Hidamari Ichinoyu

Perched on a quiet hillside overlooking the Tonomine peaks, this intimate ryokan offers a proper introduction to Japanese hot spring culture without the eye-watering price tag of Hakone's more famous establishments. Part of the venerable Ichinoyu Group – whose flagship property has been welcoming guests since 1630 – this particular outpost combines traditional ryokan rituals with a few modern comforts. The setting is wonderfully secluded despite being a mere three-minute taxi hop from Hakone-Yumoto Station, the gateway to the region. Surrender to the rhythm of ryokan life: soak in natural alkaline waters known for leaving skin silky-smooth, don your yukata, and prepare for a kaiseki dinner that has guests returning year after year. It's the sort of place where the real luxury lies not in marble and gilding, but in the unhurried pleasure of a private hot spring bath on your balcony as dusk settles over the mountains.