Matsuzakaya Honten

I came here for the first family trip in a long time with my mom and sister. It was my sister and mom’s first time in Hakone, and all of our first time at Matsuzakaya Honten. From beginning to end, it was such a memorable experience. I happened to mention as they were walking us to our rooms after check-in that it was my birthday the week before, and at our kaiseki dinner that evening, they brought out a dessert with “Happy Birthday” on it. This was just one example of just how attentive and lovely the staff were. At all of our meals, the staff were friendly and very knowledgeable about all of the meals, as well as the sake selection. I don’t think it matters that this ryokan is a little further from the city center—we came here to relax, and that’s exactly what we did! We ate, we napped, we went to the onsen and used the private onsen in our room as well. It truly was a perfect, restful vacation, and we will have memories from our stay for years to come 🥰

We come here to try the private onsen, and its a pleasant and enjoyable experience. The property is from hundreds year ago however it is well maintenanced and such a great thing to be able to feel the nature of Hakone. The private onsen package comes with 1 hr free drink bar and lounge, so you can make yourself relax after the onsen. However to book it you need to make a call to the property same day or walk in. I recommend to book it since it has limited number of room

We had a wonderful, deeply relaxing stay at this property, which offered a truly authentic experience. The service was thoughtful, and the staff were absolutely stellar. We loved having a private pool, though the public pools also looked excellent—just note that the water is very warm. The food was a bit too traditional for my personal taste, but anyone who loves Japanese cuisine will be delighted. Also, there’s no need to pack much clothing, as traditional outfits are provided (although it's a little cold in some of the public spaces). Highly recommended.

An unforgettable experience with amazing hospitality during our entire stay in October. Very welcoming and attentive. Beautiful hotel and rooms. Dinner and breakfast was delicious. Our room had a private onsen which we really enjoyed. We explored the area by car during the day then enjoyed relaxing at the hotel with the amazing dinners in the evening. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay!

Amazing and unforgettable experience! From start to finish, the hospitality was truly 1000/10. We were greeted at the front entrance and welcomed with tea and a mochi dessert, which set the tone for an incredibly relaxing stay. The staff and service were absolutely top-notch, going out of their way to make sure we were comfortable at every moment. The food was delicious, and exploring the traditional ryokan in our yukatas was such a unique and enjoyable experience. Both the private and open-air onsens were wonderful, and even the rain made the atmosphere feel magical. The game room and cozy lounge were lovely touches as well. Our time here was so peaceful and relaxing. I genuinely love this ryokan and will definitely be returning for a longer stay next time! I thought the location was pretty good but not sure if it was the time of year. Buses came frequently and it only took maybe 8 mins to get to Lake Ashinoko. From there you can take the boat ride across and get to the cablecars, etc. I guess depending where you want to go on the Hakone loop it may be a little far for some locations but the scenery is so peaceful and beautiful to see anyways just go for the ride.

Excellent across the board: services, facilities, food. To summarize: - We booked a maisonette room (2 floors). Very large for two people. The private onsen was fantastic and peaceful. - The meals were great. Don't expect michelin level kaiseki that you might find in a big city like Tokyo. If you do, you'll just disappoint yourself for being misguided. Still, the food was fresh and tasty - excellent overall. I especially liked the breakfast. - The public onsen was amazing. Clean and spacious. Not sure how the female side looks but I'm sure it's equally nice. Few things: - Location may not be for everyone. We arrived at Hakone Yumoto station around 4, and arrived at the ryokan around 4:40 via local bus. Traffic was fairly light BUT could be worse during high season. We didn't mind the location because it felt more secluded vs. staying in town or down by the lake. - The onsen is drawn from natural sources and not filtered. It will have a slight sulfuric smell. That isn't a bad thing but if you can't deal with it, you shouldn't book this place. - Fair amount of stairs, albeit short runs. Still, if you or your party are impaired or not fully mobile, it could be inconvenient. - If you aren't fully comfortable with public onsens, I suggest you go very early in the morning. They open at 5 am. I went twice, once early (all alone for 30 min), and once late afternoon. Second time it was occupied by two others, but honestly... everyone is nude and you get used to it quick. Use the small towel to cover up if you must.

I had an incredible stay at Matsuzakaya Honten. From the moment I arrived, the staff were warm, welcoming, and genuinely attentive. The ryokan has the perfect balance of traditional charm and modern comfort — everything feels thoughtfully maintained and full of history. The rooms were spacious, immaculate, and beautifully designed, offering a peaceful atmosphere that made my stay feel truly special. The private onsen experience was a highlight — soothing, clean, and exactly what you need after a full day exploring Hakone. The kaiseki dinner and breakfast were exceptional. Every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavour, showcasing high-quality ingredients and incredible craftsmanship. Overall, Matsuzakaya Honten exceeded all expectations. If you're visiting Hakone and want an authentic, relaxing and luxurious ryokan experience, this is the place to stay. Highly recommend!

My wife and I recently travelled across Japan for our honeymoon and chose Matsuzakaya Honten as our one night of real luxory and we are so glad we did! The property is beautiful and steeped in history, the staff were incredibly friendly and the rooms were so spacious, not to mention the incredible private thermal bath in the room. The dinner and breakfast were both also really special, showcasing the freshest of seasonal ingredients which was a really special experience and a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine. I can't recommened this ryokan highly enough!

Nice hotel and ryokan. Dinner was very good and breakfast was amazing! Private onsen rooms are fantastic! But it's a bit shabby for the price (you'll see wall paper peeling and only towels in one of the two bathrooms) and it seems some of the nice looking public lounge areas are under construction or closed. But hey, if you're here for the hot springs it's quite nice. We had a private one so I can't attest to the gender segregated public baths. Seems to be a lesser known and perhaps lesser quality ryokan and onsen but for a Alastair minute booking not bad! Get the bus tourist pass and you'll get access to all the transit (train, cable car, etc) too. Worth it if your here for more than a day.