I Looked Into Hotel Kagetsuen

I've looked into quite a few campsites, day-trip hot springs, and lodging spots in a row here on Komorin's Imaginary Travels. Since I don't drive, checking whether each place is reachable without a car has become a habit of mine for every facility.

This time, what caught my attention was Hotel Kagetsuen in Sengokuhara, Hakone. I'd seen its name mentioned as a venue for Go and Shogi title matches, and that made me curious about what kind of hot spring facilities this inn actually has.

I Looked Into What Kind of Inn Hotel Kagetsuen Is

The location is apparently in Sengokuhara, Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the official website states it's about a 1 km walk to Togendai Station, the departure point for the pirate ship cruises and the Hakone Ropeway. It seems to be an area close to both Lake Ashi and Owakudani.

There are 61 guest rooms in total, apparently offered in 8 types including Western-style rooms, Japanese-style rooms, Japanese-Western combination rooms, suites, and a special Japanese-style 'match room.' As the name 'match room' suggests, this inn seems to have a track record of hosting several Go and Shogi title matches, including the Kisei, Meijin, Ryuo, and Osho tournaments. The inn apparently also lends out Shogi and Go sets, so it seems like a good fit for anyone who wants to quietly sit down at a board.

As for room rates, I couldn't find any specific prices listed on the official website. Reservations are apparently accepted either through the search form on the official website or by phone. The official website's main text doesn't clearly state standard check-in or check-out times either; the only related information I could confirm was that the main entrance is locked at midnight and unlocked at 5:00 AM for security reasons. If you're considering staying here, it seems safer to confirm the timing details directly when you make your reservation.

Komorin

Seeing that there's a room called the 'match room' made me want to tell a friend of mine who loves Shogi. I can't actually play myself, but it seems like it'd be nice just to sit in a quiet Japanese-style room and look at the board.

Four Types of Baths That Sound Great for Hot Spring Lovers

The biggest highlight of this inn does seem to be the variety of baths on offer. From what I found, the following baths are available:

• Observation bath 'Sakura no Yu': This large bath on the second floor of the main building apparently offers views of the Hakone mountain range through large windows. The water is a simple hot spring (tanjun-sen), colorless and clear, drawn from the inn's own source about 110 meters underground. Hours are 5:30–11:00 and 14:00–23:30, and it seems the men's and women's sides swap depending on the time slot.
• Storehouse-style bath 'Tsubaki no Yu': A large bath using the same simple hot spring water as Sakura no Yu, with the same operating hours, but apparently the men's/women's swap schedule is reversed compared to Sakura no Yu.
• Four private-room baths: These use a blend of sulfur spring water (a milky, cloudy hot spring) piped straight from the source in Owakudani and simple hot spring water from the inn's own underground source. Guests can apparently use them freely, 24 hours a day, at no extra charge. It's not a reservation system — you just use whichever room happens to be free. From the photos, I could confirm the name 'Ajisai no Yu' for one of the rooms, but I couldn't find the names of the other three rooms in the official website's text.

The Owakudani source apparently was restored in spring 2021, but since its supply volume and temperature are unstable, it's mixed with the simple hot spring water — which might be an interesting point for fellow hot spring enthusiasts. Day-trip bathing is also available; the private-room baths can be used from 11:00 to 15:00, with an adult fee of 1,000 yen. However, there doesn't seem to be a designated rest or changing area after bathing, so if you're planning a day visit, it's probably worth thinking ahead about how you'll get ready afterward.

Facility Details That Caught My Eye as an Indoor Type

Free Wi-Fi is apparently available in the guest rooms, which is reassuring for someone like me who tends to stay indoors. There's also a table tennis room (free) and two karaoke rooms (reservation required), so even if you get tired of staying cooped up in your room, it seems like there's plenty to do within the inn itself.

Dinner is apparently a Japanese-Western kaiseki-style course meal, while breakfast is a Japanese-Western buffet with over 40 items. There's no microwave in the guest rooms, but there's apparently one available 24 hours a day in a shared space on the basement floor. Humidifiers can also be borrowed, though supplies seem limited, so if you're staying during a dry season, it might be worth checking on availability early. There are apparently two free parking areas, though the official website doesn't specify the number of spaces.

As for shuttle service, the official FAQ page clearly states that it is 'generally not offered.' As someone who doesn't drive, this is a bit of a concern for me, but since the inn is apparently within walking distance of Togendai Station, it seems best to plan around public transportation access.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using Rakuten Mobile's official 'My Area Network Simulation' tool, the overall rating came back as 'C.'

Since that rating is a bit concerning on paper, I wanted to share it as-is. Sengokuhara is a hot spring area nestled in the mountains, so it might just be a spot where signal reception tends to vary. Since free Wi-Fi is apparently available within the inn, it's probably worth keeping that in mind if you're concerned about connectivity.

Komorin

A rating of C made me a little nervous, honestly. It's great that there's Wi-Fi in the building, but if you're worried about signal, it might be reassuring to check with the official tool beforehand.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up, Hotel Kagetsuen struck me as an inn where you can enjoy both an observation bath fed by its own hot spring source and the sulfur spring water from Owakudani. With a history of hosting Go and Shogi title matches, it also seems like a good fit for anyone who wants to spend some quiet time. That said, the Rakuten Mobile signal came back with a rating of C, so if connectivity matters to you, it's probably worth keeping the in-house Wi-Fi as a backup option and checking the official tool ahead of time to help plan your trip.

This article includes a referral link for Rakuten Mobile's employee referral campaign. For details, please see our Disclaimer & Advertising Notice.

Related Links

• Official Site