(A few of my own, and three from trusted friends.)

Private en suite onsen bath at Hotel Mount View Hakone

Ichinoyu Group:  In Hakone we have stayed at two of the ryokans in the Ichinoyu group. In this group, you can count on at least one person speaking English. The dinner can be a bit strange but they offer a special sushi boat if you order in advance.  This really makes for a great dinner. Linda S.

Taiseikan: One gentleman there speaks very good English (never met him), but we corresponded quite a few times before our arrival. We had teens with us who were picky eaters and this ryokan accommodated our kaiseki meal by letting us order Shabu Shabu (which was delicious). We also ordered western breakfasts for the girls. We reserved the private onsen bath by the river and it was fantastic. Our hostess spoke very good English and answered all our questions about the food, tea, yukata, and was very personable, etc. etc. We had a great time, but only stayed one night due to the expense & my friend’s limited vacation time. Jodi P.

Tenseien: It is not a ‘traditional’ ryokan, but I really like Tenseien. It is an older hotel that was completely renovated a few years ago. It is well located (in Hakone Yumoto) and very reasonable. They have an awesome rooftop onsen, rentable ‘family’ baths and rooms with their own rotemburo. If you don’t want to eat dinner at Tenseien, the main street of Hakone Yumoto is 12 minutes away on foot. And, there is a convenience store on the first floor. Sandra I.

Fujiya Hotel Miyanoshita: A favorite place to stay in Hakone. The oldest Western-style hotel in Japan – it has character! Check the website for occasional ‘foreigner’ specials. Nice outdoor and indoor swimming pools. A hot springs bath that can be ‘rented’. Meals are expensive but delicious. Sandra I.

Hyatt Hakone: Although the prices per night during peak times are pricey, this is a beautiful hotel with a great location. Additionally, it is one of the few hotels where a family of five is allowed to sleep in one room. With 2 double beds and either a couch or an area to add a futon, five people can sleep comfortably. The rooms are quite spacious and the views from the hotel are beautiful. A special happy hour is offered every evening serving free wine and champagne in the living room area of the Hyatt, as you sit by the fire and look out at the mountains. You can order food and/or dinner to be eaten in the comforts of the living room, or there is a restaurant at the hotel. Although I did not use the spa because I didn’t pre-book services prior to our stay, I understand that it is excellent. The onsen is an indoor one but very updated and tranquil. Kristen J.

Hotel Mount View Hakone: Privately owned with very foreigner-friendly staff. Lovely indoor & outdoor hot springs baths. Delicious Japanese meals – they even offer a vegetarian dinner/breakfast package. Spend a little extra for the special ‘deluxe twin’ room. Located in Sengokuhara area – great for visiting Glass Forest Museum, Lalique Museum, Pola Museum. For more information, I wrote an article about it here.  The regular dinner changes based on seasonal ingredients, but this is what it looked like on my last visit.

Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika: Although not much to look at from the outside, the hotel has been remodeled in a lovely modern Japanese style. The hotel is very quiet, even when it is full of guests. If you visit, be sure to book one of the spacious rooms that have their own wonderful private onsen baths. The meals are really something special. Dinner is a fusion of European & Japanese cuisines, while breakfast consists of a tasty buffet of Japanese items. I did a photo story about it here.