Best Family-Friendly Stays in Hakone for Memorable Trips

Hakone Honbako is a five-star hotel built around hot springs, and for families I see the private and open-air baths as the main draw, since bathing together is easier away from a shared pool. The restaurant serves local specialities at breakfast and dinner, with vegetarian and Asian breakfast options for mixed tastes. Rooms have mountain views, air-conditioning and bathrobes, a minimarket covers small needs, and 488 guests rate it 9.5.

Hotel Sengokuhara 533 is run as an aparthotel, which gives families more independence than a standard hotel room in Hakone. Every room has a private balcony or terrace, so children can get fresh air without leaving the room, plus air conditioning and a private bathroom. The on-site minimarket covers snacks and breakfast basics, and the 24-hour front desk helps with late arrivals. Free private parking and an electric vehicle charger make it a good choice for families driving to Hakone.

Sundance Resort Hakone Miyagino is built with families in mind: family rooms come with air-conditioning and garden or mountain views, and the family-friendly restaurant serves European dishes with a buffet breakfast each morning, which makes picky eaters easier to feed. Hot spring baths, a terrace and a tennis court give children and parents something to do on site. Free WiFi covers the public areas. It is a 3-star resort rated 9.0 by 28 guests.

Hakone Yutowa is a modern hotel near Hakone Gora Park and the Hakone Open-Air Museum, two easy outings with children. I like the 24-hour complimentary drinks in the shared lounge, which takes pressure off families between meals, and the hot spring bath that lets everyone relax after a day on the hills. Free private parking helps if you drive into Hakone. With a 9.0 score from 2,689 reviews, it is a hotel I would book confidently.

Tsukino Yado Sara offers comfortable family rooms with air-conditioning, balconies and private open-air baths, which makes it one of the more appealing choices in Hakone for a family that wants its own bath. Asian breakfast and dinner are served at the on-site restaurant, and there is a sauna and a terrace to relax on. Free WiFi is included, and Hakone-Yumoto Station is less than a kilometre away.

Hakone Retreat Före sits in the Sengokuhara hot springs area and is the one I would suggest for a family that wants rest more than sightseeing. It has indoor and outdoor onsen baths, with private onsen options, a restaurant and a cafe. Free WiFi, a 24-hour reception and private parking keep the practical side easy. The forest setting is calm, so I would plan outings by car or transport rather than expect a lively neighbourhood.

Condominium MIRAHAKONE gives families in Hakone the freedom of a kitchenette in every family room, with a refrigerator, microwave and stovetop for simple meals or a child's snack. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, and free WiFi keeps everyone connected. Free on-site parking suits families driving into the hills, and Hakone-Yumoto Station is less than 1 km away for those arriving by train. With an 8.9 score from 1,545 reviews, I recommend it for self-catering family stays in Hakone.

Tsumugi gives families a calm base in Hakone, with air-conditioned, soundproofed rooms, a refrigerator for drinks and snacks, and free WiFi for evenings in. Balconies look out over the mountains, and the hot spring bath and garden suit a slower family rhythm after a day out. It is a 3-star hotel rated 8.9 by 72 guests. I would pick it for parents who want hot springs without a large resort.

Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora by IHG is a 5-star stay with a hot spring bath, a sauna, a fitness centre and a garden, which gives adults plenty to enjoy after a day out. Rooms have air-conditioning, private bathrooms, balconies with river views, a tea and coffee maker and a minibar. Free WiFi is included, and the modern restaurant and the bar keep dinner simple. I would suggest it to families who value a calm, comfortable base.

康郷 箱根湯本202 works as a self-contained base for a small family in Hakone: each unit has one bedroom, one bathroom, air conditioning, a kitchenette and a washing machine, so parents can cook simple meals and wash clothes between day trips. A terrace and a dining area give extra room, and free WiFi is included. Hakone-Yumoto Station is an 8-minute walk away, which keeps trains and buses easy with children. It scores 8.8 out of 10, though from only 5 reviews.

Odakyu Hotel de Yama sits on the shore of Lake Ashi with expansive Japanese gardens, a setting where children have room to walk and look around between meals. Natural hot spring baths and a private onsen let families bathe together in privacy, which suits parents with young children. Rooms look over the gardens or Lake Ashi, and free Wi-Fi and parking make arrival by car easy. Rated 8.8 from 1,034 reviews, I recommend it for a calm family stay in Hakone.

The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko stands on the shore of the lake, and I would shortlist it for a family that wants the setting to do the work. There are hot-spring baths with lake views, gardens with Mount Fuji vistas, and spacious rooms with lake or nature views, some with Mount Fuji. A free shuttle bus runs from JR Odawara Shinkansen Station, which helps with luggage on arrival day. Spa treatments are available for the adults.