Hakone Kiga Onsen KKR Hakone Miyanoshita

The rooms are done in a nice Japanese style.

A great experience.

The meal was generous, with so much meat that it could have fed two, and it tasted good. The hot spring was simple, just one tub, but I really enjoyed it. The building is old, though the staff were warm and the Wi-Fi was quick enough for watching Fire TV comfortably. Getting there was the hard part. I took the bus from Odawara Station around 2:20 PM on a Saturday in January. It was packed, and hardly anyone got off before Kiga Onsen, so getting out there was a struggle. Then there was a steep climb up to the hotel, which left me with a bad impression. On the return, I got off at Miyanoshita Station and took the mountain railway. I'm done with buses for a while.

The open-air bath was a treat. The water flows straight from the spring, and the quiet, with birds and insects around, was so relaxing that I ended up soaking alone for an hour. The food alone was worth the price, and both dinner and breakfast were carefully made and delicious. The baths were fantastic too, and the staff were welcoming throughout. I’d happily stay here again when I’m in Hakone. The facilities are old, so people used to high-end ryokans may not enjoy it as much. For this price range, though, I’d absolutely recommend it. It’s a bit out of the way, but definitely worth trying.