise, and the staff are attentive. Honestly, it's a small place with an intimate feel — ideal for couples who want a quiet ryokan right by the station, with no need to drag a suitcase uphill. At ¥48K, the quality and location are well matched.

Score 9.0 on Booking — Yama no Chaya (it means "the mountain teahouse") is a classic, traditional ryokan tucked beside the Sukumo stream in Tonosawa, near Hakone-Yumoto. It isn't modern like the others here — instead it delivers the ryokan look you've seen in films: wooden walkways, green gardens, the constant sound of the stream, and an open-air onsen where you soak to the noise of running water. There are several communal baths, and select rooms have a private open-air onsen; kaiseki is served in-room in the traditional ryokan style. A lot of guests say it's a great place for a first ryokan experience, because you get genuine Japanese atmosphere at a reachable price (¥38K — the cheapest of the ryokan here). Being close to Hakone-Yumoto, it's also easier to get in and out of than the properties deep up the hill. Ideal for travellers who want a truly classic ryokan on a light budget.

Score 8.8 — Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone is part of Hoshino Resorts (the same group behind Hoshinoya and the KAI ryokan line known across Japan). KAI is the mid-to-upper onsen-ryokan line that leans into local culture. It sits beside the Sukumo stream, and many rooms look out over the valley with the stream running below — you wake to green leaves (or fiery red foliage in autumn). The signature of every KAI property is a free local culture performance each evening (in Hakone, usually about Yosegi marquetry, the region's traditional woodcraft), plus beautifully designed communal mineral onsen and seasonal kaiseki. Honestly, the review scores don't soar quite as high as the hillside ryokan (some reviews note the price-to-food ratio) — but you get the reliability of the Hoshino brand, solid service, and that cultural performance. Ideal for travellers who want to try the Hoshino brand at ¥40K without paying full Hoshinoya rates.

Score 8.6 from 551 Booking reviews — Hyatt Regency Hakone is the pick for travellers who want to visit Hakone but aren't ready for a full-on ryokan. It's a Western-style resort (and a MICHELIN Guide listing), so you get comfortable beds, a standard ensuite bathroom, and fluent English-speaking staff — ideal if you're bringing older parents who can't sit on a futon, or young kids who'd struggle with ryokan etiquette. You still get the full Hakone experience, though: there's a communal mineral onsen and the lovely Izumi spa, the resort sits on the Gora hilltop surrounded by forest, and there are on-site restaurants plus a shuttle. The clincher is the price — it starts at ¥28K, the cheapest in this roundup — and you earn World of Hyatt points too. Honestly, it doesn't give you the in-room-onsen ryokan experience of the hillside properties. But if Western comfort, a tight budget and travelling as a family are what you need, this is the safest, most sensible choice.