Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan Reviews

First off, let me explain why I chose this hotel. A colleague highly recommended it. Her Japanese relatives had taken her there when she visited Hakone before, and she said it was mostly frequented by locals. After checking in, I found this to be true, so I booked it. Now, about the location. It's right next to Kowakien. The bus stops in that area are all very close, with three stops within two to three hundred meters. You can take a bus from Hakone-Yumoto to Horaien, and the hotel is directly across the street. Buses run every 15 minutes, are very punctual, clean, and convenient. It's also very close to Ten-yu and Mori-no-yu, just a short walk away. As for the service, it was absolutely impeccable. There was a handsome, glasses-wearing gentleman who spoke Chinese and had an incredibly good attitude. There was also a slightly plump Chinese lady who was very kind. After check-in, she even escorted us to our room and explained everything. Throughout our stay, everyone we encountered had an excellent attitude. They even meticulously explained our itinerary for the next day and proactively helped with our luggage. As my son said, "They're genuinely good." Regarding the meals, I booked a half-board plan. Dinner started at 5:30 PM and was a Japanese kaiseki meal. I didn't realize at the time that some dishes could be swapped. My son was very hungry before eating, and we both pretty much finished everything. The wagyu beef was especially delicious. For breakfast, the staff asked us the day before what we preferred. My son chose the Western style, and I opted for the Japanese. The rice was delicious, and the salmon portions were generous. About the onsen (hot spring baths): We arrived in the afternoon on our first day and immediately went to Mori-no-yu for a soak. The hotel provided free tickets, along with four arcade coupons. In the evening after dinner, we booked a private bath. Here's a note: I had read online that you could reserve private baths, but that's not actually the case. You need to check with the front desk, and if one is available, you can use it. You can't make reservations; you just have to wait. My son asked earlier and was told one would be free at 5:30 PM. We went at 6:20 PM after the previous occupants left. There are three private baths, and each session is an hour long – very comfortable! As for the main public bath, there's one indoor pool and one outdoor pool. I went early the next morning when no one else was there, so it was like having a private bath with an even better ambiance. Cleanliness and the room: The room was very spacious with a balcony, offering views of lush green mountains and clear water. My son said the bed was very soft and comfortable. There was water provided, but no shower in the room itself. Although the hotel is older, it was very clean. Overall, I was extremely satisfied. My son said he wants to go back again, but unfortunately, my wallet isn't quite ready for it!

This hotel has a very traditional Japanese style. The staff are all very friendly and welcoming, always ready to help with luggage. Just be sure to communicate with the hotel in advance about your meals, as there aren't many dining options nearby.

I booked the suite for me + 2 of my friends. Honestly the room is huge and can easily accommodate 4/5 people. The room is clean and the public onsen is great, you can also ask the counter for the private onsen key, however there is only 1 private onsen room, so you will have to wait if someone else is using it. The breakfast included is amazing as well, they will also ask for your allergies or dietary restriction to accommodate for you if you have any. You can also select between the Western or Japanese Breakfast too. There is also the Mori No Yu + Yunessun, which is a public onsen & a water amusement park, that is free to visit nearby as well. You simply have to ask the counter to give you the free ticket QR to visit the place. Just need to remember that the towels provided at the facilities are for both, so you need to keep them and not return it early if you want to visit both facilities. The only negative I have is the location, it is located near the bus stop so if you have Hakone Free Pass, you will be able to reach there easily but it's still quite up in the mountain. There also isn't much nearby restaurant options as well, so you might have to consider their dinner menu at the Ryokan if you are planning to stay there for multiple days as well.

Overall, it was definitely great value for money, can't ask for much more at this price. The room was also very clean and quiet, leaving me feeling completely serene. The only slight downside was that there were too many foreigners when I visited. The 5:30 PM dinner was incredibly rich and varied, full marks!

This is the original and most traditional Japanese-style hotel among the three Hakone Kowakien properties in the area. The suites feature a private onsen bath, a tatami living room and tea room, and a separate bedroom with two beds. It's clean and comfortable, and there's a balcony where you can enjoy the scent of the forest at night. The front desk and restaurant employ foreign staff who can communicate in basic Chinese and English.

The facilities, though dated, are well-maintained in the common areas – a mix of old charm and modern updates. The service was exceptional. We booked a half-board package, which included hot spring tickets for a place about a 5-6 minute walk from the hotel.

This was my first time visiting Hakone, and I chose Miharuya, a historic ryokan with a rich past, even visited by Sun Yat-sen. It's an older place, but overall quite good, and the value for money was decent. For less than 2000, it included breakfast and dinner for a family of three. The only downside was the inconvenient transportation. You need to take a shuttle from the main station, but thankfully, there's a free minibus that connects nearby hotels. A pleasant surprise was a large onsen amusement park nearby. It was my first time experiencing swimming and going down a slide in an onsen, and we spent a long time there – it was absolutely fantastic.

Beautiful hotel and nice staffs. The location is pretty great , near the open air museum. Great breakfast too

The facilities are charmingly rustic and elegant, and the rooms are spotless. The staff provided excellent service, and dinner was delicious. This is a historic inn, once visited by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and is a designated cultural property. Many historical relics are preserved within the inn. The hot spring area is a bit small, which is a minor drawback.

We had a great experience living here. We booked a room with private onsen which was great. Staff were friendly and helpful. Even though it wasn’t the time for shuttle bus to operate, they still offer to drive us. Food were amazing with very dedicated selection. We would love to visit again.

Loved the private onsen, very historical building with an in house museum and cultural activity corner. Traditional Japanese breakfast was wonderful as well. An immersive and special stay for the whole family.

Nice hotel with classic Japanese settings. The place is not new but well maintained and clean. English speaking friendly front desk staff, overall a pleasant and quiet stay, suitable for a getaway break.

Although the dinner menu mentioned clearly about the main course as wagyu, it turned out not to be. And most disappointing is, the beef quality between the two guests were too distinct.

A hotel with missed potential. Being a 100 plus years old does not give you the owner an excuse for letting the property be dusty and in a state of disrepair. Shame to see such a beautiful building fall apart. Staff were great, food was excellent too.