I Looked Into Hakone Suishoen

This blog has mainly focused on campgrounds and day-trip hot springs, but every once in a while, as a kind of "detour into hotel-cation territory," I find myself curious about high-end lodgings that are pretty much the opposite of camping.

This time, what caught my eye was Hakone Suishoen, located in the Kowakidani area of Hakone. I came across the description of it as a ryokan registered as a Tangible Cultural Property that makes use of a building from the Taisho era, and I wanted to look into it, so I decided to check out the official website.

Looking Into the Building From the Taisho Era

Hakone Suishoen is apparently a ryokan registered as a Tangible Cultural Property that makes use of a building constructed during the Taisho era. It seems there's also a traditional restaurant on the premises, so this looks like the type of inn where the building itself carries historical value. Ryokan where you can actually stay in a registered Tangible Cultural Property don't seem to be that common nationwide, so I imagine this place would catch the interest of anyone who's into architecture.

What really stood out to me while researching was the room specifications.

• Number of rooms: 23 total
• Room type: All rooms are suite-style
• Baths: Every room comes with its own open-air bath fed by natural hot spring water (based on search results from Gemini)

For an indoor type like myself, a ryokan where every room has its own bath is appealing because you don't have to walk all the way to a communal bath, which means less moving around overall. I wasn't able to confirm pricing or check-in/check-out times on the official website, so it seems safest to ask directly when making a reservation.

Komorin

Having an open-air bath in every room basically means you don't need to worry about when the communal bath gets crowded, right? For an indoor person like me, that feels like a quietly wonderful perk.

Access and Shuttle Service for the Car-Free Crowd

Even though I technically have a driver's license, I barely ever actually drive, so whether or not I can get somewhere without a car is always something I check first. From what I found, the nearest station is Kowakidani Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway, and the nearest bus stop is the "Kowakien" stop served by Hakone Tozan Bus and Izu Hakone Bus.

What's nice is that there's a shuttle service available, apparently offering free pickup from both Kowakidani Station and the Kowakien bus stop (reservation required). Since you need to request it when booking, anyone planning to arrive by public transportation should be sure to mention it in advance. There's also reportedly a shuttle connecting to the sister property "Fufu Hakone," which could be convenient if you're considering staying at both. And of course, if you're arriving by car, free parking is apparently available as long as you mention it when booking.

Reservations can be made through the official website as well as by phone. I won't be including the phone number in this article, but it can be found on the official website.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

I checked using the official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool by entering the location of this property (the Kowakidani area of Hakone Town), and the overall rating came back as "C."

Depending on the building's construction and location, there may be situations where the connection isn't very stable. While picturing a relaxing stay in a room with its own open-air bath, it also seems like a good idea to check the connectivity situation ahead of time so you can plan accordingly.

Komorin

Hearing a "C" rating makes me a little nervous, but if you're just planning to relax at the inn, giving up on connectivity for a bit might be one option. That said, I think people like me who at least want to check work email should be careful.

Wrapping Up

To sum things up again, Hakone Suishoen struck me as a ryokan registered as a Tangible Cultural Property that makes use of a building from the Taisho era, with all 23 rooms being suite-style and equipped with open-air baths fed by natural hot spring water. The free shuttle from Kowakidani Station and the Kowakien bus stop also makes it look easy enough to reach even if you don't have a car, which is a nice plus.

Since the Rakuten Mobile signal came back with a "C" rating, it might be worth checking the connectivity situation ahead of time along with everything else. If you're curious, you can check it yourself using the official Rakuten Mobile tool, so it's worth a look before you book.

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Related Links

• Official Site