An introduction to Matsuzakaya Honten, a famous hot spring in Hakone. Let’s enjoy the hot spring inn with rich efficacy.

Matsuzakaya Honten, a famous hot spring inn in Hakone, was in 1662 during the Edo period (1603-1868).
It is a long-established inn where Takamori Saigo and Takayoshi Kido (Kogoro Katsura) met, and is known as a place where members of the Imperial family stay.
Let’s take a look at some of the attractions of Matsuzakaya Honten, a famous hot spring in Hakone.

Location of Matsuzakaya Honten

The Matsuzakaya Honten, a famous hot spring in Hakone, is located about 8 minutes by car from Lake Ashi with a view of Mt.
Fuji. It looks as if you have slipped back in time from the days of old, and its extraordinary atmosphere will make your special day a memorable one.

The main Matsuzakaya store is located at Hakone-Yumoto Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway.
The Odakyu Romance Car is convenient from Tokyo.

From Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the Hakone Tozan Bus (bound for Hakone-machi Port or Moto-Hakone-Minato), which takes about 25 minutes, get off at the Higashi Ashinoyu bus stop, and walk for about 3 minutes.

Matsuzakaya Main Store Attractions

The main attraction of Matsuzakaya Honten, a famous hot spring resort in Hakone, is the hot spring water from the Ashinoyu hot spring.
The source of Ashinoyu Onsen, which is famous as a national hot spring resort, contains the following three types of spring water.

Hydrogen carbonate spring

The bicarbonate of soda spring is characterized by its ability to smooth the skin so much that it glides smoothly and lightly, reminiscent of silk.

Sulfate spring

Containing calcium, magnesium, and sodium minerals, sulfate springs are said to have the potential to moisturize and firm the skin.

Sulfur Springs

Sulfur springs are expected to help remove dirt and accumulated sebum from the surface of the skin.

Matsuzakaya Main Store’s free-flowing spring bath

Opened in April 2019, Man’emon no Yu is a free private bath.
To use the Man’emon no Yu, simply make a reservation at the front desk after check-in.
For 45 minutes, you can enjoy the closed space with your spouse, lover, or family.

Gongen no Yu

The Gongen no Yu is a large bathhouse where the source of water is never added, heated, or circulated.
Relax and stretch your limbs in the spacious bath.

Matsuzakaya Main Store Room

The rooms at Matsuzakaya Honten, a famous hot spring resort in Hakone, are divided into four buildings.

Ashikari-so

Ashikari-so, built in 1962, is the closest room to the hot spring “Ashikari-no-yu”.
You can choose from the Yamaboshi and Himeshara, Ashifue and Matsukaze rooms.

Separate rooms

The two rooms classified as “detached”, the “Senshin-tei” built in 1887 and the “Taiko-so” built in 1923, were both used as villas for the Imperial family.
The rooms feature a footbath and are suitable for families and groups.

Shunpuso

The name “Shunpuso” comes from the fact that Tesshu Yamaoka stayed here during the Meiji era. It was built in 1925 as a villa for the former Iwasaki family (Mitsubishi Zaibatsu).
There are six rooms to choose from: Treetops and Kumoi, Wakamatsu and Joban, Chikusa and Akebono.

ShibaRanso

Shilanso, built in 1936, is a guest room named after the purple orchid of Nobunaga Motoi, who stayed here during the Edo period.
The Fujitsubo, Akashi, and Wakamurasaki on the first floor are equipped with open-air baths, which are exclusive to the guest rooms, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the therapeutic baths regardless of the time of day.

Kakumeikan

The Kakumeikan is a tastefully decorated room built during the Meiji period.
The four Japanese-style rooms are decorated with mame cherry blossoms, Hakone roses, mountain lilies and rice azaleas.
They are located on the second floor, up from the reception on the first floor.

Cuisine at Matsuzakaya Main Store

Matsuzakaya Honten, a famous hot spring resort in Hakone, serves Shukuba Kaiseki for dinner and Traveler’s Breakfast for breakfast.

As you can imagine from the name, the Shukuba Kaiseki consists of dishes that were served at inns during the Edo period and dishes that evoke the nostalgic atmosphere of the civilization of the Meiji period.

At the Traveler’s Breakfast, you can taste “Mugi Tororo” (grated barley) and dried fish to nourish those who are about to embark on a journey.

Matsuzakaya Main Store Information and Summary

So far, I have introduced the charm of Matsuzakaya Honten, a famous hot spring in Hakone.
By immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the Edo, Meiji, Taisho and early Showa periods, and bathing in the spring water of Ashinoyu Onsen, your daily stress will melt away without you even knowing it.

With good accessibility, Ashinoyu Onsen is an easy place to visit, especially for those who live in the Kanto area.
Please add the famous Matsuzakaya Main Store in Hakone to your list of excursion options.