I had the pleasure of staying at Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan and was thoroughly impressed by the experience. The friendly and attentive staff made me feel welcome from the moment I arrived, ensuring that all my needs were met throughout my stay. The location is lovely, it is in a serene area that provides a peaceful and very refreshing time during a busy trip. One of the highlights was the abundance of delicious food offered. The traditional meals were both plentiful and flavorful, showcasing the rich cuisine of the establishment. I considered it a very highlighted point of the stay. I felt it was a unique experience. There is a small museum, which provides fascinating insights into the ryokan's history. The natural thermal waters were a true high point of the ryokan, it was just wonderful and very relaxing. Additionally, the amenities provided in the room went above and beyond expectations. Not only were there shampoo and conditioners, but also a range of cosmetic products such as face cleansers with hyaluronic acid, such a wonderful touch! So, no need to bring much of your own supplies. Considering all these exceptional features, I found the ryokan to offer great value for money. The combination of excellent service, abundant amenities, and unique experiences made my stay in Hakone truly memorable. I wholeheartedly recommend Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan to anyone seeking an authentic and enriching Japanese experience.

The only minor downside was that the villa I stayed in felt a bit cold, but it wasn’t a big deal as the hotel provided air conditioning to warm up the room. Also, a personal tip regarding the food: I’d recommend avoiding eating anything between breakfast and dinner, as the meals are quite filling and you'll want to enjoy every bite of the delicious offerings without feeling too full. If staying more than 1 day, try to blend the menu style, try the traditional Japanese meal on day one and a Western style on day two for a nice variety and a balanced experience.

I stayed in a private villa with a private onsen and it was almost magical. From the building itself to the nature the entire ryokan is nestled around. It was all stunning. They especially loved how someone showed me to my villa and showed me around while waiting to answer any questions I might have. I can’t wait to stay here again.

Breakfast and dinners were exceptional! Our table was set and ready for us each morning and evening at our agreed upon meal time. They were traditional Japanese meals with more than enough to satisfy our appetite. The staff were incredibly helpful and spoke enough English for us to be able to orient us to the property and answer our questions. Our ryokan greatly exceeded our expectations! We had an indoor and outdoor onsen, large living space and western style beds. We left feeling like we had just been on a wellness retreat tucked away in the beautiful mountains of Hakone! They also provide a shuttle from the hotel to Gora station and to the Open Air museum, which was very helpful as the hotel is not in walking distance of much other than a Family Mart. They also provide two cotton kimonos and sandals for you to wear to each meal, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, lotions, vanity kit, hair dryer, hair crush, toothbrush and paste, razor, slippers and socks!

It was a beautiful and peaceful location. Everything was clean. We stayed in a private villa with our own onsen and it was a highlight of our trip! The tub was like a mini onsen and amazing. I also appreciated the option for a western breakfast. The dining room staff were also excellent and attentive without being overbearing.

It was a little tricky timing the buses to and from the hotel right, and they could be very full of people and luggage, but they dropped off and picked up right in front of the hotel which was great. There was nothing negative to say about the property itself!

Outstanding stay in a remote but very accessible area. It’s an easy direct bus ride to both Hakone/Yumoto and Odawara stations. The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The private balcony on the room provided a stunning view of the mountains. The meals were extraordinary, authentic, and a great value (and they were very accommodating of dietary restrictions). We were able to explore the sites during the day (the Okada Museum is less than 5 mins away, and the Open Air Museum is only a 20 min walk) and take advantage of the free private onsen both nights.

Note that if you don’t have a room with its own onsen, there is only one private onsen available with showers - which means group showering. We lucked out and were able to get access to the private bath both nights, but something to be aware of.

Loved the private open air onsen. The staff were very amazing and helpful. Great traditional Japanese ambiance. The beds were also very comfy, the best bed I’ve slept in so far!

The food was not great for the westerners palette. While we assumed this going in, it was very difficult for us to eat. I am usually pretty adventurous and will try anything, but even I left the table having not eaten much. It is a set menu, only modified for allergies. There were many times we found we did not know how to eat the dish properly, or we didn’t even know what each item was despite having a menu. It looked very nice and seemed high quality, just not our taste.

This was my second time staying at this ryokan, and the experience was just as incredible as the last. I speak some Japanese, and the staff were able to meet me in the middle with their English. When you first arrive, you are able to rest and have tea and a snack while you fill out the necessary check-in forms. We were in the villas, so we ate our meals at the main building. There were a variety of times to choose from for meals, which was very convenient. We received incredible service the entire time, and our stay was comfortable and relaxing. Our private onsen's water stopped flowing one day, and it was fixed within 20 minutes! As I said to my partner regarding the staff "They do everything except let you help yourself," as even handing your plates back at dinner was met with gracious thanks. They have a wonderful store, great views of the mountainous foliage, easy access to the bus, and they provide lightweight yukata and geta shoes so you can fully experience Japanese onsen culture. There are many beautiful moths and butterflies in the gardens, as well as salamanders; we even were lucky enough to glimpse a tanuki!

We were not allowed in the public onsen, as we have tattoos. I am familiar with the taboos against tattoos in Japanese culture, so I made sure to book the private villa with our own onsen. I'm noting this mostly so other tattooed individuals can make sure they do the same! It would be nice to see people's minds opening to tattoos in the future.

Wow! Click ‘book now’ before the property gets fully booked! We visited Hakone for our anniversary and stayed in the Annex Standard Room with “Shared” Bathroom”(You have a private toilet and sink in your room, but a gorgeous hot spring onsen room for shared showering. We actually asked to use the private onsen each time we showered and it felt like an oasis each morning!). In this room, we had a balcony view of the mountains in Hakone and the valley! The food was INCREDIBLE, we selected the ‘Western Breakfast’ each morning and every night we had a delicious traditional meal. They were extremely accommodating to my pescatarian dietary restrictions - which meant more delectable seafood cuisine! My husband said that we had the best meal of our two week Japan vacation during our stay at this Ryokan. Also, the bus stop is right at the base of the staircase which made exploring Hakone during our two day stay a breeze. Don’t forget to book the “Hakone Free Pass” during your stay through an external website!!

Absolutely nothing! It was perfect!

The room is very spacious the view from every room is beautiful. Location is perfect since it is closed from Moto Hakone which is the port where the cruise ship stops. The dinner and breakfast were outstanding.

I had a really small onsen in my room but the walls and the corners of the tub were heavily soiled with mildew. I guess this is a problem because of the humidity in the bathroom. The public onsen is much nicer.

I loved the views from the Ryokan, was totally worth the walk up the hilly road with a suitcase. The staff were excellent and after I checked out it was raining so the very smartly dressed man behind the desk helped me by giving me the bus timetable and even took me to the bus stop I needed to go! The food was delicious both dinner and breakfast and VERY enjoyed both the Indoor bath and Outdoor bath in the villa!! What a wonderful stay! 🥰 Thank you so much!

Wish I could stay a night or two longer! 😭