Top 7 Hakone Foot Bath Spots: Relax and Rejuvenate Your Journey
Hakone is a town that developed as a summer resort and health resort, making it a recommended tourist destination for people who want to enjoy a leisurely vacation. You can slowly explore while enjoying beautiful nature and experiencing rich history and culture.
Additionally, Hakone is famous as one of Japan's leading hot spring areas. According to Japan's travel website "Jalan Net," in the "Hot Spring Ranking You Want to Visit Again," it won 2nd place for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025. (Until 2023, it held 1st place for 15 consecutive years.)
This time, we will introduce recommended hot spring facilities in Hakone and Gora where you can enjoy hot springs without staying overnight, featuring some of the best Hakone foot bath spots for tourists.
What is "Ashiyu (Foot Bath)," One of Japan's Traditional Cultures?
Ashiyu (foot bath) is one of Japan's hot spring cultures. You soak your feet up to just above your ankles in hot springs about 30cm deep. Even though only your feet are soaked, warmth spreads from your toes to your entire body, creating a very pleasant sensation.
Also, foot baths are often located outdoors, so you can feel the wind with your whole body while experiencing the warmth of the hot springs with your feet. This is also one of the reasons why foot baths feel so wonderful.
Since you only need to remove your shoes and socks, foot baths are highly recommended for people who are hesitant about Japan's hot spring culture of removing all clothes to bathe. Another attractive point of foot baths is that men and women can enjoy hot springs together.
What are Hot Springs?
Hot springs are formed when rain, snow, or ancient seawater seeps into the ground, gets heated underground, and springs up to the surface. Hot springs contain very small amounts of different substances such as sulfur and hydrogen ions, varying by location.
Each hot spring has effects that can help improve various symptoms such as insomnia, atopic dermatitis, and poor circulation, depending on which substances they contain. (This is not a substitute for medical treatment, so please consult a doctor as needed.)
They also bring significant benefits for beauty, such as promoting beautiful skin and moisturization.
Furthermore, hot springs have excellent relaxation effects. When you soak in the hot water and relax, your fatigue will disappear.
5 Recommended Hot Spring Facilities with Foot Baths in Hakone
First, let me introduce hot spring facilities where you can enjoy foot baths in Hakone. While some include accommodations, you can enjoy them without staying overnight, making these Hakone foot bath spots perfect for day trips.
Tenseien
Source:Official Instagram
Tenseien is a complex facility where you can enjoy hot springs, gardens, dining, and relaxation. The foot bath is located within a vast garden where you can enjoy scenery throughout the four seasons.
Within the garden, there are two waterfalls, a shrine, and a restaurant where you can enjoy light meals. You can experience Japanese culture by enjoying beautiful Japanese scenery and visiting the shrine. After walking around extensively in the garden, it's recommended to head to the foot bath at the end for a rest.
From the foot bath, you can also overlook the beautiful waterfalls and ryokan, which is another delightful feature.
Furthermore, the extremely long business hours from 10:00 to 9:00 the next morning and the fact that towels are provided are also attractive features.
Tenseien's foot bath is recommended for people who want to experience Japanese culture including Japanese gardens and shrines, not just foot baths.
Store Information
- Address: 682 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: 10:00~9:00 the next morning
- Closed: Irregular holidays (about 2-3 days once a year)
- Phone Number: 0460-83-8511
- Official Website: https://www.tenseien.co.jp/language/
Hakone no Mori Ashiyu (Hakone Forest Foot Bath)
Source:Official website
Hakone no Mori Ashiyu is a spot where you can simultaneously enjoy Hakone's magnificent nature and foot baths, with the mountains of Hakone spreading out before you. The scenery offers various seasonal beauty: cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring, fresh greenery in summer, and autumn foliage in fall. I visited during the spring azalea season. The sight of vibrant flowers blooming right in front of you is absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing.
Since it's a covered foot bath, you can enjoy the experience even on rainy days. Listening to the sound of rain hitting the roof and feeling contemplative is one of the quintessentially Japanese experiences.
Furthermore, tourist attractions such as The Hakone Open-Air Museum are nearby, which is another attractive feature. Among Hakone foot bath spots, this location is recommended for people who want to take a break while feeling immersed in nature during their sightseeing.
You Might Encounter Adorable Dogs Soaking in Pet Hot Springs!
Source:Google Maps
Hakone no Mori Ashiyu is also famous for having foot baths where you can enter with dogs. Dogs relaxing in hot springs are incredibly cute.
When it comes to hot springs, many people picture bathing with a tenugui (traditional Japanese towel) placed on one's head. At Hakone no Mori Ashiyu, they also lend dog tenugui, so you might encounter dogs relaxing like humans with tenugui on their heads.
When I visited, there was a dog that kept shaking off the tenugui no matter how many times the owner placed it on its head - it was absolutely adorable.
Store Information
- Address: 1071-2 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: 9:00-17:00
- Closed: Irregular holidays (Please check the official website)
- Phone Number: 0460-82-3666
- Official Website: https://ninotaira.com/page1
Kappa Tengoku
Source:booking.com
Kappa Tengoku features foot baths where you can soak while overlooking the streetscape of Hakone-Yumoto (the center of Hakone) and watching the Hakone Tozan Railway trains come and go. Another attractive feature is that you can enjoy illuminated lighting from when it gets dark until around 8:00 PM.
Kappa Tengoku celebrated its 40th anniversary in March 2025 and is a hot spring facility popular for its retro atmosphere. The journey up to the foot bath on the hilltop, walking along the retro and fantastical path, is also very enjoyable. Please enjoy the atmosphere that feels like something from an anime set in olden times. The large public bath and guest rooms also have a wonderful retro atmosphere, making this a recommended place for overnight stays. There are also rooms with private outdoor baths.
For people who love streetscape views, Kappa Tengoku's foot bath is the most recommended among all hakone foot bath spots.
Store Information
- Address: 777 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: Weekdays 10:00-20:00, Saturdays/Sundays/Holidays 10:00-21:00
- Closed: Open year-round
- Phone: 0460-85-6121
- Official Website: https://www.kappa1059.co.jp/かっぱ天国-ホーム
Enjoy Foot Bath Cafes and Other Tourist Spots to the Fullest with a Local Guide
The "Hakone Day Trip Tour from Tokyo with a Private Car & Guide" is a tour that allows you to enjoy Hakone from various angles. You'll visit Japanese-style cafes with over 400 years of history, famous tourist spots such as Hakone Shrine and The Hakone Open-Air Museum, and enjoy nature from various locations including ropeways and boats.
The final stop on this tour is a cafe with attached foot baths. You can warm yourself from your feet while sipping refreshing drinks to heal the fatigue from your journey.
This tour is recommended for people who want to thoroughly enjoy Hakone from various perspectives including nature, culture, and food. Another appealing point is that it departs from and returns to Tokyo. This tour is perfect for those who want to take a day trip while staying in Tokyo.
Tour Details
- Meeting point: Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
- Tour area: Hakone
- Start time: 8:00
Top 3 Recommended Hakone Foot Bath Spots Where You Can Enjoy Meals
From here, we'll introduce spots where you can enjoy foot baths and meals simultaneously. Dining while relaxing in foot baths makes the food taste even more delicious than usual.
Naraya Cafe
Source:Google Maps
NARAYA CAFE is a cafe with over 300 years of history that has long been popular with travelers from around the world. The building, which is over 50 years old, has been renovated, creating an attractive retro and calming atmosphere.
The foot bath also has a calming atmosphere based on wood, making it the perfect place to spend time relaxing. The handmade wooden play equipment placed there is one of the points that gives a sense of warmth. The spectacular view of Hakone's mountains that can be seen from the foot bath is also one of the reasons I recommend this NARAYA CAFE.
By the way, the menu item I most want to recommend is the monaka (a Japanese confection with sweet red bean paste inside a shell made from rice cake) called "Narayan." Different types of sweet red bean paste are wrapped inside depending on the season, so please try to feel Japan's four seasons through the sweet red bean paste.
This cafe is recommended for people who want to experience Japanese culture through traditional Japanese-style architecture and Japanese sweets.
Store Information
- Address: 404-13 Miyanoshita, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: 10:30-17:00
- Closed: Wednesdays and 4th Thursdays (Winter closure: mid to late January)
Phone: 0460-82-1259
- Official Website: https://naraya-cafe.com/
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naraya_cafe_/
Bakery & Table Hakone
Source: Official website
Bakery & Table is a popular bakery known for high-quality bread that brings out the flavors of carefully selected ingredients. You can enjoy the bread you purchase on the terrace, in the cafe, or at the coffee bar.
What I want to recommend this time is the terrace seating with foot baths. Bakery & Table is located on the shore of Lake Ashinoko, where you can enjoy the spectacular lake views and pleasant lakeside breeze while savoring bread. They also sell drink menus including coffee and tea, as well as sweets, so I recommend purchasing these along with bread.
Also, my recommended menu item is the Honey Toast & Soft-serve Ice cream. The combination of cold soft-serve ice cream and sweet toast is outstanding.
Bakery & Table is recommended for people who love lakeside atmospheres and bread.
Store Information
- Address: 9-1 Motohakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: 1F Bakery/9:00-17:00, 1F Parlor/10:00-17:00, 2F Cafe/9:00-17:00 (L.O. 16:30), 3F Coffee & Vista/10:00-16:00 (L.O. 15:30)
- Closed: None
- Phone: 0460-85-1530
- Official Website: https://www.bthjapan.com/hakone.php
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakeryandtable_hakone/
Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora
Source:Official website
Hotel Indigo has an attached foot bath cafe overlooking the Hayakawa River. The attractive point is that you can simultaneously enjoy Hakone's powerful and magnificent mountain nature and the gentle murmuring of the Hayakawa River. Watching the river slowly flow by makes you feel your heart becoming peaceful.
Also, the extensive alcohol menu is one of the reasons Hotel Indigo is one of my favorite spots. The combination of warmth spreading from your feet throughout your whole body and the flush from alcohol is outstanding, and spending time leisurely while feeling warmth throughout your entire body is the ultimate experience.
The charming point of Hotel Indigo's foot baths is that all five senses are satisfied with the river's murmuring, beautiful scenery and air, delicious drinks, and warm hot springs.
Store Information
- Address: 924-1 Kiga, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:00-21:30 (Cafe use 11:30-L.O. 21:00), Friday/Saturday/Sunday & Holidays 7:00-22:30 (Cafe use 11:30-L.O. 22:00)
- Closed: None
- Phone: 0120-056-658
- Official Website: https://hakonegora.hotelindigo.com/en
Hakone Love Connection Fukuya Kuzuryu Mochi
Source:Google Maps
Fukuya Kuzuryu Mochi Sweets is a popular traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Hakone that creates popular Japanese sweets that also serve as Hakone souvenirs. Their signature item is Kuzuryu Mochi Sweets, which is a baked manjuu (steamed bun) with homemade sweet red bean paste wrapped in dough. It's made with a commitment to Japanese ingredients. With its gentle sweetness, I enjoy pairing it with non-sweet hot drinks like green tea or coffee.
Fukuya Kuzuryu Mochi Sweets also has a foot bath right in front of the store. It's a cozy foot bath where you can relax while watching the flow of people passing by. While gazing at beautiful distant scenery is certainly appealing, I particularly love watching the street right in front of me.
Store Information
- Address: 729 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun
- Business Hours: 9:00～17:00
- Closed: Once a month (irregular schedule)
- Phone: 0460-85-8818
- Official Homepage: https://www.nanohana.co.jp/kashiten/箱根縁結び 福久や-九頭龍餅
Two Foot Baths at Museums Perfect for Tourism Breaks
Finally, I'd like to introduce two museums with attached foot baths. These hakone foot bath spots are wonderful because you can simultaneously enjoy Hakone's cultural side as a city of culture and its hot spring town aspect.
The Open-Air "Forest Foot Bath" at the Hakone Open-Air Museum
Source:Official website
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is Japan's first outdoor museum, centered around sculptures displayed in the open air. It also features substantial indoor exhibitions including Picasso displays.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum has an attached foot bath made primarily of stone. Fifteen different types of stones are used, and the attractive point is being able to touch the stones themselves, which are often used as sculpture materials.
Additionally, since it's located within Hakone's rich forest, you can soak in the foot bath while experiencing the clear forest air and bird songs.
Furthermore, there's also a "hand bath" where you can soak just your hands in the hot spring water. The hand bath offers an even more convenient way to enjoy the hot spring experience than foot baths.
There's also a foot bath space designed for wheelchair users. The foot bath area at The Hakone Open-Air Museum is a wonderful place that pursues comfort for everyone.
Store Information
- Address: 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: 9:00〜17:00
- Closed: Open year-round
- Phone: 0460-82-1161
- Official Homepage: https://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/others/morinoashiyu
Okada Museum of Art - Relax While Viewing the Overwhelmingly Powerful Large Mural "Wind and Time"
Source:Official website
Okada Museum of Art is a museum that primarily displays artworks from Japan, China, and Korea. It exhibits a wide range of works from ancient to contemporary pieces, making it a recommended spot for people interested in Eastern art and art history.
The foot bath at Okada Museum of Art is located directly in front of a massive 12×30 meter mural. It's a powerfully impressive mural featuring large depictions of Fujin, the Japanese god of wind, and Raijin, the god of thunder.
The distinctive feature of Okada Museum of Art is that you can slowly appreciate this large mural while soaking in the foot bath. What I found particularly enjoyable was soaking in the foot bath and sharing impressions of the mural in front of us with my companions.
Being able to view artwork while incorporating new perspectives from hearing others' opinions is something you can't really do inside a museum, so it provided a fresh experience. I highly recommend it.
Store Information
- Address: 493-1 Kowakudani, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: 9:00-17:00
- Closed: December 31st, January 1st, and during exhibition changeover periods
- Phone: 0460-87-3931
- Official Homepage: https://www.okada-museum.com/en/
