A Complete Guide to Yugawara Onsen, a Famous Hot Spring Retreat Loved by Novelists and Cultural Figures

Hakone-Yumoto is famous as a hot spring destination near Tokyo, but Yugawara is also accessible in around an hour by shinkansen.
From Tokyo Station, you can take the direct JR Limited Express Odoriko, which takes Approx. 1 hour 13 minutes.
It is another 10 minutes by bus to the hot spring town, so you can arrive there in Approx. 1 hour 40 minutes.

Because it is located between Odawara Station and Atami Station, where the shinkansen stops, it is convenient for accessing southern Kanagawa, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula, and other nearby areas.

There are no areas where people gather in large numbers like an entertainment district, and the inns are spread out, so there are few crowded places.
Even Manyo Park, the area’s main sightseeing spot, has spacious grounds and places to sit and relax throughout, making it easy to spend time at a leisurely pace.

Some hot spring minerals can irritate the skin or leave you feeling exhausted after bathing, but the waters of Yugawara feel gentle on the skin.
Yugawara’s mildly saline and mildly alkaline hot spring water is also said to be effective for external injuries, and it is well known as a beauty bath that helps improve skin condition.

The Yugawara area is surrounded by nature, and you can enjoy the changing seasons as well.
Plum blossoms bloom in early spring, and fireflies can be seen dancing in early summer.
In autumn, you can admire stunning fall foliage, and in winter, the mild climate makes outdoor baths enjoyable too.
Many seasonal events are also held throughout the year.

Yugawara Onsen is not a particularly large area, but it has many places to stay, ranging from luxury hideaway-style inns to therapeutic inns where you can stay for just a few thousand yen per night.
You can hole up in a luxury inn and enjoy the quiet, or keep lodging costs down and spend more on fine food instead.

To get directly to Yugawara, it is best to take the all-reserved-seat JR Limited Express Odoriko, which you can board in Tokyo without making any transfers.

The trip from Tokyo takes 1 hour 13 minutes, and then it is another Approx. 10 minutes by bus to reach Yugawara Onsen.

You can also take the shinkansen to Atami and then go back one stop to Yugawara, but the total travel time is only about 10 to 15 minutes shorter than taking the Odoriko.

The hot spring town is more than 2 km from JR Yugawara Station, and walking takes nearly 30 minutes.
However, buses to Okuyugawara via the hot spring district depart frequently from in front of the station, so taking the bus is the easiest option.
They depart every 15 minutes from 10:00am to 1:00pm, and every 12 minutes during the 9:00am hour and from 2:00pm to 3:00pm, making them very convenient to use.

Bus stops are also close together, so you can get on and off near your destination, making the bus convenient for sightseeing as well.

From February to early March, a plum blossom festival called Ume no Utage is held every year.
Approx. 4,000 red and white plum trees are planted in the Yugawara Plum Grove at Makuyama Park, reaching full bloom from late February to early March.

Satsuki no Sato in Hoshigayama Park, located in the northern part of Yugawara Town, is home to 50,000 satsuki azaleas, which reach their best from around early June.

Also, for around one week in early June, an event called Hotaru no Utage is held in Manyo Park.
Yugawara still has an environment where fireflies can thrive, and they can be seen across a wide area, including along the Chitose River and the Fujiki River.

Autumn, along with spring, is one of the best seasons to visit for beautiful fall foliage.
Take a bus to Okuyugawara, walk down along the Fujiki River, then climb the mountain path a little past the hotel Seiranso and hike to Ikemine Momiji no Sato.

Yugawara has a mild climate, and snow in winter is very rare.
If there is no wind and the sun is out, you can relax in the park, and even open-air baths are comfortable to enjoy.

This historic park was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Historical Parks, and the nearest bus stop is Ochiaibashi.
It was fully renovated in 2021, and Yugawara Soyu Books & Retreat opened there.
At the park entrance is Genkan Terrace, which has a tourist information center, cafe, and coworking space.

There are walking paths in the park, and the riverside path has wooden decks and benches.
At Manyo Park, it is nice to enjoy a walk together with some reading.
You can also bring in drinks and light meals from Genkan Terrace on the tray and relax while looking out at the river.

Deeper in the park, there are gazebos where you can stay almost like in a private room, as well as the fully reservation-only hot spring facility Soyu Terrace (scheduled to reopen in spring to summer 2026).

This park spreads out at the foot of 626-meter Mount Makuyama, where as many as 4,000 plum trees bloom from February to early March.
During this season, the park becomes the venue for Ume no Utage, with stalls selling local Yugawara products and souvenirs.
Many events are held on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the festival period, and direct buses run from Yugawara Station.
In 2026, it will be held from February 7 to March 8, with admission at 300 yen. Guests staying in Yugawara Town can enter free of charge.

Mount Makuyama was formed by volcanic activity, and its rocky surface shows columnar joints created as magma cooled.
You can also see people enjoying rock climbing on the cliffs, making this a park that can be enjoyed actively throughout the year.

This 15-meter waterfall appears in Natsume Soseki’s unfinished novel Meian.
A mineral called Yugawara zeolite, designated as a natural monument of the town, was discovered around the waterfall basin.
There is also a teahouse in front of the falls, where you can take a break with drinks and light snacks.

This museum opened after renovating the building of the long-established ryokan Amanoya, where Natsume Soseki once stayed.
It exhibits works by artists connected to Yugawara, including Takeuchi Seiho, Yasui Sotaro, and Yabe Tomoe, as well as contemporary Japanese painter Hiramatsu Reiji, with exhibitions changing every three months.

This town-run hot spring facility is located very close to Manyo Park, making it a perfect stop after a stroll through the park.
No reservation is required, and it has a tatami rest area and a cafe where you can also have a meal.

This Chinese restaurant near Yugawara Station is known for one of Yugawara’s soul foods, tantan yakisoba, which is one of its most popular dishes.
Tantan yakisoba is a spicy fried noodle dish made with ingredients such as sesame paste and doubanjiang, and each restaurant serves its own take on it.
At Gyoza no Ichibantei, you can choose the spice level, but even the standard version without extra heat has a distinctly spicy finish.

A sister restaurant of the famous ramen shop Iida Shoten, this spot serves ramen made only with carefully selected ingredients and no artificial seasonings at all.
The soup, stripped of excess fat, is beautifully clear. It may look light at first, but the rich broth delivers deep umami.
In addition to ramen made with back fat from the premium pork brand TOKYO X, as well as tantanmen and tsukesoba, Iida no Curry is also a popular menu item.

Located on Yumoto-dori in the center of the hot spring town, this restaurant is run by a butcher shop (closed Wednesdays and Thursdays).
Both the meat and fish dishes are well regarded, and you can also order a la carte items.
Dinner service is only available on weekends from Friday to Sunday, so check the opening days if you plan to visit in the evening.

Located on the first floor of the Yugawara Art Museum, this cafe offers a menu produced by the well-known local tofu shop Junian.
The menu features dishes that let you fully appreciate the flavor of beans in ways you would not find at other cafes.
The cafe also regularly hosts events exhibiting and selling works by artists active in Yugawara and the Tokyo metropolitan area.

This Japanese sweets shop, founded in 1910, stands right near the Park Entrance bus stop.
It is the original shop for Yugawara’s specialty kibimochi, and it still carefully follows the traditional recipe today.
Some items sell out by late afternoon, so it is best to visit earlier in the day.

This long-established ryokan, also famous for its eel dishes, has spacious grounds and reopened after a major renovation in 2019.
It has an old wing built in 1923, Rakumiso built from 1951 to 1954, and a fully rebuilt new wing, and guests can also enjoy views of the garden.
Even the smallest room is 34 square meters, and rooms in the old wing and Rakumiso come with cypress hot spring baths.

Founded in 1888, this inn has gateposts, stone walls, and two of the three main building wings registered as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan.
It was a regular inn for Shimazaki Toson, who is said to have stayed at Itoya for around one week to relax after each of his four annual manuscript submissions.
There are two indoor baths, plus one open-air bath and one semi-open-air bath available for private use.
You can choose your room at the reservation stage, so if your budget allows, it is recommended to select a room in the registered main building.
You can immerse yourself in the carefully crafted architectural beauty of the Taisho era (1912–1926).

With a history of more than 300 years dating back to the Edo period, this is the oldest hot spring ryokan in Yugawara, and its building is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property.
It has its own private hot spring source, an indoor bath, an open-air bath available for private use, and a scenic all-cypress footbath on the top floor of the building, all featuring free-flowing natural hot spring water.

This inn is ideal for solo travelers and creators looking for a quiet stay.
There are also accommodation plans that include meals and encourage writing or reading, and the lounge for working offers free drinks.

This hot spring hotel has a large open-air bath called Izumi no Yu that is also available for day-use visitors.
It offers stays at reasonable prices and operates a shuttle bus to and from Yugawara Station.

The first day is planned around visiting the highlights of Yugawara Onsen.
If you return to Yugawara Station after enjoying Kogome no Yu, this schedule can also work as a day-trip plan.

The second day is planned so you can take your time visiting seasonal highlights.
Even if no special events are taking place, we hope you will enjoy your stay in Yugawara by relaxing again in Manyo Park or taking a walk in your favorite spot.