Hakone Yumoto Onsen

Hakone Yumoto sits at the entrance to the Hakone hot spring district and can be reached from Tokyo in about ninety minutes. Inns and souvenir shops cluster near the point where the Hayakawa and Sukumogawa rivers meet, blending the lively bustle and the quiet charm of an old spa town. With the largest number of springs and inns in Hakone, it is an ideal base for a first visit to the area.

Highlights

- Views of the river gorge and inn district from the Yumoto Bridge - Street snacks such as hot spring buns and salted squid croquettes along the shopping arcade - Soft, skin friendly water, mainly simple springs and mildly alkaline simple springs - Historic sites linked to warring states era lords, including Soun Temple

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring brings cherry blossoms along the Hayakawa, early summer offers deep greenery, and autumn paints the slopes in red and gold. Winter bathing under crisp air is a special luxury, with snow dusted peaks visible from the baths. Many day use facilities make it easy to drop in during a stroll.

Access and Basic Information

- Direct Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto Station in about eighty five minutes - A transfer hub for the Hakone Tozan Railway and buses toward Gora and Lake Ashi - Day baths, inns, and shops concentrated around the station - Main water types include simple springs, alkaline simple springs, and sodium chloride springs

A Quick Tip

It is easy to simply pass through Hakone Yumoto, but staying a night to hear the quiet sound of the river is well worth it. Walking the arcade early in the morning, when few people are about, reveals another face of this spa town.