Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

184. Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu Modern hotel in Hakone with onsens. Stayed overnight because of the infinity onsen with forest and mountain views. Located near the Hakone Gora onsen and has a walkway to it and to a convenience store in the same building (the latter was very handy in heavy rain). Booked breakfast only: a buffet with unlimited salmon roe, shrimp, and crab legs — very impressive. Saw a notice about some event with an onsen sommelier. The onsen sets rotate between male/female in the morning. Water composition is the same across all baths according to the signs, clear, temperature 40-41. 1. Evening set. 1.1. Indoor area has two baths. One has a generous bubble zone. There's a sauna. 1.2. The outdoor area was especially awesome. Heavy rain was falling and when you opened the door to the outside area, water was flowing abundantly down the steps, and the rain itself was perfectly cooling. Outside there's a great stone bath with a waterfall view, all in pleasant evening lighting. You could zone out there for ages. 2. Morning set. 2.1. Indoor bath is very similar in design to the evening set's indoor bath. 2.2. The outdoor bath is an infinity onsen with mountain and forest views. Seriously impressive, cool, and a great daytime view. 3. In-room bath. On the room's balcony there was a bath you could fill by pressing a button. Nice touch — the water composition sign was honestly posted at the balcony entrance. If you need an infinity onsen in Hakone or want a hotel with aesthetically powerful onsens that isn't a ryokan — this is an excellent choice. Breakfast was impressive, curious what their dinner is like.