🥈 Private Onsen near Tokyo – Hakone Yuryo

My go-to day trip destination for a private open-air onsen (hot springs) is Hakone Yuryo.

Accessible from Tokyo on public transport and tucked away in the forested hills of Hakone-Yumoto, it’s perfect if you’re after a traditional Japanese onsen experience—without needing to stay overnight—and with the bonus of total privacy.

Private hot spring rooms

While Hakone Yuryo has larger communal baths too, the real treat is booking a private room with its own open-air onsen. These rooms fit 2 to 4 people depending on the type, so they’re great for couples, families, or even a solo soak.

Accompanying the outdoor onsen area is an indoor resting room with low table, floor cushions, tea, change baskets, a fridge, and a vanity sink with a hair dryer.

The booking fees are quite affordable, going for about 12,000yen (a bit over a hundred aussie dollars) per room for 2 hours.

The private bath attached to the rooms-for-4 can be round or rectangular. The rectangle ones are more spacious.

Just remember the etiquette to wash yourself before you enter the bath tub.

Sunken hearth restaurant

There’s also Irori Restaurant “Hachiri”, where you can sit around a table-top sunken hearth and grill your food over charcoal. It’s cozy, rustic, and makes the whole experience feel extra special.

Getting there

There’s a free shuttle bus running from Hakone Yumoto station that runs every 10-15 minutes, that takes you there in about 5 minutes.

The Romance Car Express can take you from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto Station. But if you don’t want the inconvenience of buying express train tickets in advance, you can simply hop on the local trains to Odawara Station, then to Hakone Yumoto station.

They are open 365 days a year. 10am–9pm (last entry 8pm) on weekdays and 10am–10pm (last entry 9pm) on weekends and public holidays. Check out their official website:

You could for example enjoy Odawara Castle during the day, and relax here in the evening. It’s a nice trip away from the bustle of Tokyo, and it’s a 🥈 (=worth a detour) on #myrevisitlist.

How to book (easily in English)

The website says you need to book by phone, but these days, you can book in English using their (rather hidden) online form 🙂

Be sure to check your junk mail folder for a confirmation of your booking, or in case you need to select a different time to finalise your booking.

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