Hakone Yutowa

A decent overall affordable hotel in Hakone-Gora. The water is mildly alkaline with a good amount of minerals. The main onsen also has a sauna. The private baths are large, on a first-come-first-served basis. And the all-you-can-drink at dinner is the cherry on top. Hakone Yutowa https://maps.app.goo.gl/KKxQLZVcLcJ6H9ur6?g_st=ic

General A modern and very cozy ryokan. Very conveniently located 5 minutes from Gora Station, with a convenience store 15 minutes away. The staff is very friendly, the team works well together. They checked us into the room half an hour before the official check-in time. At the entrance there are yukata with different patterns. Lots of cozy touches everywhere: cushions, hammocks, the manga library even has manga in English. Food Dinner with one main dish and a buffet: lots of different fish (including marinated using the chef's recipes), a decent green salad, pickles, tempura, shrimp souffle, plenty of crab dishes in season, various fried things, fruits, ice cream, unlimited alcohol. Dinner is 1.5 hours. After dinner in the lounge you can have unlimited sweets and alcohol (I really liked the plum wine). Breakfast was simpler, but still had that soulful feel - lots of baked goods, pickles, baby eels, natto. Onsen There were two baths, but I only used one, where the water was milky-bluish. Both baths are indoor. Temperature by the thermometer was 41. I really liked it, but it was unusual: after 15 minutes I wanted to get out and finally go do something I'd been putting off. At the exit from the bathing area there's water with ice and oranges, cold milk, and ice cream. There's also a foot onsen with a view of a fire pit and maples. They have higaeri - while driving around the mountains I saw a poster with all the details. They regulate the water temperature through kaon-kasui (heating and dilution). --- I really liked it. Now I want to do an onsen experiment and come here for a couple of weeks with work tasks.