Japan is reputable for its relaxing onsens, or hot spring baths. Both locals and foreigners look forward to a therapeutic soak in the onsen. There are more than 3,000 hot spring resorts in the country where you can enjoy yourself for the day. From affordable ryokans with onsens to the top luxury en-suite onsen ryokans near Tokyo, there are plenty of options to choose from.
However, if you would like to enjoy the onsen at a more leisurely pace, why not stay overnight in an open-air onsen ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style inn for a memorable holiday? Open-air onsen ryokans are not as expensive as you think.
We have prepared a list of the top affordable open-air onsen ryokans you can stay within 3 hours from Tokyo. Staying near Tokyo means that you can easily head in and explore Tokyo or even become a Samurai for the day!
Etiquette tips for Japanese onsens
If you’re new to Japanese onsens, these tips should enlighten you about the experience!
- Full nudity in the bathing area is enforced by most onsens.
- Most onsens have a no-tattoo policy. The ban is now being relaxed as the negative connotations behind tattoos fade away.
- Make sure to take a shower before you enter the onsen!
- Keep washcloths away from onsen water.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on June 28, 2025.
Accommodation summary
| Open-Air Onsen Ryokans | Best Feature | Onsen Access | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mizunoto | Public open-air bath can be reserved for private use | Public and private | from USD 206 |
| Hotel Okada | Special foot bath onsen area with mountain views | Public and private | from USD 137 |
| Hakone Suimeisou | Multiple public indoor and outdoor onsens | Public and private | from USD 168 |
| Gora Kadan | Reservable open-air family onsen | Public and private | from USD 1334 |
| Hotel Nanpuso | Natural alkaline spring water in onsens | Public and private | from USD 100 |
| Fuji-Hakone Guest House | Indoor and outdoor onsens | Private | from USD 40 |
| Ayameya Ryokan | Multiple public baths | Public | from USD 131 |
| Kinnotake Tonosawa | On-site Moon SPA | Public and private | from USD 1334 |
| Hakone Kowakien Tenyu | Infinity-edge hot spring | Public and private | from USD 738 |
| Sansuirou | Indoor and outdoor onsens | Public | from USD 379 |
| Nakagawa Onsen Shingenkan | Alkaline onsen waters with curative properties | Public and private | from USD 66 |
| Yui Hotel | Rooms with waterfall views | Public | from USD 1371 |
Open-air onsen ryokans in Hakone
Map Location
Getting to Hakone is quick and convenient, because it is about two hours away by train from Tokyo. From Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, the fastest and most comfortable way is by the “Romance Car” limited express on Odakyu Railway, which takes about 85 minutes and costs 2,080 JPY (18 USD). If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, the slower express train takes about two hours, because of one transfer at Odawara Station, costs only 1,190 JPY (10.30 USD). For both options, you will arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station, the gateway to the relaxing hot spring resort. This section will introduce three lovely open-air onsen ryokans in Hakone that will not burn a hole in your wallet.
1. Mizunoto (from USD 206)
Best for: Families with kids, group trips, couples
Hotel Mizunoto is located in a quiet garden in Hakone’s Kowakudani Onsen area, so guests can enjoy a relaxing holiday surrounded by beautiful nature. There is a large public open-air hot spring bath that guests can enjoy daily from 3pm to 1am, and 2am to 11am, as well as a large public indoor hot spring bath open daily from 3pm to 1am, and 5am to 11am. If you wish, you can also choose a room with an open-air bath for private use. Alternatively, you can also reserve the public open-air bath for private use or relax with a massage treatment at additional charge.
After the rejuvenating soak in the spring water, tuck into a hearty traditional Japanese dinner carefully prepared with beef, seafood and seasonal ingredients at the on-site restaurant. The hotel is also conveniently located to sightseeing spots such as Hakone Open Air Museum and Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, so you can explore the charming onsen town easily.
What guests are saying about the open-air onsen:
“The room was amazing. Very traditional feeling. The view from our room was also great! We had a room with a private open air bath (not hot spring water) that we were able to utilize and look over the mountains…They have private hot spring open air baths and public baths.” - by Google reviewer, Jonathan Maw
“Beautiful traditional style onsen. What’s cool about this one is there are three outdoor onsen huts you can use so you and your partner/family can bathe in an outdoor onsen privately making this tattoo friendly. There are keys to the private onsen and you just take the key to the hut you want to use and put it back when you’re done.” - by Google reviewer, Sarah P.
Mizunoto
766 meters (0.5 ft) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
2. Hotel Okada (from USD 113)
Best for: Couples, families with kids, group stays
Hotel Okada features both indoor and outdoor hot springs baths which are perfect if you want to relax and unwind away from the city. The traditionally designed rooms are good enough for four to five guests, great for groups of friends and families, making it one of the city’s most reasonably priced accommodations.
Each room features tatami or woven-straw flooring. The tastefully designed Japanese rooms are commendable but in order not to compromise the guests’ convenience and comfort, they also offer a flat-screen TV, refrigerator and a high-speed WiFi. You can request for private hot spring baths or enjoy the outdoor ambiance in their foot hot spring baths. When it comes to dining, there is an on-site restaurant where you can enjoy both local and Western dishes using only fresh, seasonal ingredients.
What guests are saying about the open-air onsen:
“For those that know, this is a great location up the hill on the river from town. We stayed in ryokan which was massive and nice. It’s a luxury resort but old and traditional Japanese. A bit retro. Has an amazing hot spring onsen onsite BUT not tattoo friendly.” - by Google reviewer, David Sullivan
Hotel Okada
4.12 km (2.6 mi) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
3. Hakone Suimeisou (from USD 233)
Best for: Nature lovers, families with kids, group trips
Rated 3-stars, Hakone Suimeisou is only a 15-minute walk from Sounji Temple. Guests looking for an affordable ryokan near Tokyo will be delighted to know that they have public hot spring baths and complimentary WiFi access. All guest rooms have air-conditioning and heating facilities to ensure comfort to all guests. They have four types of rooms, each can accommodate, at most, four guests and 2 children, with some rooms featuring an open-air bath as well as breakfast and dinner. En-suite bathrooms come with toiletries and a bathtub.
Guests can pamper themselves with a massage and private bath upon request. And, there’s no need to leave the hotel premises when looking for the best dining option because they also serve authentic Japanese meals and dishes. I’d love to try all the delicacies available here!
What guests are saying about the open-air onsen:
“The private onsen in our room was amazing and we had views of the river. It was such a romantic stay.” - by Google reviewer, Ivy Hensley
“I couldn’t get a room with a private onsen, but the shared onsen was great and had an outdoor as well as indoor onsen.” - by Google reviewer, Nancy Liang
Hakone Suimeisou
4.92 km (3.1 mi) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
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4. Gora Kadan (from USD 955)
Best for: Nature lovers, couples, group stays, families with kids
Bask in the glory of Hakone’s stunning surroundings by staying at Gora Kadan. It is more on the expensive side than the other accommodations in the article, but I think it’s still worth the expense! Unwind in the private open-air baths of certain suites of this property or enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot spring bath.
All the rooms and suites at this property offer gorgeous mountain views and modern amenities. Some even offer a lovely outdoor seating area. Guests can enjoy massages, karaoke, and authentic Japanese food at Gora Kadan. This ryokan is at a walking distance from Gora Station on Hakone Tozan Line, close to Tokyo.
What guests are saying about the open-air onsen:
“The outdoor onsen gives you the opportunity to relax in the natural hot springs while surrounded by the serenity of the forest.” - by Google reviewer, Gerónimo Gómez
“We had an amazing two night stay during our honeymoon. We rented a room with private onsen with naturally hot water with a view of the garden - we used it 5+ times during the stay. It was incredibly relaxing experience.” - by Google reviewer, Katarzyna Herba
Gora Kadan
418 meters (0.3 ft) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
5. Hotel Nanpuso (from USD 128)
Best for: Group trips, couples, solo travelers, families, nature lovers
Located near Hakone-Yumoto Station, Hotel Nanpuso is a great choice for a convenient onsen getaway for visitors arriving from Tokyo. Choose from Japanese-style rooms or Japanese-Western style rooms for your stay as well as rooms attached with private open-air baths.
There are two large open-air hot spring baths and public hot spring baths for you to enjoy the alkaline natural spring water. The onsen water here is said to cure muscle and joint pains, shoulder aches and fatigue. I wouldn’t ask for anything more, but the property goes the extra mile with the meals as well! Look forward to your meal times in this ryokan accommodation, as they serve Japanese-style kaiseki cuisine featuring seasonal dishes. It is certainly a great retreat for a stay nestled within the mountains of Hakone.
What guests are saying about the open-air onsen:
“We had our own outside mini onsen on the balcony and a good range of free amenities and beverages in the room. The yukata, obi, socks and over coat were provided in the package.” - by Google reviewer, AbareSaru
Hotel Nanpuso
4.25 km (2.7 mi) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
6. Fuji-Hakone Guest House (from USD 96)
Best for: Outdoor enthusiasts, families with kids, solo travelers, couples
Nestled within Fuji-Hakone National Park, this cozy ryokan offers affordable lodging near Tokyo. Fuji-Hakone Guest House has a lovely open-air, natural hot-spring bath that guests can enjoy soaking in after a long day of hiking or exploring the area.
All the rooms at this ryokan are done up in the traditional style, with tatami-mat flooring and futon mattresses. Plenty of shared amenities are available for guest use, including coin-operated laundry, a microwave, a fridge, and more. This family-run property is just a two-minute walk away from a bus stop.
What guests are saying about the open-air onsen:
“The private outdoor Onsen was a highlight and the location was perfect, being only a short walk to some local restaurants” - by Google reviewer, Sean
Fuji-Hakone Guest House
4.07 km (2.6 mi) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
Open-air onsen ryokans in Shima Onsen, Gunma
Map Location
From Tokyo’s Ueno Station, take the direct JR Kusatsu limited express train that will bring you to JR Nakanojo Station in around two hours for about 4,500 JPY (39 USD). However, there are only two to three trains per day from Ueno Station, so make sure you check the train timings prior to the trip. Alternatively, you can take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen or Hokuriku Shinkansen to Takasaki Station (about one hour, 4,500-5,500 JPY / 39-47.70 USD) and transfer to the JR Agatsuma Line to Nakanojo Station (about one hour, 760 JPY/ 6.60 USD). Thereafter, you can take a 50-minute local bus ride to Shima Onsen from JR Nakanojo Station (930 JPY/ 8 USD).
7. Ayameya Ryokan
Best for: Families with kids, group trips
Nestled within the mountain valley of Shima Onsen, Ayameya Ryokan is a lovely traditional Japanese inn featuring all Japanese-style rooms. There are four public baths on premises and all rooms boast a scenic mountain view. I wouldn’t mind lounging by the windows all morning! You can choose to enjoy the daily breakfast set and traditional multi-course Japanese dinner in the comfort of your own room or in the dining room.
Besides the awesome scenery surrounding Ayameya Ryokan, you would be delighted to know that there are massage chairs, as well as toys to keep the kids entertained in the public bath. Such thoughtful gestures and warm hospitality from the inn management is definitely wonderful for guests to have a memorable getaway at Ayameya.
Read also: Have an adventurous weekend with your family at Exceed Nemunosato
Shima Onsen Ayameya Ryokan
161.89 km (100.6 mi) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
Open-air onsen ryokans in Nakagawa Onsen, Yamakita, Kanagawa
Map Location
While Nakagawa Onsen in Yamakita is not mentioned often in tourist guides, it is only about two hours away from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station, with 2 transfers. Take the limited express 55-minute Sagami train ride on Odakyu Line to Hadano Station. Transfer to the Odakyu express train for a 10-minute ride to Shin-Matsuda Station. Thereafter, transfer to the Fujikyu Shonan Bus and get off at the Nakagawa Onsen Iriguchi bus stop after about 55 minutes.
8. Kinnotake Tonosawa (from USD 764)
Best for: Nature lovers, group trips, couples
In need of a breakaway from the busy work week? Kinnotake Tonosawa features rooms that each come with outdoor golden baths to help guests effectively relax and rejuvenate with the aid of nature. What makes this place unique from most ryokans in Japan is that its water comes from a deep area, compared to the usual streams. Try out the MIKADO bath which is made from Kyoto Aomari cypress, or for couples, the stone MIKAGE bath which is wide enough for two people. Another exciting must-do experience is to bath in the property’s public onsen, which is gender separated. I think this is the perfect spot to experience everything about Japanese onsen culture!
Dining is available, served by their Kyoto-trained chef and there is also a bamboo bar which provides various kinds of drinks. All 23 rooms in 7 styles portray the beautiful Hakone, where the accommodation is located. Those traveling from far areas may avail of their airport transfer services from Narita or Haneda airports for an additional fee. While the property does not accommodate children, it is still a good value accommodation for adult locals or foreign tourists looking to have a relaxing getaway with their loved ones.
What guests are saying about the open-air onsen:
“The onsen on the balcony is unbeatable, you won’t want to leave the hotel.” - by Google reviewer, Trevor Frese
Kinnotake Tonosawa (Adult Only)
3.63 km (2.3 mi) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
9. Hakone Kowakien Tenyu (from USD 387)
Phenomenal dinner, extensive breakfast buffet, and complimentary sparkling wine and ice cream.
Reasonable pricing for luxury experience with private onsen and top-quality service.
Nestled in Hakone's natural beauty, with easy access to the Hakone Open Air Museum.
Spacious rooms, private onsen, free shuttle, kimonos, and beautiful gardens.
Best for: Couples, nature lovers
Hakone Kowakien Tenyu promises to satisfy all five senses, but this makes it a bit more expensive than some of the other properties in this article! With each of their rooms having open-air onsen baths on balconies accompanied by natural views and chirping birds, it’s difficult not to lean on this promise.
Indulge in Japanese and western fusion dinner or the Wayo cuisine which uses locally sourced seasonal produce. Hakone Kowakien Tenyu offers two types of seating arrangements for a more personalized dining experience: open plan or booth.
Adding to its list of high-quality amenities, the property also offers infinity hot spring on the 6th floor with views from Mt. Mikuni and on the 5th floor: a public bath where waterfalls are seamlessly immersed into the overall onsen experience. If you’re simply looking for a place which prioritizes the rejuvenation of your mental and physical health over extravagant accommodations near the heart of Japan, then the property is definitely worth the two-hour ride from metropolitan Tokyo.
What guests are saying about the open-air onsen:
“A busy onsen-style hotel with two onsens, one of the fifth floor and one on the sixth that rotate between men and women. The sixth floor one has a spectacular view of the valley. Get there for sunrise!” - by Google reviewer, Martin Bishop
Hakone Kowakien Tenyu
954 meters (0.6 ft) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
10. Sansuirou (from USD 353)
Best for: Couples, group trips, families, nature lovers
The Japanese hospitality industry has been well-known for its cleanliness, simplicity and warm service. This is the same for Sansuirou, be it their food, rooms, or public baths. Sansuirou’s reputation dates back since its opening in 1933. With history as long as this, expect only the best and refined quality in terms of accommodation and gastronomic experiences. For one, their rooms have different designs and views.
Food-wise, their cuisine is offered in kaiseki style (using fresh local seasonal ingredients). This makes sure that all the food served are elegant, delicate, and fresh in terms of taste and texture. A stay at Sansuirou wouldn’t be complete without dipping into their outdoor bath with scenic views and free from the hustle and buzz of the modern city. It is even long believed that Yugawara onsens can have various medicinal benefits.
So all the above and combined with high-quality service and long history, Sansuirou offers a truly authentic and comprehensive Japanese hotel experience.
Oku Yugawara SANSUIROU
9.44 km (5.9 mi) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
11. Nakagawa Onsen Shingenkan (from 65.71 USD per night per person)
Best for: Nature lovers, group trips
Located by the clear streams of Nakagawa Onsen, Shingenkan Ryokan is a very traditional hot spring resort in the remote and tranquil town. There are three types of hot spring baths at the inn, featuring alkaline onsen water that has curative benefits for dermatitis and eczema, rheumatism and neurosis, as well as beautifying skin. It seems to me like the perfect place to head to with friends!
Note that there are no convenience stores, or other dining options around the hotel. However, do not worry too much about your meals because breakfast and dinner served at the inn are really amazingly delicious and traditional. Relish in the gorgeous scenery surrounding the traditional inn while you unwind from the stressful city life and relax in the therapeutic onsens here.
Nakagawa Onsen Shingenkan
Address: 577-6 Nakagawa, Yamakita-machi, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Price: from 65.71 USD per night per person
Access: Free hotel shuttle service between Shingenkan and JR Yaga Station. Reservation required at least 1 day prior to your stay. Alternatively, ryokan is a 4-minute walk from Nakagawa Onsen Iriguchi bus stop.
Contact: +81-465-78-3811
12. Yui Hotel (from USD 2589)
Best for: Couples, nature lovers
Experience being surrounded by nature at Yui Hotel which is located in Oku-Yugawara. The place offers scenic views of all the four seasons. Take a relaxing dip into their charming open-air onsen with nature as your backdrop. These baths are gender separated and are open from 3 pm until 10 am in the morning. Aside from the communal hot spring, there is also a bathtub which is filled with free-flowing water for those who want more privacy.
After indulging yourself to these baths and treating yourself to an elaborate dinner, relax into one or more of their 11 guest rooms, designed in traditional Japanese architecture. An added charm is that you can actually hear the river and waterfalls surrounding the property – which adds to the overall tranquil and serene atmosphere.
In general, expect to feel a sense of unity with nature when you stay at this inn; it’s definitely a rejuvenating and luxurious treat but for a relatively affordable price tag when compared to five-star hotels in Japan.
奥湯河原 結唯
9.16 km (5.7 mi) from The Hakone Open-Air Museum
An invigorating holiday that won’t burn a hole in your wallet
As you can see, a stay in one of the delightful onsen ryokans need not be an expensive affair. Instead of staying in a typical hotel or guest house when travelling in Japan, and squeezing a few hours out from your tight itinerary to make time for soaking in a public onsen, take the opportunity to book a stay in one of the above-mentioned onsen ryokans. You will be able to enjoy the uniquely Japanese experience at a leisurely pace and unwind from the hectic life. And whether you’re looking for a private onsen or the best affordable ryokan in Japan, our recommendations will not disappoint you.
Frequently asked questions about the top affordable open-air onsen ryokans near Toyko
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