Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU is a ryokan-style resort in the Ninotaira area, beside the Kowakien hot spring leisure district and the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. With 150 rooms, it is one of the larger and more polished onsen stays in Hakone, and it takes the traditional ryokan idea and makes it easier for families and first-time visitors. The superior rooms sleep up to four and come with an open-air onsen or open-air bath of their own, as well as spring-water tubs, a bidet, free WiFi, a large television, a refrigerator and a safe. Rooms can be booked with breakfast, a teppanyaki dinner, a buffet or a multi-course kaiseki dinner, so you can choose how much of the evening to spend at the hotel. For young children, the hotel provides cribs, highchairs, baby baths and children's dinnerware.
Location and getting around
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, the hot spring theme park, is about a two-minute walk away, and the Okada Museum of Art is roughly four minutes on foot. The Hakone Open Air Museum is about 16 minutes away on foot, Hakone Gora Park about three minutes by car, and Miyanoshita Station about three minutes by car.
Kowakidani Station is around a 15-minute walk. Haneda Airport is about two hours by car, though most visitors come by train from Tokyo and transfer to the Hakone Tozan line and local buses, so check the timetable for your onward journey.
Rooms and facilities
The hotel combines the comfort of a resort with the ritual of an onsen stay. As well as the private baths in many rooms, there are indoor hot spring baths and a sauna, and the spa offers body treatments, aromatherapy and massage. Dining includes a steak restaurant for dinner and a kaiseki dinner option, with breakfast and dinner plans on offer, and there is a bar, a terrace, a garden, a gift shop and a concierge desk.
Self-parking is free, which is a real advantage in Hakone, and the whole property is smoke-free. Luggage storage helps if you arrive early.
Who it suits and what to know: couples seeking a special night, families who want a ryokan experience without the formality, and anyone who enjoys a private bath will be happy here. Check-in runs from 3 PM to 10 PM, with late check-in possible during limited hours, and check-out is at 11 AM.
Pets are not allowed, though service animals are welcome. Rates vary widely by meal plan and room type, so compare the options when you book. Autumn colour weekends and the cherry blossom season fill early, so reserve well ahead if you are travelling then.
Why stay here
- ✓Rooms with private open-air bath
- ✓Indoor hot spring baths and sauna
- ✓Spa treatments and massage
- ✓Kaiseki and steak dining
- ✓Bar, terrace and garden
- ✓Free self-parking
- ✓Baby amenities including cribs and highchairs
- ✓Smoke-free premises
Good questions
Do rooms at Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU have private baths?+
Many do. The superior rooms come with an open-air onsen or open-air bath, and the hotel also has indoor hot spring baths and a sauna. Check the room type when you book.
Is it close to Yunessun and the museums?+
Yes. Yunessun is about a two-minute walk, the Okada Museum of Art about four, and the Hakone Open Air Museum about 16 minutes on foot.
Is parking free?+
Yes, self-parking is free. Check-in runs from 3 PM to 10 PM and check-out is at 11 AM.
