Miyanoshita Onsen: Hot Spring Guide & Visitor Access

Spreading along the slope above Miyanoshita Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway, Miyanoshita Onsen rises near the point where National Routes 1 and 138 divide. It thrived as a healing spa in the Edo period and as a resort for foreign visitors from the Meiji era onward, and it still keeps a distinctly stylish atmosphere with a hint of the West.

Highlights

• The long established Fujiya Hotel, dating from the Meiji era, and its dignified architecture
• A stroll along the retro Sepia Street lined with photo studios and antique shops
• Mildly alkaline sodium chloride water with a soft feel on the skin
• Views of the Hayakawa gorge and surrounding mountains from the slopes

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring brings fresh greenery and flowers to the slopes and gorge, and autumn paints the hillsides in brilliant foliage. The pairing of the historic townscape with the colors of nature delights photographers. Winter is quiet with fewer visitors, and the retro buildings and rising steam make even finer pictures. It is a town to enjoy slowly over a day of walking and bathing.

Access and Basic Information

• A few minutes on foot from Miyanoshita Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway. Head down the hydrangea slope to Sepia Street along National Route 1
• About twenty minutes by car from the Odawara Hakone exit interchange
• The public bathhouse Taikoyu is about a six minute walk from Miyanoshita Station. It offers low priced bathing and rest and is popular with locals too
• The Fujiya Hotel offers day use plans with a relaxed stay in a guest room or with lunch included. Confirm details and availability
• Main water type is sodium chloride spring, mildly alkaline

Practical Travel Notes

• The best seasons are the fresh green of around May and the autumn leaves of November, when the retro townscape and the colors of nature combine for fine photographs
• A public bathhouse like Taikoyu lets you bathe casually for a few hundred yen, while a Fujiya Hotel day plan lets you relax with a meal included
• A stroll along Sepia Street takes about thirty minutes to an hour. It is fun to wander with a camera while stopping at the cafe or bakery of the historic hotel
• Miyanoshita has many slopes and alleys, so comfortable shoes are essential. It fits easily into a Hakone Tozan Railway loop combined with Gora and Kowakidani

A Quick Tip

Miyanoshita is a town of slopes and alleys, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Stop by the cafe or bakery of the historic hotel and take your time soaking up the mood of the town. Experiencing both the public bathhouse and the historic hotel reveals the depth of this town.