Sarugakyo Onsen Onyado Mikawaya

The facilities are great, and the staff are so polite. The room felt comfortable and relaxing, and the place itself is gorgeous. There are five private baths to choose from, though you might need to wait if they're all in use.

The food was great, and we often found the private onsen available during our stay. We spent one night here; the facilities seemed quite new, and the surroundings were peaceful and nice.

The snow was cleared off my car while it was cold out, and the windshield wipers had been lifted by checkout. That made leaving smoother. I also appreciated the follow-up email afterward, which is unusual in my experience. We stayed one night in late January 2026. The compact room had what I needed and felt relaxing. I didn't try the aromatherapy at the entrance, but it was available. The massage chairs seemed uncommon and, with the hot springs, made for a soothing experience for both body and mind. There was no noise inside or outside the room, and I found the stay highly rewarding. I didn't have any particular concern about the food or service, perhaps because of the reviews I'd read beforehand and my expectations as a seasoned traveler. The service was fine, though it felt more efficient than at other places in the same price range. I did feel a little more hospitality could have been offered. After using the shower, some water remained on the floor and froze the next day, which was a bit of a problem. I imagine wind coming through the lattice walls has a lot to do with it, so it would help to have something to block it when needed.

I've stayed in Hakone, Izu, Atami, Shimoda, and elsewhere, and this was the best inn overall to me. The location may be a little harder to reach than other tourist spots, but I'm really glad I got to stay here. The food was incredibly delicious, and the hot spring water was great for my skin. Even the tabi socks were easy to wear like regular socks, and the inn seemed thoughtfully set up to make guests comfortable. There was also a coffee machine, Blu-rays, manga, sweets, and ice cream.