Hakone Day-Use Onsen on a Day Trip: Prices, Hours, Tattoo Rules and How to Get There (2026)
Short answer: for a hot spring on a Hakone day trip, pick one near Hakone-Yumoto Station, where your train back to Tokyo leaves. Hakone Yuryo is 3 minutes away by free shuttle, costs ¥1,700–2,200 per adult and has allowed guests with tattoos since 1 April 2025; it also rents private open-air baths from ¥10,400 for 2 hours. Tenzan Tohji-kyo is the cheapest at ¥1,450 and is open until 23:00, but it is cash only. Mori no Yu at Kowakien (¥1,500–1,800) sits on the bus route back from Lake Ashi. Prices and rules from each facility's official site, checked 2026-10-10.
The three compared
| Hakone Yuryo | Tenzan Tohji-kyo | Mori no Yu (Kowakien) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Hakone-Yumoto Sta. | free shuttle, about 3 min | K line bus about 10 min (¥260) + 5 min walk, or inn shuttle ¥200 | bus about 20 min to Kowakien |
| Adult | ¥1,700–1,800 weekdays, ¥2,000–2,200 weekends | ¥1,450 | ¥1,500–1,800 |
| Child | ¥1,000 (primary school) | ¥700 (age 1 to primary school) | ¥1,000–1,200 (age 3 to primary school) |
| Hours | 10:00–20:00, weekends 10:00–21:00 (last entry 1 hour before) | 9:00–23:00 (last entry 22:00) | 11:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30) |
| Tattoos | allowed since 1 April 2025 | allowed only if you are the only tattooed person in your group; cover up inside the building | only if two of their cover seals hide them completely |
| Towels | not included: bath towel ¥550, face towel ¥300 | sold at the desk; bring your own small towel | — |
| Payment | cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay) | cash only, no ATM nearby | — |
| Private bath | 19 rooms, from ¥10,400 / 2 hours | no (private resting rooms from ¥4,500 / 2 hours) | — |
A "—" means the official page did not say, so we do not guess. The Hakone Freepass covers Hakone Tozan Bus rides, including the bus to Kowakien. The entry fees above are not covered by the pass.
Which one should you choose?
- You have tattoos. Hakone Yuryo is the simple choice: the official site says it lifted its tattoo rule on 1 April 2025. A private bath room is another way to avoid the question.
- You want a private bath (couples, families, or anyone shy). Hakone Yuryo's private open-air rooms take up to 2 or 4 people. Book online from one month before until 15:00 the day before.
- You want the cheapest bath, or a late one. Tenzan: ¥1,450, open until 23:00. Bring cash.
- You are coming back from Lake Ashi by bus. The H line bus from Moto-Hakone-ko to Hakone-Yumoto runs via Kowakien, so you can stop at Mori no Yu on the way. Its last entry is 19:30; the last H line bus from Moto-Hakone-ko is 20:03.
- You have children under 6. Hakone Yuryo does not let them into the large public baths (use a private room instead). Yunessun is a swimsuit water park, so the whole family can go in together.
Private baths at Hakone Yuryo
| Room type | People | Weekday | Weekend / holiday | Extra 30 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ichi-no-maki (7 rooms) | up to 2 | ¥10,400 | ¥11,400 | ¥2,600 / ¥2,850 |
| Ni-no-maki (8 rooms) | up to 4 | ¥12,400 | ¥13,400 | ¥3,100 / ¥3,350 |
| San-no-maki (4 rooms) | up to 4 | ¥14,400 | ¥15,400 | ¥3,600 / ¥3,850 |
Prices are per room for 2 hours, tax included, with towels and shampoo. Holiday prices also apply on 26 December 2026 – 3 January 2027. The last entry is 18:00 on weekdays and 19:00 on weekends. Guests under 18 cannot use a room without an adult.
Fitting a bath into the day
The usual Hakone loop ends back at Hakone-Yumoto in the late afternoon (see our Hakone day trip itinerary). Budget about 2 hours for a bath: getting there, bathing, cooling down and getting back. A bath before the train home is the classic finish.
Going only to Hakone-Yumoto for a bath? Then the Hakone Freepass is usually not worth it. Single tickets are cheaper; check with the Hakone Freepass calculator. The Romancecar seat from Shinjuku is ¥1,200 per adult each way on top of the fare; see Hakone Romancecar tickets.
Onsen basics for first-timers
- Bathing is naked in the hot spring baths (Mori no Yu, Tenzan, the large baths at Hakone Yuryo). Swimsuits are only for Yunessun.
- Wash before you get in. Use the shower stools first.
- Keep your small towel out of the water. Tenzan suggests bringing one small towel; that is enough.
- Do not bathe on an empty stomach or for too long in hot water. Tenzan's own page warns about this.
- Men and women bathe separately. Hakone Yuryo does not allow mixed bathing for ages 7 and up.
Book a Hakone day with a hot spring PR
- Hakone onsen tickets on Klook compare day-use tickets before you go
- Hakone tours with a hot spring on Viator a guided day from Tokyo
Affiliate links: booking through them supports this site at no extra cost. Prices on partner sites may differ from the official prices on this page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go to an onsen on a Hakone day trip from Tokyo?
Yes. Hakone Yuryo is 3 minutes by free shuttle from Hakone-Yumoto Station and Tenzan is about 10 minutes by bus, so you can bathe for about an hour and still take the train back to Tokyo in the evening. Allow about 2 hours in total.
Which Hakone day-use onsen allows tattoos?
Hakone Yuryo lifted its tattoo restriction on 1 April 2025. Tenzan accepts a tattooed guest only if they are the only tattooed person in the group and cover up inside the building. Mori no Yu at Kowakien asks you to cover tattoos completely with two of its cover seals.
How much is a day-use onsen in Hakone?
From the official sites, checked 2026-10-10: Tenzan ¥1,450 per adult, Mori no Yu ¥1,500–1,800, and Hakone Yuryo ¥1,700–1,800 on weekdays and ¥2,000–2,200 on weekends. Towels may cost extra.
Is there a private onsen for a day trip in Hakone?
Yes. Hakone Yuryo has 19 private open-air bath rooms for 2 or 4 people, from ¥10,400 per room for 2 hours on weekdays. Book online from one month before until 15:00 the day before.
Does the Hakone Freepass include onsen entry?
No. The pass covers rides such as the Hakone Tozan Bus, but you pay the bath entry fee yourself.
Official sources (checked 2026-10-10)
- Hakone Yuryo prices and hours (Japanese): https://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/price/
- Hakone Yuryo FAQ: reservations, cards, children (Japanese): https://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/qa/
- Hakone Yuryo free shuttle and tattoo notice (Japanese): https://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/access/ and https://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/
- Tenzan Tohji-kyo prices and hours (Japanese): https://tenzan.jp/tenzan/
- Tenzan rules for visitors, tattoos (Japanese): https://tenzan.jp/point/ and https://tenzan.jp/english/
- Tenzan access by bus (Japanese): https://tenzan.jp/access/
- Yunessun and Mori no Yu prices and hours (Japanese): https://www.yunessun.com/service/price/
- Yunessun tattoo rules: https://www.yunessun.com/
- Yunessun access (Japanese): https://www.yunessun.com/service/access/
- Last H line bus from Moto-Hakone-ko: https://www.hakonenavi.jp/transportation/ticket_info/search/timetable/detail/?timetableNo=10152-002-001
Prices and rules change. Always confirm with the facility before you go.
More for your trip
- Hakone Freepass calculator: single tickets vs the pass for your Hakone rides
- Enoshima & Kamakura calculator: single tickets vs Noriorikun vs Freepass
- Japan tax-free refund calculator: the new system from 1 Nov 2026
- Yokohama day trip cost calculator: single tickets vs the Minatomirai, JR and Tokyu passes
- Mt. Takao day trip cost calculator: single tickets vs the Mt. Takao Ticket
- Kawagoe day trip cost calculator: Kawagoe Discount Pass vs Koedo Kawagoe Coupon
- Mt. Oyama day trip cost calculator: Tanzawa-Oyama Freepass A vs B vs single tickets
- Odawara day trip cost calculator: Odakyu vs Romancecar vs JR vs Shinkansen, plus Odawara Castle tickets
- Misaki Maguro Kippu calculator: is the Keikyu tuna ticket worth it for your trip
- Kamakura temple entrance fees calculator: Great Buddha, Hasedera, Hokokuji, Engakuji and Kenchoji for your group
- Enoshima island tickets calculator: escar, Sea Candle, Iwaya Caves and aquarium: single tickets vs the 1day and Area Passport
- Hakone Kamakura Pass calculator: one 3-day pass for both areas vs two Freepasses vs single tickets
- Hakone day trip from Tokyo: cost and route: three budgets and the loop in order
- Is the Hakone Freepass worth it?: the break-even math
- Kamakura and Enoshima day trip: cost: which pass to buy
- Kamakura day trip itinerary: one-day route with Enoshima, closing times and cost
- Hakone or Kamakura? Day trip compared: cost, time, closing times and a 3-question chart
- Yokohama day trip with kids: family train cost: child fares and the cheapest ticket for a family
- Yokohama day trip itinerary: one-day route, opening hours and cost
- Hakone day trip itinerary: the one-day loop in order, ride times and the last boat
- Mt. Takao day trip itinerary: which trail, official hiking times and the last cable car
- Hakone Romancecar tickets: price, how to book, observation seats and luggage
- Kawagoe day trip itinerary: one-day route in loop-bus order, bus times, opening hours and cost