Wanderer’s Wallet: Budget Stays in Hakone-Yumoto’s Gateway

Hakone-Yumoto, the region’s welcoming entrance, buzzes with souvenir shops and riverside charm, where Hakone-Yumoto Station links to Tokyo (90 minutes via Odakyu Romancecar) and local trains to Gora or Lake Ashi. Budget hotels and guesthouses here (¥5,000–¥15,000/night) offer cozy rooms, shared onsens, and proximity to Tamasudare Shrine or the Furusato Museum, ideal for tourists stretching yen after a day at Odawara Castle or Lake Ashi’s pirate ships. With English-friendly hosts, free Wi-Fi, and nearby konbini, these stays cater to backpackers or families craving Hakone’s hot springs without splurging, keeping you steps from the Ohiradai onsen district’s steamy allure. Compact yet warm, these havens ensure your Hakone adventure is rich in experience—think misty baths and mountain trails—while leaving room for more okonomiyaki or sake tastings.

1. Hakone Yumoto Hotel

   In Yumoto (¥8,000–¥15,000/night), this hotel offers simple rooms and a shared onsen. Near Hayakawa River.

   Hakone Yumoto Hotel on Google

   

   
   

2. Hakone Guest House gaku.

   Near Gora Station (¥5,000–¥12,000/night), this guesthouse has dorms and an onsen, a 15-minute train from Yumoto. Close to Open-Air Museum.

   Hakone Guest House gaku. on Google

   

   
   

3. Onsen Guesthouse Hakone Tent

   In Gora (¥6,000–¥14,000/night), this guesthouse offers tatami dorms and a communal onsen, a 5-minute walk from Gora Station. Near cable car.

   Hakone Tent on Google

   

Location Benefits: Hakone-Yumoto’s station connects to Gora (15 minutes) or Tokyo (90 minutes), with buses to Lake Ashi (30 minutes). Riverside eateries, shops, and local onsens make it a budget-friendly hub for exploring Hakone’s wonders.