Ryokan Kiritani Hakoneso

The ryokan is conveniently located. The parking lot offers a picturesque view of the mountains. The ryokan itself is certainly old and tired, but it still has the atmosphere of that anime-inspired place. The baths are good, though the public ones were a bit crowded. There are private ones for couples! The kaiseki dinner and breakfast are delicious! The service is top-notch. It would be a very pleasant weekend getaway.

I went on a two-day, one-night hot springs trip from Tokyo to Hakone! My boyfriend and I were looking for a casual, two-day trip, and we decided on Hakone, a tourist destination with great hot springs and fresh air. First of all, there's a train from Shinjuku to Hakone, so it was very accessible. And once we arrived in Hakone, we could take the opposite train to Goura Station, the station closest to our accommodation, which was incredibly convenient! We decided to spend the first day of our two-day, one-night stay entirely in the hotel's hot springs and spend the second day sightseeing. The accommodation is located deep in the mountains, so there's nothing nearby, and the slopes are incredibly steep, making walking around the area difficult. I highly recommend buying snacks and drinks at Hakone Station or a convenience store before departure. If you contact the accommodation upon arrival at Goura Station, they'll come pick you up at Goura Station by car. Be sure to take advantage of their free pick-up service! The accommodation offers an open-air bath and a private bath, both of which can be rented for one hour. I highly recommend it, but if it's fully booked and you can't make it, you can always use the indoor family bath! Please be mindful of the opening times, as all hotel guests use it. :) I used the open-air bath after dinner and then enjoyed the hot springs in the family bath around noon, when there were no other guests. The hotel room doesn't have a separate shower, aside from a sink and toilet, so you'll need to bring a towel, a change of clothes, and shower supplies before entering the hot springs! If you're visiting, be sure to include meal service! As I mentioned earlier, the surrounding mountains mean there aren't any amenities. If you pay extra for meals when making your reservation, you'll receive a clean Japanese menu for dinner and breakfast. The staff were very friendly, and the meals were very satisfying. They even laid out bedding in the room for you during meals. The hotel will also provide a car to nearby Goura Station upon check-out, so just let them know! Afterwards, I took a cable car from Goura Station and traveled around Hakone. I had a great time taking a hot spring bath to relieve my fatigue from the previous day, breathing in the fresh air, and touring to the top of the mountain. :) I definitely recommend Kiritaniso Hotel for your trip to Hakone.