Hakone Onsen Sanso Nakamura

Japan , Kanagawa
Hakone, 1283-97 Sengokuhara, Asigarashimogun
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2026

Silvana

The owner greeted us and provided a tour of the premises when we arrived at 4pm. Dinner was served at 6pm. So it is possible to have a brief onsen if you arrive on time. Note, the onsens are separated by gender and switch each day. One is double the size of the other. So, it worth trying both. It is a truely authentic experience. The cuisine was also traditional Japanese meals. The service was extraordinary. Make sure to book dinner and breakfast in advance. Note, the clientele is mainly Japanese nationals, which a clear indication that this lodging and hot spring experience is are one of a kind. We left with a few kimono that were available to purchase at a reasonable price. We hope to come back as both the owner and his wife, and all the staff were absolutely lovely! Thank you again.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

30 Dec 2025

Benjamin

Service Staff Good. Facilities not great

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Oct 2025

Darcy

I went to 5 different onsens on my trip to Japan and this one had the most authentic, spring fed one onsen. The view out the window to the bamboo was stunning and the grounds were well kept and beautiful.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

07 Oct 2025

Lan

If we have to share the toilet and bathroom, the property can at least do some renovation, it felt like a bathroom of 30 years old with all the rush .
There was a strong smell of smoke in the hallway.
I will not come back.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Sep 2025

Christopher

Felt very intimate. However, please be weary of travel to this location through bus because it is on a hill. Otherwise, the hotel was very peaceful and lovely.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

03 Aug 2025

Evelyn S

We had a full onsen hotel experience.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jul 2025

Verified traveler

It is very nice. They don’t speak English very well but they tried their best. It’s best if you can speak Japanese. The dinner and breakfast was amazing. And there is also an onsen which is great. It is a traditional ryokan so be prepared to take off your shoes. It was a bit annoying to have to wear 2 different slippers for the hallway and the bathroom which was only a few feet from my room. Also since it’s in the forest there were a few bugs but nothing that disturbed my stay. If you want a traditional ryokan experience this was a great place to stay.

Self

8/10

Excellent

16 Jul 2025

Jordan

The property is tucked away in a quiet, and peaceful area. We love the design of the ryokan and the room was one of the most comfortable we experienced although my wife did wake me up in the middle of the night because there were two GIANT but harmless spiders that appeared. The onsen was very enjoyable but also was very hot, the hottest we have experienced. If you're getting to this place by public transportation, I will warn that you will have to walk a little while along the side of a winding highway. I definitely recommend having your luggage sent to this location. The service was good but not the most welcoming. It was a great value and we would definitely go back.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jul 2025

Michelle

Beautiful onsen experience. Authentic and peaceful.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

13 Jul 2025

Jarrad

This property was in a nice area, quiet, walkable to eating establishments, albeit via a road with no sidewalk, public transport is relatively close and the POLA Art museum was a standout. However, the property itself is in need of some care. We, a western family of 5, chose the Japanese traditional room - we were prepared for shared facilities, sleeping on futons, had no problems with the public bath, etc - but the room has some deeply entrenched mould that made it unpleasant just to be in. We are not sure if that section of the property is older and do understand that it is on top of an onsen, so the whole region is quite moist, but, wow.

Additionally the shared amenities were not exactly odour free and the only basins for teeth brushing were in a public corridor almost in the reception area... Which also happens to be where the washing machine was and also right in front of our door.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2025

Nilesh

Wonderful experience and warm hospitality

Leisure

2/10

Poor

12 May 2025

Kim

Property very old musty smelling
No hot water no showers
No access to free coffee etc

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 Apr 2025

Christina

Beautiful and Relaxing Hotel

It was an amazing stay! We were very comfortable in the room and my favorite part was the onsen. It was incredible relaxing after a full day exploring Japan. The staff were respectful and kind and the place was clean. It was a brief stay but I wish I was there longer. Definitely saving this hotel to book again if I'm ever in the area.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Apr 2025

Piyush

Dated property but has all amenities.

One night trip.

Self

8/10

Excellent

10 Apr 2025

Hope

This was a beautiful property and a great part of the trip! Staff were very friendly, the onsen was amazing and it was a short walk from the bus stop.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2025

Sarah

Very relaxing and calming stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Mar 2025

Aaron

Look… be prepared. No Uber or Uber eats. No restaurant meals at the hotel if you didn’t book a day in advance, this includes breakfast.
BUT the owner drove us to a restaurant, and to the bus stop (we took WAY too many bags - should have kept our luggage in a locker and taken an overnight bag). We ended up having a great time, loved it!

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2025

riwut

Friendly staff n good food.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Feb 2025

Yiqi

Best onsen experience. Just wonderful.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

28 Jan 2025

Nicolas

Lovely property and friendly staff but the overall building needs some renovation - especially the onsen part and water area (toilets, sinks and comon bathroom area. Not hot water in the sink...!).

Dinner and breakfast were typical Japanese Ryokan style meals. Decent assortment in the set menu. Not sure if you can ask for different menu. But it was good.

Reception staff was helpful and allowed us to checking early which we really appreciate. They speak english too so perfect for travelers.

Room size was big enough and very traditional. Traveler will appreciate the style.

Still with a bit of renovation here and there I would have given 4 or maybe 5 stars. But it seems that this place stayed in the 90's.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jan 2025

Karen

This was my first time staying at a ryokan and it was a great experience! The onsen was nice and the futons were very comfortable. The only thing that made me uncomfortable was that my friends and I seemed to be the only foreigners staying at the time, so we got a lot of curious looks. But the employee who checked us in spoke English, so I'm sure they do get foreign guests rather frequently. Overall, it was a relaxing stay.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

12 Dec 2024

Jinny

This beautiful property is on hillside, quiet yet close to bus station. This inn is clean and well kept. The view of Mountain our in room and the green bamboo forest in spa are just fantastic. The dinner and breakfast are delicious and with wonderful variety. Staffs are attentive and helpful. I highly recommend two nights stay here.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Nov 2024

Shawn

This hotel was very old and could only accomodate 3 people at a time in each gendered onsen. These were enclosed spaces and not open air, but were beautiful. The room itself was comfortable, we chose Japanese style and it was a fun experience. The breakfast was filling and worth doing if you don't mind working to pick apart your fish.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Aug 2024

W. Robert

Not what I expected.

Family

8/10

Excellent

09 Aug 2024

Yoshiharu

Nice service and old hotel

Location is remote. From the Hakome-Yumoto station we waited a taxi for 1 hour then we decided to take a bus. Taking about 30 mins then walk the hill for about 10 mins.
The hotel is old and the equipment's and room was old. The hot spring was very good. The around hotel was very quiet and with a lot of nature.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2024

Christine

This is a traditional onsen hotel with tatami floor & futon bed - I found this very comfortabke however my husband found it not as much so due to a sore back.
The hotel is set in a beautiful wooded area with amazing birds & cicada sounds around you.
If you haven't had one before, the ofuro (Japanese bath) experience is worth it. The hot water is from the thermal area.
Be aware that the bath is not in your room, but this is all part of the experience.
Ofuro etiquette means it is not an uncomfortable experience.
Remember to take you towel with you - do not take someone elses if you forget yours!
The short walk from the bus stop is quite steep but manageable. It's downhill when you leave.
If you require meals make sure you ket them know when you book. We didn't so missed out.
Highly recommend if a tradional Japanese hotel experience is what you're after

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Jul 2024

Véronique

The breakfeast was excellent.
Our room was a bit small for three persons.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

24 Jul 2024

Wei

Traditional Japanese tatami, great hot spring. Quiet location for relaxing. A bit outdated facilities especially the smell in the room is little bit unbearable. Also there is no ensuite washroom, you have to use the public washroom

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

16 Jul 2024

Edmond

Very quiet . Very friendly staff and good breakfast. If someone want relax. Please choose this hotel.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2024

Thomas

Relaxing Tucked Away Ryokan

This place is out of the way, tucked in somee beautiful hills. Be prepared for a walk if you don't take a taxi or have a car. It's worth it. I had no problems communicating with the staff, and they were super helpful. I messed up my bookings and they were able to get me in a day earlier.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2024

Sean

This is a beautiful older mountain traditional ryokan. We enjoyed our stay and the onsen. I think having the onsen switch is a great idea... It allowed everyone in our party to try both sides.

The Japanese breakfast was super tasty and lots of different items.

We didn't have a car, so took trains and a bus to get there.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2024

Ilan

Thank you for this wonderful stay. The onsen was relaxing. And the breakfast delicious. Not to mention the comfort of the bedroom.

Definitely recommend.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jun 2024

shlomo

Nice, clean, onsan hotel

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2024

Hope

Lovely Onsen

Lovely Onsen, definitely recommend. Staff was friendly, bus stopped down the street from the onsen with a walk uphill on the street to hotel.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

24 May 2024

Justin

A really nice place and the onsen was amazing

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

20 Dec 2023

Fan

This is a true\"little (Japanese) hut in the mountains\" with great onzen experience! You just have to embrace the whole experience. If you do, this is definitely 5 stars! If not, maybe look for a more westernized hotel instead.
Just one caution, this mountain resort is up on a winding mountain road around .5-1km from bus stop \"sengyoro mae\". If you have heavy luggage, it's worth using baggage service at Hakone Yumoto station. I hauled it up the hard way and that was a sauna experience in itself, even in winter!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2023

Pauline Amanda

Property and location were beautiful and the Onsen felt private. One small warning, the property is up a very steep hill so if you're relaying on public transit the location is a bit difficult to get to. But well worth it.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2023

Brandon

Very cozy and small. Nobody in the onsen when I used it. The tatami room is lovely and the bedding was very warm even in the cold weather

10/10

Exceptional

18 Sep 2023

Kim Seng

The hotel is set in a forested ambient and is very quiet and peaceful with the room overlooking trees.

However, it is not convenient to access the hotel and we had to carry our heavy luggages from car park up a slope walking on slap of stone to reach reception.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Sep 2023

Mitchell

Excellent atmosphere.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Aug 2023

Dennis

It's a little hard to find. If you come from Gora by bus get off at the Senkyoromae stop. Look back in the direction you came and you'll see a sign for Nakamura wriiten in hiragana なかむらwith an arrow directing you around the corner and up the hill. After going what feels to be 300 metres up the hill you'll find it on the right, tucked away in the greenery. It's well worth the hike.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jul 2023

An amazing place to rest and experience Japan

Our stay here was the perfect break between the hustling of Japan’s busy cities. We enjoyed their onsen followed by a great dinner served by the most friendly and kind staff we found across Japan. They were all eager to make our stay the best possible.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2023

Kayla

The staff were very kind and very accommodating. They took the time to show us each and every aspect of the building, and they always made sure we felt at home. The onsens were also fantastic, and it was a great way to try one for the first time, as it was more private than others. The building itself is definitely showing its age, but overall our experience was amazing.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2023

Xiaorong

Beautiful place. I enjoyed the hot spring a lot.

6/10

Pleasant

25 May 2023

Scott

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

25 May 2023

Monique

View from our room was beautiful. Very peaceful setting.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2023

INGE PURNAWATY

Very close to tourist spots, the staff was very nice.

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

09 Jul 2022

Toshiyuki

Clean, safe, quiet, and kind and friendly staff.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2022

Julie

The quiet charm of an traditional ryokan can be the best. For the real feel of the area and the milky white onsen to make your skin feel like silk. The staff was amazing, the room felt like a true ryokan and the area was secluded and beautiful. Good for those with tattoos, but don’t expect all the fancy stuff - besides the meals, which are outstanding. For the real vacation feeling of a country I love to live in.

I came here to recover from surgery for uterine cancer and the onsen is the best way to heal. I will visit again . . .

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

20 Dec 2019

Moorgor

It was a very traditional hotel with off-the room toilet and washing facitily. The onsen was nice however part of it was under renovation so we need to waiting our turn to take the shower/bath even though the hotel was only partly occupied

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

25 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

Hotels.com’s disappointing service.

Unfortunately typhoon Hagibis created a landslide that blocked the entrance to many of the roads that accessed this remote hillside Hakone onsen. However, the late notice of property closure did not reach us in time to allow alternative arrangements. Under these uncertain conditions, “hotels.com” should consider improving its protocol for connecting clients with host properties. Especially for potentially major disasters, over 80 died, more timely, anticipatory information should have been provided...rather than abandoning clients and forcing them to find their own solutions in the middle of the night in a foreign country.

Partner

4/10

Poor

26 Apr 2019

Courtney

This property was difficult to access because we didn't have a car. It was a tough uphill trek from the bus stop, and no property pickup.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

it was good and i will book again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Business Friends

6/10

Pleasant

26 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

A bit overpriced, they charge kids 70% of adults so if you Total up, u can get a better place if u booked early enough.

Family

8/10

Excellent

05 Nov 2018

David

The bathroom was away in the corridor.
The location of the Ryacon is on top on a high hill. No shuttle to the place from the bus station. Climbing by foot 20 to 30 minutes.

8/10

Excellent

10 Oct 2018

Verified traveler

Nice hotel, somewhat dated, but enjoyable

The onsen was nice and the breakfast was terrific Japanese food. The rooms might be older but still comfortable. The area was very close to the little prince museum, Venetian glass museum , and pola art museum. Several restaurants and convience stores within walking distance.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Great little hotel

Traditional hotel with delicious food in a beautiful forested area. It’s pretty close to local attractions via bus so that’s a plus. There is a nice onsen, one for guys and one for girls and they switch every day because one is bigger.

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2018

Geoff

Traditional Japanese experience

This stay was unexpectedly the highlight of our trip to Japan. When booking, I was just looking for a Japanese style room in a convenient location in the Hakone area. We got much more than that!

We stayed 4 nights. There were no more than 2 or 3 other guests in the hotel, and only once did another guest eat in the dining room along with us. So the 3 of us (father and kids aged 21 and 15) were waited on at meals by a staff of 4.

The staff speak zero English but their hearts are warm and they work hard! Given we were the only guests much of the time, there was a lot of personal interaction including being questioned each day about what we were planning to do, and advice we didn't ask for, although offered out of genuine interest/curiosity and desire to be of service. If you want a more \"business\" type experience with discreet privacy, this isn't the place.

They offer breakfast--western or Japanese style, and Japanese dinners. Those meals are fantastic, of superb quality and prepared with love and pride.

Because I am part Japanese and speak some Japanese, and the kids were enthusiastic about being in Japan, I feel we may have gotten some special treatment compared to someone with zero Japanese language ability, but that is just a hunch. The ladies set up a photo shoot of my daughter in a kimono and props they kept at hand!

The place has real sulfur spring onsens (2 rooms, which they switch back and forth between male and female so you can try both rooms).

10/10

Exceptional

02 Apr 2018

Bonna

Didn't expect to have such a great experience.

The staff greeted us very warmingly and the traditional Japanese style Onsen was a huge surprise. Was just thinking we had a room for the night but ended up with a cool room, they provided us with kimonos for our stay which we looked great in. with a great view and a very relaxing night of hot Onsen with bamboo just outside. Making it a great Zen moment (I did have a bottle of saki to help which was great). Make sure you book a breakfast because it was traditional and delicious. Hanging out with other friendly staff was awesome. After getting to the hotel we didn't even want to leave. I will remember that hotel and people forever. 5 stars for sure thank you Japan :)

8/10

Excellent

03 Jan 2018

honG

The main reason i choose here is because of their old traditional japanese house in a pretty low price (which i believe has been remaining for pretty decades, house seem remain untouched in a good way ~:)

Esp the balcony! Like the scene being surrounded by woods. It would be better to visit on spring as the wood seem like sakura tree. With the kimono and matcha tea, the ambience is definitely boomed! XD

6/10

Pleasant

02 Oct 2016

Kai

Clean, good mountain view and hot spring.

Clean, hot spring is great. But location is not convenient to access.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Sep 2016

Arppy

Fantastic hidden forest ryokan

The owners/innkeepers are lovely people that treat you fantastically if you show respect and interest in Japanese culture. Basic manners, Japanese vocabulary, and common sense go a long way. The rooms are comfy, the hotel is 5m away from a major bus station, and the food is delicious and hearty. Very recommended.

8/10

Excellent

25 Apr 2016

Jack

A bit old but still a nice experience.

I accidentally booked this Ryokan for only 1 person, when we were travelling as a couple so make sure you dont make the same mistake. Although the staff did not speak English, we managed to reach an understanding and paid for an additional person on the spot, so they were very kind to us in that regard. The staff were very welcoming to us.

The place itself is set beautifully in the hills of Hakone, and while it is a bit old, it still has a warm homely feeling about it. The room was quite dusty and a little run down but this may have been because of our last minute change to a bigger room in an off-peak season. The bedding and Yukatas were all perfectly clean, so we were happy.

The Onsen was fantastic, although again it seemed a little bit under-maintained.

Partner

4/10

Poor

02 Apr 2016

Verified traveler

Old hotel

The staff were helpful although English was almost non existent. The rooms were in need of maintenance. The futons were very thin foam mattresses which made for an uncomfortable sleep.
Not for the older folk, may be OK for someone a bit younger.

8/10

Excellent

03 Nov 2015

Josef

Nice getaway in the countryside

Very nice location, a little off the busy area which is great to relax. Room was very cozy and the land lady speaks good enough English and is very kind.
Tip: if you wish to have breakfast, you need to order it before 6pm.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Oct 2015

Charles

Great Service

A traditional ryoken, a bit off the beaten path, but worth looking for. The lady who runs the place was very helpful at check-in and after check out was very helpful driving me to my next destination. The bath was excellent, the room pretty much as advertised.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Sep 2015

Neil

Wonderful Experience

This truly was a memorable stay. The hotel is located in a somewhat remote location and we took a taxi from Gora (2000yen) to get there. When we met the lady (the owner I presume) she showed us the room, the onsen and generally introduced us to the hotel. We then asked about dinner. As a gesture of great customer service, she drove us to a local Japanese resturant, brought us back (the meal was wonderful by the way) and generally looked after us. The hotel was fairly quiet but genuinely traditional Japenese - a fantastic experience. The Onsen was great - felt hot at the start but then mellowed. As a final gesture, the lady drove us back to Gora. We can only give this hotel the highest rating - really hope to stay there again - thoroughly recommeded!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Aug 2015

nao

Nice and clean

Dinner is very early, bring your own food if you plan having dinner after 8 pm.

2/10

Poor

09 May 2015

Martine

Avoid . Should be NO stars

Couldn't wait to get out of there. Overpriced, absolute gut wrenching stench of sulphur. Showers miles away from room and no cubicles just open/shared (toilet shared also not in room) Pillows filled with buckwheat but felt like marbles. TV that didn't work . Depressing entrance. Then slogged us for a 10% tax for the slimy sulphur spa that we didn't use on the way out. No mention of it anywhere in the booking.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2015

Connor

Definitely worth staying

Excellent place to stay, the lady's were very friendly and welcoming and did there best to help us despite not speaking much English, the food was awesome everyday and the Onsen baths were incredible..

It's in a very relaxing and beautiful area, it was extremely peaceful after a week in Tokyo, also convenient to get to and around for sight seeing with the buses in the area. The 'T' line (Tozan? If I remember) gets you there from the train station or to the premium discount fashion outlets and the 'S' line takes you all over hakone and Mt Fuji area for all the tourist spots. And both stop in front of the 'Lawson' convenience shop which is just 350m through a really pretty winding road behind it.

I can't say enough for the lovely lady's who were so sweet and helpful, it really is a 10/10 spot. We stayed at executive suites at the Hilton the whole trip bare these 3 or 4 nights and thought this place (older building) was very nice and had a lot of character and charm about it. Make sure you book the Japanese traditional room as you get a real feel for the Japanese culture. Someone reviewied it as no heat in the rooms which is untrue all rooms had split system a/c it was snowing and we stayed in a Japanese style room and it was lovely.

The signs are all in Japanese and the lady's don't speak great English but understand it well, we used google translate to ask most things which was super easy.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

09 Mar 2015

Wai Yin

Quite, upgraded ryokan with onsen and

Quite isolated; not much to enjoy about the hotel; onsen OK; food OK; cats OK; staff OK.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2014

Tal

Very positive experience, nice and friendly hosts

I really enjoyed my stay at Nakamura. Very quiet place, extremely friendly and helpful owners (two nice ladies), relaxing small but nice onsen.
It is not a fancy place, rather basic, but it has everything you need to feel comfortable. Breakfast was really good and generous (I especially liked the Japanese style breakfast).
From the bus station you have to climb the hill (about 10 minutes) to get there. Not a huge problem but just be prepared, in case you carry a lot of heavy luggage with you.
The location (Senkyoro-mae) is convenient, especially if you purchase the Hakone free pass.
I had dinner at a local restaurant down the road (recommended by the nice ladies at the hotel). Good, simple Japanese food.
My overall experience was great.

8/10

Excellent

18 Oct 2014

Verified traveler

Pleasant little family run hotel, quiet and out of

I had a very relaxing time soaking in the hot waters of the natural spring feed pool

8/10

Excellent

27 Aug 2014

YoYo

Pretty Good

Hotel was in a rural location, kind of hard to find. Hotel service was great and flexible. Quite thankful. Bed quality was OK. Overall not a bad place.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Aug 2014

Rob

Wonderful Onsen Ryokan with good Lake Ashi access

It is a wonderful ryokan, with its own onsen (hotspring) inside. So relaxing and peaceful, surrounded by an elegant hillside garden. Their Japanese breakfasts are excellent and filling. This hotel is worth the 10 minute hike up from the Senkyoro-mae bus stop (bus is the best way to get there from the Odawara Shinkansen, unless you can afford a 45 min taxi ride), but with bags it can be a bit of a struggle. Too short to call a cab just for that last brief uphill walk. Excellent free wi-fi service. Helps if you speak some Japanese as the staff has limited English capability.

8/10

Excellent

11 Aug 2014

mum

Traditional style

Pros: Although an older style building we enjoyed the traditional style atmosphere. Incl. room, hot baths and awesome breakfast. It's a 5-10 minute walk to the main Street with some restaurants. We hired a car which made it so much better and there is ample free parking. This was one of my best experiences in japan to date and it great for a family stay.... Until checkout!
Cons: I booked a room that stated max 4 adults. So one would assume 2 x adults and 2 x children would be ok. On checkout I was hit with a bill for $350 for 2 children x 3 nights. I feel like I got conned with this. I would have no problem with this if it were clearly displayed on the website. At least then I could properly compare against other hotels/price. They shut the doors at 8pm so you need to be back by then. Made dinner stressful some nights worrying about getting back in time.
Advice: be clear on what the end cost will be. If you want traditional japan and are happy with the price, go for it.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2014

Dixie

Wondeful onsen hot tub

A great place to stay. Beautiful garden with hearing song birds in the morning. A genuine feeling of living in a Japanese castle with rice paper doors, an interesting Japanese hanging mural in the room, and relaxing volcanic mineral hot tub. Great massage chair in lounge area was a plus

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2014

Verified traveler

Super experience!

Very nice hotel Ryakan type, traditionnal, pecfect service 5 star, incredible service from host. Staff speak only Japanesse.

6/10

Pleasant

21 Apr 2014

Verified traveler

:Not a hotel for non Japanese speaking guest

The room is descent, one of the hot spring is great, but the other is very disappointing, small and not hot at all. The breakfast is very good. The owner is very rude, but the other staff is pleasant. The room is booked with Expedia with two people, but upon check out, the owner wants to charge 9000 yan for the extra person. Had to spent almost an hour on the phone with Expedia to resolve the problem, but Expedia couldn't communicate with the owner to explain the contract. The owner is mad and refused to answer Expedia and even used the Japanese to scout me. Extremely rude and unprofessional. Will not return ever again !

4/10

Poor

08 Apr 2014

Verified traveler

Clean but uncomfortable, no English

Despite the too-hot hot springs, which were separate for men and women, there was no other hot water in the hotel. My hands went numb from using cold water to wash after the bathroom. The hot spring tub was so hot I could only stand it for 3 minutes before I thought my blood vessels would burst. The staff speaks no English so don't count on them helping you figure out area sites and transportation.

6/10

Pleasant

07 Apr 2014

FDH

stepping back into 1972.....

Hotel was extremely dated, absolutely freezing in all the communal areas. There are no ensuites. It was not that easy to find and when we did the signs were all in faded Japanese. It would have been an excellent stay in the 1970s but hasn't been updated since. On the plus side - the food was pretty good and the staff were lovely. Very difficult to communicate however as they didn't speak English.

Family

8/10

Excellent

05 Apr 2014

Dave

Lovely little ryokan

This is a lovely little ryokan owners are two sisters who speak a little English which helps always happy to help and assist. Location is good less than 5 min walk to the bus stop close to shops and eateries. Two onsen one male one female which changes each night as 1 is larger than the other can use any time and a free massage chair is wonderful after a hot bath

6/10

Pleasant

30 Nov 2013

Alice

Traditional Japanese hotel in the woods

I stayed at this hotel for one night in November. It was my first (and so far only) experience of staying in a traditional Japanese hotel so I don't have a point of comparison in terms of the traditional features of it. My room was fairly big, covered in clean tatami mats and the bed was already made when I arrived. There was a fairly large low table with a couple of cushions. There was also an area with a western style table and two stools by the window that was separated from the rest of the room by sliding doors but it was too cold to sit there at this time of year. Otherwise, the rest of the room was very warm as there were two powerful electric heaters. The toilet and washing facilities were shared but right next to the room. After arriving, I made use of the Onsen hot spring, which was very relaxing and the owners then brought me my dinner to my room (it was simple but tasty stir-fried chicken and egg with some rice, miso soup and a cup of green tea). The hosts were very welcoming despite speaking very limited English. The only thing I would warn any travellers that don't speak Japanese is that the hotel doesn't have its name written in Western alphabet and is off the main road. I would therefore recommend taking a taxi from e.g. Gora to get there. In the morning, the owners explained to me how to get to the nearest bus stop, which ended up being very close but I'm really glad I followed my Japanese colleagues' advice and took a taxi in the evening.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Nov 2013

graffikviolenz

A traditional Japanese experience

This hotel is well off the Beaten track, actually getting there is a bit of an experience in itself but once there assuming you want to feel like you are in Japan heading for Mount Fuji then this is a beautiful place to stay. Unlike most Japanese hotels it's not attempting to be up to the minute and your hosts aren't particularly fluent in English, but they are wonderful generous people. The hotel is a little like a labyrinth, split levels and rooms off at strange angles, there are huge hot tubs for both men and women so you wash in the traditional Japanese way. There is a restaurant which is very useful as the location is a little away from any major towns , and the food is excellent and very reasonable. In short, I want to go again, but I might suggest a hire car, although a taxi to the nearest proper town is less than 2000¥ which is very good for Japan, and when you realise the nature of the roads in this area

10/10

Exceptional

30 Oct 2013

Excellent traditional ryoken, perfect hosts

Excellent stay here. People running the hotel were the most hospitable and happy people I have met for some time. Room was nice. Normal Ryoken shared bathroom and communal bathing (one facility for men and another for women). Great breakfast. Nice location with plenty of evening food options.

Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Oct 2013

donmac

Hotel on a hill

We had an excellent stay at the Hakoneonsen. We had a little bit of trouble finding the hotel. There are no signs in English and the review that said it was located 100metres up the hill behind Lawsons was out by 2~300 metres. Once located however we were warmly welcomed by the 2 ladies who run the hotel. Our wet coats were taken to be dried along with our umbrellas. Although they spoke little English (considerably more than our Japanese), there was no problem communicating. Our room was traditional Japanese with Tatami mats and Futons. There was a small veranda with table and chairs. It was a good sized room and very comfortable. The toilet was located just down the corridor and washing area a part of the Onsen. We used the Onsen on both nights of our stay. There are seperate baths for men and women, both very hot and very soothing on the body. Sleeping on the futons was fine although the traditional pillow was very hard and somewhat uncomfortable. The owners are extremely nice people who go out of there way to help and make your stay a memorable experience. We chose not to use the dining offered and instead ate in the village. There is plenty of choice. Overall a very good traditional Japanese hotel in a central location for touring around Hakone.

4/10

Poor

29 Sep 2013

Family-run Traditional Ryokan in Secluded location

A traditional and basic hot-spring ryokan. There are better choices if you want to enjoy hot-spring experience.

The location is not so easy to find for first time overseas tourist.

Good spread of food for dinner and breakfast. Friendly but could only communicate in Japanese

Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Sep 2013

mopn

Beautiful nature

Very beautiful place and very nice people, not advance knowledge in English, but they handle it. You may are more comfortable if you have car, otherwise you should walk 10 minutes to the nearest buss stop. Toilet is share, and bath is a hot spring Japanese public bath. Also the hotel is not crowdy and very friendly. It was a good experience.

Family

8/10

Excellent

01 Aug 2013

Miguel

Nice experience on a Ryokan, onsen included

It is a very nice place to have a typical ryokan and onsen experience. This is not a luxury ryokan, but is one with a very good value for the money. The owners have very limited english but compensate the miss with an extraordinary service attitude. Check-in is at 3pm, that was not clear to us. The room was impecable, though be ready to sleep in the traditional way, in a tatami room. We are a family of four, and we had a fantastic experience not only for the night but also for the onsen (hot bath). Location is a challenge, you need to get there by the Hakone Tozan Bus, use the T Line (blue) and get out at the Senkyoro-mae stop. We took the bus from Odaware Sta. were we arrived in the Shinkansen, but same line can be taken at Hakone-Yumoto Sta. There are no readable signs (in english) to get to the Nakamura from the bus stop, but here my directions: get off the bus and take the road that goes exactly behind the LAWSON convenient store close to the bus stop. Be prepared to exercise a little, go up the hill (I suggest you travel with a light carry-on) an enter at the third entrance on the right of the road. Follow that entrance and you will reach the hotel.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

16 Jul 2013

ofer

simple and highly priced

The ryokan was ok. I expected more for the price i paid. Actually much more. At least dinner or breakfast. Nice location if you drive.

Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Jun 2013

Ari

Great hotel!

Great hotel! Noce locatin, but you need to get a bus ride toget there (750yen for one ride... get the hakone free pass insted!) or taxi (about 4400 yen)! But rooms were great, onsen were good too (ladies' was a bit small but good enough to enjoy! Staff doesn't really speak english, but you'll get away with sign language.

6/10

Pleasant

11 May 2013

An around the world traveller

Wanted to love it, but...

The Hakoneonsen Sanso Nakamura is OK, but we expected more. The closest bus-stop is located down the hill from where the hotel is located. Unless you can read Japanese, it can be confusing trying to get to the hotel. I used my iPhone with Google Maps, to help me navigate. The second thing is, we had to pull our luggage up the hill, not the end of the world, but not easy either (much easier going down). It is a no frills Ryokan, very traditional and quiet. The onsen (hot springs & bath) were very nice. The people who work there and own the place, are also very nice and friendly. They speak enough english to help you get settled and feel at home. In summary, the service is great. The location is OK if you don't mind walking a little uphill. The actual hotel/ryokan is good, very traditional, and will work if there is nothing else in the same price range available.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2013

Verified traveler

Great Authentic Japanese Experience!

As a regular western business traveller I was looking to have a different experience, this traditional inn complete with hot springs or “Ryokan” was just the ticket. The Nakamura ticked all the boxes, traditional rooms (floor futons, so you need to be up for this or a Ryokan in not for you), hot springs, great location. The Nakamura is not new, but a family run inn beautifully nestled in the trees. The owners were very helpful and between lots of pointing and smiles (no English here) made for enjoyable and often funny experiences. (All meals are served to everyone at the same time by the owner 8am and 6pm, there is a separate hot spring for women and men, they swap at times so be careful to observe the picture on the signs!)
A few tips, I caught the “Romance Car” down from Tokyo to Odawara, then the Harkone Tozan Bus to “Senkyorou-mae”. It stops a Lawson convenience store 100m from the Nakamura. A taxi rather than bus will cost about 70USD each way. The train was easy but no English signs on the Bus made it tough, fortunately a note in Japanese for the bus driver helped (my western hotel in Tokyo assisted here before started the journey). Same with accommodation, it’s close to the bus stop (100m) but off a side road up a hill – smart phone with google maps is your friend.
I am pretty conservative and loved the entire weekend with this incredible authentic accommodation made better by the friendly owners that overcame my initial reservations – I would say go for it!

6/10

Pleasant

16 Apr 2013

Kent

OK but not the highlight of your trip

Hard-working staff, adequate value. Nearly everything is a bit threadbare. Bath is nice enough but small. OK breakfast, overlooking a mossy garden. Don't expect too much English.

2/10

Poor

10 Jan 2013

Verified traveler

Bad Experience

Really bad experience. Nothing was mentioned that you cannot check in before 6pm if you have not ordered dinner. The expedia site doesnot even mention that.
It was not even in a convenient location. You have to walk with your luggage uphill and there are no taxis around there. There is no marking of the hotel and nothing is in English.
The owner does not speak a bit of English.
I would not recommend anyone to stay there as it is not worth the money.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Dec 2012

Byrons

Magical holiday hotel

A totally magical place to stay. The people were very welcoming and the rooms and views were amazing.

Excellent value and the breakfast was enough to last us all day!

8/10

Excellent

27 Feb 2026

和宏

客室は極めて清潔でスタッフの対応も非常に親切で文句なしでした。
温泉も素晴らしい景色の中で満足ですが、時によって浴室の温度が高くなりすぎてのぼせ気味になることがあったのが残念でした。

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

10 Jan 2026

リンヤ

料理美味しかったです。
スタッフの方のサービスも丁寧で良かったです。

一点、気になった点です。
注意書きに、コロナ禍の対策が記載されていましたが、既に変わっている点もあるのではないかと思いました。

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