9 Must-Visit Traditional Inns in Hakone. Best for Couples

The times are getting more and more convenient, but for some reason, the daily stress and tiredness are accumulating. If you and your boyfriend are having a rather dull day in your busy life, how about going to a long-established inn in Hakone together? Hakone is a hot spring resort that has been loved by many people since ancient times. There are seven famous hot springs in Hakone, and it is easily accessible from Tokyo. Moreover, a long-established inn with a long history is perfect for relaxing with him away from the hustle and bustle of tourist spots.

Don't be afraid that the threshold will be high when you hear about a long-established inn. Also, it is not just an old inn. The charm of a long-established inn lies in the taste that has been refined by history. The buildings, interiors, furnishings, and other high-quality items selected with the aesthetic sense of the people of the past have created beautiful spaces that are full of traditional Japanese beauty over time. In addition, it is also a big attraction that you can receive the skilled hospitality that has been inherited since the establishment. While it has dignity as an inn, you can relax to your heart's content in the relaxed flow of time. This is why a long-established store is a long-established store.

Among the many inns in Hakone, we will introduce only long-established inns with interesting historical stories. The history of the inn is full of splendid anecdotes from the past, and is colored with the names of many nobles who have visited. A long-established inn that still stands dignified over time and space while overcoming and adapting to the changes of the times. In order to connect the beauty to the future, why don't you visit with him? If you're tired of the hectic daily life, take a break from checking out the newly opened hotel. Now, let's open the door of this long-established inn, a different space in modern times.

"Fujiya Hotel" was founded in 1878 (Meiji 11). A classical hotel with a historical atmosphere, about a 7-minute walk from Miyanoshita Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway. Celebrities from Japan and abroad have visited since its founding, including Helen Keller, Chaplin, and Mr. and Mrs. John Lennon. Four lodging buildings are built on the site of approximately 7,600 tsubo, three of which are designated as registered tangible cultural properties and modern industrial heritage. In the summer of 2020, a large-scale renovation work was completed, and it was reborn with the addition of earthquake-resistant construction and a spa, while maintaining the charm of a historic building.

The main building, which was built in 1891 (Meiji 24), still conveys the atmosphere of the Meiji era even after the renovation. The moment you step into the "Historic Junior Suite" with him, you should feel as if you two have slipped back in time. An elegant and calm room that perfectly combines Japanese and Western styles. Enjoy the leisurely flow of time with him while thinking about the celebrities who have stayed at the hotel in the past.

For dinner, why not go to the main dining room "The Fujiya", which can be said to be the face of Fujiya Hotel? You can enjoy classic-style French cuisine that inherits recipes from its establishment in 1930 (Showa 5). If you dress up and go to this historic space with him, you should be in a good mood. If you look up at the coffered ceiling while enjoying your meal, you will be greeted by a splendid art of 636 species of alpine plants from the Japanese Alps. It is worth a look.

You can enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine at Kikkaso, which overlooks the famous garden. Built in 1895 (Meiji 28), it was once the imperial family's Miyanoshita Imperial Villa, and later became the villa of the Takamatsu family. In other words, you can meal at the former Imperial Villa. There are many other historical places and facilities in the building, and there is also a museum, so please take a look around the building with him. You will be able to discover a fascinating story that can only be found at Fujiya Hotel, which has been through the ages since the Meiji era.

Gora Kadan is a luxury ryokan that represents Hakone. About a 3-minute walk from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway, this inn has a vast site of about 10,000 tsubo in a luxury villa area from the Meiji and Taisho eras. Although it was founded in 1952 (Showa 27), its history traces back to the summer villa built in 1930 (Showa 5) by Imperial Prince Kaninnomiya Tsurihito. After the war, the villa was entrusted to the founder of the inn by Prince Haruhito. After the renovation in 1989, it has become a modern space with modern comforts added while inheriting history and tradition.

There are only 39 guest rooms on the vast grounds. There are various types available, from standard Japanese-style rooms to Senshin, a detached house in the garden of the former Miyake. All guest rooms are spacious and surrounded by the nature of the four seasons, allowing you to feel the clean air. You will be able to enjoy your time with him comfortably in the beautiful Japanese architecture using high-quality materials.

onsen owns 3 sources, 2 of which are private sources. Not only can you enjoy it in a room with an open-air bath, but you can also enjoy different tastes in the large public bath and private baths. The hotel is also full of elements that will keep you from getting bored during your stay, such as a heated pool, spa, fitness, and bedrock baths. It would be nice to have a glass of champagne with him after a bath while cooling off on the moon viewing platform. You should be able to spend an enchanted dream-like time.

Dinner is served in a private room at the in-room dining or meal Hanadan, a private residence with a dazzling kaiseki cuisine. Hanadan is a Western-style house of the former imperial family built in the early Showa period. The furnishings and artwork of the time, placed here and there, give a glimpse of the aristocratic culture of the early Showa period and create an elegant atmosphere. In this top-quality space, you can enjoy carefully prepared dishes and feel happy from the bottom of your heart. We hope you and your partner will enjoy such an exquisite moment that will be etched in your hearts.

Senkyoro opened in 1870 (Meiji 3). Before the war, Senkyoro was a summer resort where people from the political and business world gathered. You can reach this historic inn in about 120 minutes if you take a direct highway bus from Shinjuku. A quiet space surrounded by a garden of 15,000 tsubo where the daily life slips away as soon as you step inside from the bus street. Senkyoro which was reborn in 2008 (Heisei 20), welcomes you.

Of the 39 guest rooms, the detached villas "Oku no Kiku" and "West Wing Annex" offer a special feeling. They each have their own open-air bath, where you can enjoy milky white hot spring water whenever you like. The Japanese-style room space where the room attendants enter and the bedroom, which is considered a private space, are clearly separated, making these rooms a great way to relax with your partner while looking out at the Hakone mountains.

If the weather is nice, please take a stroll around the garden with him wearing a yukata. It takes about 30 minutes to stroll along the promenade. Each place has a romantic name such as "Misuzu Falls" or "Komorebi no Koji", so you can spend a relaxing time here. From the observatory, you can also see Mt. Kintoki, which is famous for Kintaro. I think I will have more wonderful memories with him ♡

Yama no Hotel, founded in 1948, is located in one of the most scenic spots in Hakone, overlooking Lake Ashinoko and Mt. Fuji. Originally, in 1911 (Meiji 44), it was the place where Baron Koyata Iwasaki set up a villa. Approximately 3,000 azaleas and 300 rhododendrons were planted by the baron when he built his villa. The landscape woven by nature and the garden is like a painting. In May, when the azaleas were in bloom, the Baron held a garden party in his splendid garden. If you think about the gorgeous history, the scenery in front of you may look even more beautiful.

Along with the changes in Japanese culture after the war, the hotel also underwent various extensions and renovations, and became widely known as a Western-style resort hotel. Romance cars appeared in the 1950s, and couples dreamed of staying at a hotel in the mountains for their honeymoon. Fortunately, the hotel is closer now, but the classic and authentic space of a hotel in the mountains is still alive. With him, let's spend a slow holiday in the mood of Lake Leman in Switzerland ♡

Couples who love sweets should definitely visit the dessert restaurant “Salon de The Rosage” in the annex. You can enjoy high-quality tea and cakes, but the traditional hot apple pie is especially popular. As if putting a spell on the sweets, you can have them beautifully dressed with the sauce right in front of you. The shop is where the baron used to be boating with many guests. Why don't you feel like a gentleman and a lady with him in front of the superb view of Lake Ashinoko, which was once seen by the nobility?

Surrounded by a quiet garden, Gora Kansuiro is a 3-minute walk from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway. Although it was founded in 1949 (Showa 24), its history is even older. Even now, the main building retains the atmosphere of the Taisho era.

In 1928 (Showa 3) when it was a villa, the rooms of "Matsu" and "Seikyoku" where Imperial Prince Kaninnomiya Saihito stayed are still left as they were at that time. Many celebrities have visited even after it became an inn, and Emperor Showa and his wife stayed at the detached "Kinkatei" in 1955 (Showa 30). Guests of the past should have been healed by admiring the same scenery. In a space where time seems to have stopped, he and I think there is no better place to forget about everyday life and spend time quietly.

onsen was discovered by the founder of the inn in 1952, and was the first onsen in Gora. Even now, you can enjoy the luxurious free-flowing onsen that flow from two sources. In addition to the baths in the guest rooms, there are two open-air baths, one for men and one for women. There are also two indoor baths that are alternated between men and women. All of them are full of nostalgic mood, so please take a look at the hot springs with him.

Don't miss the stunning garden named Huaqingyuan. The Iwasaki family once built a villa in the garden, so you can see the garden from all guest rooms. If the weather is good, we recommend taking a leisurely walk with him in a yukata. The garden, which shows different expressions in the four seasons, has trees that have been around for a hundred years, a pond that draws water from the mountains, and giant stones that are unique to Gora. Just by walking with him on the gentle path, you will be healed by the atmosphere.

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“Bansuirou Fukuzumi” is located about 7 minutes on foot from “Hakone Yumoto Station”. Founded in 1625 (Kanei 2nd year), it dates back to the era of Iemitsu Tokugawa. The main building, the Meiji building, was completed in 1879 (Meiji 12) and is now a national important cultural property. At that time, Japanese-Western style buildings were very modern and rare, and now they are extremely rare. From the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period, many people who stayed at the inn are listed in history textbooks, such as Yoshinobu Tokugawa, Yukichi Fukuzawa, Hirobumi Ito, and Takamori Saigo. The name "Bansuiro" was given in 1876 (Meiji 9) when Takamitsu Kido stayed there.

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In the Meiji building, you can see advanced craftsmanship everywhere. Guest room No. 15 has 48 impressive ceiling paintings from the Edo to Meiji periods. Thinking that the great men of the past were also looking at the same paintings, there is something deeply moving about them. The hanging scroll is handwritten by Hirobumi Ito, Sanetomi Sanjo, and Shigeshige Sanmizu. Room 15 is currently not available for cultural property protection, but there are rooms where you can stay in the same Meiji building. Enjoy the 100-year-old historical space with him.

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The Meiji Wing is also full of retro atmosphere. Take a look at the entrance door on the first floor of the Meiji Wing's Kinsenro. Its solid and stately structure gives a sense of the spirit of the inn that welcomed distinguished guests of the time. Also, the lattices of the shoji screens, transoms, and pillars all vary from room to room, which was probably a chance for the craftsmen to show off their skills. Be sure to take your time to appreciate this Important Cultural Property, paying close attention to the details.

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The inn's hot onsen are said to be so gentle that it feels like being wrapped in floss, so you can wash away your daily fatigue. The large public bath is fed directly from the source, and there is also an open-air bath. There are rooms with cypress baths, and onsen flow out when you turn on the faucet. Soak yourself in the famous hot springs to your heart's content in a space that will make you feel like you've slipped back in time.

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“Motoyu Kansuiro” is about a 20-minute walk from “Tonosawa Onsen Motoyu Kansuiro Ryokan”. A long-established ryokan with over 400 years of history. The current building, which was built in 1919 (Taisho 8), is designated as a registered tangible cultural property. At the time it was built, a four-story high-rise wooden building was extremely rare. It is miraculous that they still exist, and they use construction methods that are difficult to reproduce, as well as wood that is difficult to obtain today. Not only can you see rare cultural properties up close, but you can also stay overnight.

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The inn was originally opened in 1614 (Keicho 19) under the name of "Motoyu". There is a record that Mitsukuni Mito also visited. Since then, many historical figures have visited the inn, including Princess Kazunomiya, Tenshoin (Atsuhime), Soseki Natsume, Heihachiro Togo, Sun Yat-sen, and the list goes on and on. By the way, the shop name "Kansuiro" was named by Hirobumi Ito, who was a regular guest, and his handwritten calligraphy is displayed in the building. The guest rooms, which have been polished by such a gorgeous history, are reminiscent of the past and have a very tasteful atmosphere.

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The inside of the museum is also worth seeing. Please take a look around the history of Kansuiro with him as if you were going around a museum. The image is a splendid fusuma painting of the large hall "Jindaikaku" on the top floor. The large hall is 63 tatami mats in size, but it was constructed using a special construction method that does not use main pillars, and Jindai cedar is used for the ceiling. Jindaisugi is cedar wood that has been buried in the ground for over a thousand years, or over hundreds of years old. This inn is full of unique things.

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The temperature of onsen is controlled by the "yuban" every day, so you can bathe comfortably at any time. The photo shows the Taisho bath, which is covered with imported tiles that were rare in the Taisho era, and has a unique cave-like wall surface. There are also bedrock baths for couples, private baths, and open-air baths. In the open-air bath, you may see fireflies in June. You can rent it out from 10:00 pm to 4:00 the next day, so in June, why don't you and your boyfriend relax in the open-air bath while waiting for the fireflies?

About 25 minutes by bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station, and after walking for about 3 minutes, you will find the Matsuzakaya Main Store. It is a long-established ryokan that has been walking along with the history of Hakone. The company was founded in 1662 (Kanbun 2nd year), during the time of Ietsuna Tokugawa. It is also depicted in Utagawa Hiroshige's ukiyo-e, and there is no shortage of historical anecdotes such as the interview between Takayoshi Kido and Takamori Saigo in the Meiji period. Since then, the Taisho Emperor and his wife have stayed at the hotel, as well as the Crown Prince in the Showa period.

There are a total of 6 pavilions on the site of about 4,000 tsubo, with a total of 22 rooms, each showing a different face. All guest rooms have a view of the garden of about 2,000 tsubo, and you can immerse yourself in an extraordinary elegance. "Shunpuso", which consists of several guest rooms, was relocated in 1925 (Taisho 14) from the villa of the Iwasaki family of the Mitsubishi conglomerate. The room in the image is "Kumoi" at Shunpuso, and you can see the magnificent Mt. Hakone from the corridor that surrounds the room. Feel like an old celebrity and relax with him over a cup of Japanese tea.

The purely Japanese-style detached building "Senshintei" was built within the building in 1887 (Meiji 20) as a villa for the Imperial Family. "Gyokoso" was added as a living room for Prince Kan'in no Miya Narihito when he and his family came to escape the summer heat. Even today, it remains a relaxing space. There is a foot bath facing the garden, where you can spend some soothing time together listening to the sound of the water flowing and the chirps of the Japanese bush warblers in spring.

onsen is a famous hot spring that has been loved by many people since the Edo period. It is a precious onsen that contains all three of the "beautiful skin spring qualities" that are said to be effective for beautiful skin. What's more, it is a fresh, free-flowing hot spring that you can enjoy in luxury. It is also a mysterious onsen that changes color subtly depending on the weather, which makes expectations for its skin-beautifying effects even higher. In this blissful space far from the hustle and bustle of the city, forget about everything and take a break in the good water with your partner. How about it?

About 5 minutes by car from Hakone-Yumoto Station, a building designated as a registered tangible cultural property of the country appears in the pure Hayakawa valley. Fukuzumiro was founded in 1890 (Meiji 23). The sukiya-zukuri of Kyoto Fushin is a multi-storied three-story wooden building that was created by condensing the aesthetic sense of the craftsmen of the time. In particular, it is highly praised for its ability to fully express the beauty of bamboo, using only high-quality bamboo and painstakingly crafting it. Numerous intellectuals have visited Fukuzumiro, including Yukichi Fukuzawa, Soseki Natsume, and Toson Shimazaki, who all designated their favorite rooms and stayed there.

There are 17 guest rooms in total, and no two rooms are the same. The image is the guest room "Seseragi". As the name suggests, this room has the refreshing sounds of the Hayakawa River. After taking a bath, you can sit on the bench by the window and cool off while looking down at the river. If you open the sliding door under the bench, you can enjoy the greenery outside while lying down. He and I will make you realize that a trip that is just relaxing is a very luxurious thing.

onsen can be enjoyed in rock baths, family baths, and Fukuzumiro's specialty "Daimaru bath". The Daimaru bath is a bath made by hollowing out the trunk of a large pine tree. Many people may remember it from the Romancecar TV commercial. The fresh greenery and autumn foliage reflected in the hot water are beautiful, so let's stop the flow of time for a while by immersing yourself in onsen that will make you feel like you've been lost in another world.

By the way, the symbol of Fukuzumiro is a bat. In China, bats are said to bring happiness, and the second generation thought that it was suitable for Fukuzumiro, where good fortune lives. You can see crafts with bat motifs here and there in the museum. Why don't you find a bat that brings happiness with him and bring back good luck?

I have introduced a long-established inn in Hakone that I would like to stay with him at least once. All of these inns are filled with the charm of a long-established inn that is not found in modern large hotels. The long-established inn has an atmosphere that has been cultivated over a long history, and it should add a different atmosphere to your trip with him. Also, the long-established store is long-established because it has been loved by many people both now and in the past. On your next holiday, why don't you go out with him to a long-established inn in Hakone, a different space that will remain in your heart?