I Looked Into Ryugu-den Honkan, a Day-Trip Hot Spring with Amazing Views

As part of my ongoing series where I research and stock up on info about day-trip hot springs and lodging, not just campgrounds, this time I picked up a hot spring with amazing views in Hakone.

I learned there's supposedly an open-air bath where you can view Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji together, and as someone who's more of an indoor type, that actually made me think "I'd rather just soak in that view without having to travel anywhere." So I decided to look into it. The facility is called Ryugu-den Honkan, a day-trip hot spring famous for its scenery.

The Short Version

It looks like the women's bath has an open-air bath overlooking Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji, while the men's bath comes with a Finnish sauna and a cold plunge pool, so it seems both genders can enjoy both "stunning views" and "sauna time" in their own way.
The Rakuten Mobile signal came back with a C rating, so that's something worth keeping in mind.

I've put together the details below.

What Kind of Facility Is Ryugu-den Honkan?

According to the official website, Ryugu-den Honkan is a day-trip hot spring facility located along the shore of Lake Ashi, in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. It's operated under the Prince Hotels & Resorts brand, and apparently the building itself is registered as a Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property. It was originally built as a hotel that opened in 1938 and was later relocated here, and its exterior is modeled after the Byodoin Phoenix Hall in Kyoto, so it sounds like there's enjoyment to be had just looking at the building itself before even getting in the bath.

Business hours are 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekends and holidays (last entry at 7:00 PM either way), and it seems day-trip bathing doesn't require a reservation, so you can just show up. Pricing for general adults is 2,300 yen on weekdays and 2,600 yen on weekends and holidays, with a slight discount apparently available for SEIBU PRINCE CLUB members. For those who want to relax more privately, there are also four private rooms available for rent (without bathing facilities) named Kobai, Hatsune, Wakana, and Yuzuki, which require advance reservation and can apparently be booked by phone.

Komorin

It seems like the kind of place where you can just drop in on the day without needing a reservation, and I find that casualness pretty appealing even as an indoor type. That said, since I don't really drive, I'd probably need someone to take me there anyway.

Kocho and Yumedono: Different Ways to Enjoy the Baths for Men and Women

The women's bath, Kocho, consists of one indoor bath and one open-air bath, and it seems the open-air bath offers views of Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji. The sauna is a steam sauna, and apparently there's no cold plunge pool available. There are 108 lockers and 18 shower booths, which seems like a relatively generous setup, and there's also a powder room attached. Amenities reportedly include cleansing wash and moisturizing lotion, among other things.

On the other hand, the men's bath, Yumedono, has one indoor bath plus two types of open-air baths (including a partially covered one), and it also comes with a lukewarm bath and a cold plunge pool. The sauna here is a Finnish sauna, which sounds convenient since it can be used together with the cold plunge pool. There are 102 lockers and 9 shower booths.

The water quality in both baths reportedly comes from a source called Takogawa Onsen, a calcium-sodium sulfate-chloride spring (a simple thermal spring, pH 7.7), and it's apparently not a continuous flow-through system. It's said to have benefits for neuralgia, muscle pain, fatigue recovery, and poor circulation.

Lounge areas: There's reportedly a shared lounge called Juraku, a women-only lounge called Yugiri, and a relaxation room with massage chairs
Dining hall called Fuji: Lunch is served from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM (last order at 2:30 PM), with set meals, a la carte dishes, and seasonal menu items available
Massage room called Wakuwaku: Open from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, closed every Wednesday. Apparently offers shiatsu and aromatherapy massage options
Ping pong corner: Located inside the party room, priced at 800 yen per 30 minutes per table, with reception handled at the front desk
Gift shop: Located in front of the reception desk, with hours that match the bathing facility's operating hours

I couldn't find any mention on the official website of the bath sizes or the sauna's set temperature, so those details might only become clear by actually visiting.

I Also Looked Into Nearby Spots Around Lake Ashi

There seem to be several spots related to Lake Ashi in the surrounding area, and according to the official website, there's a free shuttle bus connecting four stops: The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko Annex, Ryugu-den Honkan, Hakone-en, and Motohakone. I also came across information suggesting Hakone-en might be within walking distance, but since this isn't explicitly stated in the access page text on the official website and only came up in search results, it's probably worth double-checking if you're planning an actual visit.

There seem to be plenty of options to combine with a visit to the hot spring, whether that's taking the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway up to Hakone Motomiya at the summit, visiting Hakone Shrine and Kuzuryu Shrine, or stopping by the Narukawa Art Museum. There also appear to be restaurants nearby worth visiting just for the food, such as the French restaurant Le Trianon and the Western-style restaurant Lakeside Grill.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official My Area Connectivity Simulation tool, the overall rating came back as "C." This might have something to do with the terrain, since the area sits along Lake Ashi and is surrounded by mountains.

A C rating apparently doesn't necessarily mean "completely unusable," but if you're planning to watch videos or do anything data-heavy, it might be worth checking in advance for peace of mind.

Komorin

Honestly, that C rating did give me a bit of pause, but I feel like I can go without checking my phone while soaking in a hot spring anyway, so I'm not taking it too seriously myself. That said, if you're expecting an important message, it's probably a good idea to check in advance just to be safe.

See Rakuten Mobile Details

Wrapping Up

Putting it all together, my overall impression of Ryugu-den Honkan, the day-trip hot spring with amazing views, is that it's a facility with a women's open-air bath overlooking Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji, plus a men's bath called Yumedono equipped with a Finnish sauna and cold plunge pool, offering a different experience for each. The ease of dropping in for a day-trip bath without a reservation also felt like a real plus for someone like me who leans indoor type.

Since the Rakuten Mobile signal came back with a C rating, if you're planning to rely on connectivity while you're there, it's probably worth checking the official Rakuten Mobile tool beforehand.

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