Onsen Guesthouse HAKONE TENT
by the TopOfHotel team
HAKONE TENT is a design guesthouse with an actual onsen — a real mineral-water soak on a backpacker budget, plus a bar that doubles as a place to meet other travelers.
HAKONE TENT is a design guesthouse with an actual onsen — a real mineral-water soak on a backpacker budget, plus a bar that doubles as a place to meet other travelers.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
There is a belief that soaking in Hakone always costs a fortune, and Onsen Guesthouse HAKONE TENT sets out to disprove it. This is no ordinary guesthouse — it puts real thought into design, with warm, modern decor throughout. You choose between dorm beds for the tightest budget and private rooms when you want more privacy, so the place flexes to fit solo backpackers and couples alike. The styling is the kind that makes the low rate feel like a steal rather than a compromise.
Food and amenities
The headline is the onsen. HAKONE TENT has its own bath that guests can book for a private soak — a genuinely uncommon perk at a budget stay, and it means you get the true Hakone highlight, a hot mineral-water bath, without paying ryokan prices. The other heart of the place is the bar and common area, which becomes a meeting point for travelers from around the world. You sit with a drink, talk routes, and trade tips, and for a solo traveler that is a real chance to make friends and feel the buzz of the place.
Location and getting there
The guesthouse sits in the Gora area, about 350 metres — roughly five minutes on foot — from Gora Station. That makes it an easy base for the mountain railway, the tram and the ropeway out across Hakone. Gora Park is about 300 metres away and the Hakone Open-Air Museum 1.2 km, with Owakudani reachable by ropeway around 3.6 km out. Hakone-Yumoto Station is 8 km away via the Hakone tram.
Things to know before booking
This is a guesthouse, so you share some space and amenities rather than having everything to yourself. Photos of the property on booking sites are fairly limited, so you book partly on trust. And the onsen may run on a time slot — evenings get busy, so reserve your soak as soon as you check in. None of these are dealbreakers for the right traveler, but go in knowing them.
Our take
Onsen Guesthouse HAKONE TENT suits backpackers and solo travelers who want a stylish Hakone stay with an onsen and none of the ryokan bill. With a score of 8.7/10 and rooms from about $43 a night, we recommend it honestly — it is the proof that a good onsen trip does not have to be expensive.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- It has its own onsen to soak in — you get the true Hakone highlight, a hot mineral-water bath, at a light price.
- The design sets it apart from an ordinary guesthouse: modern, warm styling throughout.
- A bar and common area make it easy to meet travelers from around the world and trade route tips over a drink.
- There is a choice of dorm beds for the tightest budget or private rooms if you want more privacy.
- Location is close to Gora Station, about 350 metres or five minutes on foot, so the mountain railway, tram and ropeway are all easy to reach.
- It is a guesthouse, so some space and amenities are shared rather than private.
- Photos of the property on booking sites are fairly limited, so you book partly on trust.
- The onsen may need a time slot, and evenings get busy — book your soak early.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Hakone
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Hakone — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Reserve your onsen slot the moment you check in, since evenings draw the biggest crowd.
- Sit at the bar and talk to other travelers — you walk away with both new friends and trip tips.
- Pick a dorm bed to spend the least, or a private room when you want privacy.