Okada Hotel Japan: International Visitor Guide to Hakone's Classic Onsen Hotel

What Is Hotel Okada?

Hotel Okada (ホテルおかだ) is a large-scale onsen hotel in Hakone-Yumoto, the gateway hot spring district of Hakone. With 117 rooms across 12 floors and capacity for over 650 guests, it is one of the bigger properties in the area — a full-service resort hotel rather than an intimate boutique ryokan.

What sets Hotel Okada apart from smaller Hakone properties is scale. The hotel draws from five natural hot spring sources producing 270 liters per minute, feeding an extensive network of communal baths. It offers both Japanese and Western room types, buffet and kaiseki dining options, and amenities like a game room and seasonal pool that make it particularly practical for families. It is one of several Kanagawa ryokan options in the Hakone area, positioned at a more accessible price point than Gora's luxury ryokan.

What to Expect at a Large Japanese Onsen Hotel

If you have read about intimate 20-room ryokan with private baths and personal kaiseki service, Hotel Okada is a different category. Large onsen hotels in Japan emphasize communal bathing, buffet-style dining, and shared social spaces. The atmosphere is more social than secluded.

This is not a drawback — it is a different style of stay. The communal baths are large, well-maintained, and often quiet in the early morning. Buffet meals offer variety and are easier for travelers with dietary preferences or children. The front desk is staffed with English-speaking personnel, and the hotel has experience hosting international guests.

For travelers who prefer private baths and intimate service, a boutique ryokan like Hakone Kyuan or Hakone Yutowa for a more modern alternative may be a better fit. But if you want a comfortable, well-organized hot spring experience with family-friendly facilities and easy access from Tokyo, Hotel Okada delivers.

Room Types: Japanese, Western & Combination

Japanese-Style Tatami Rooms

The traditional Japanese rooms feature tatami flooring and futon bedding laid out by staff in the evening. These rooms suit travelers wanting an authentic ryokan-style sleeping experience. Most Japanese rooms accommodate 2-4 guests, making them practical for families or small groups.

Western Rooms and Japanese-Western Hybrids

Western-style rooms have standard beds and a layout more familiar to international travelers. Japanese-Western hybrid rooms combine a tatami sitting area with Western beds — a popular middle ground.

Most rooms do not have private baths — guests use the large communal onsen facilities. Some room plans include access to private baths (kashikiri-buro), which can be reserved separately.

The Onsen Experience: Communal Baths and Private Options

The Large Communal Baths

Hotel Okada's bathing facilities are its main draw. According to Hakone Navi, the hotel's onsen water comes from five natural springs (源泉, gensen). The communal baths are gender-separated and open from 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM — giving early risers nearly seven hours of quiet morning bathing before the hotel gets busy.

The baths include indoor and outdoor options with views of the surrounding mountains. The water is naturally heated and mineral-rich, supplied at a rate of 270 liters per minute from the five springs.

For our detailed evaluation of the bathing facilities, see our in-depth Hotel Okada review.

Private Baths for Guests with Tattoos or Families

Private baths (貸切風呂, kashikiri-buro) are available by advance reservation through the hotel. These are separate bathing rooms where you can soak privately — useful for guests with tattoos (as tattoo policies in communal baths vary and can be restrictive), couples wanting privacy, or families with young children.

Reserve private baths when booking or at check-in, as availability is limited.

Dining: Buffet and Kaiseki Options

Most accommodation plans at Hotel Okada include dinner and breakfast. Dining options vary by the plan you book:

• Buffet dinner: The main dining option features a spread of Japanese and Western dishes. This is the most family-friendly option and allows guests to eat at their own pace.
• Kaiseki dinner: Some plans include a multi-course kaiseki meal served in a more formal setting, for guests who prefer a traditional Japanese dining experience.
• Breakfast: Typically buffet-style with both Japanese items (grilled fish, miso soup, rice) and Western options (bread, eggs, coffee).

The buffet breakfast is a notable advantage over smaller ryokan, where breakfast is exclusively Japanese-style. International travelers unfamiliar with Japanese breakfast items may appreciate the Western options available here.

Booking Hotel Okada from Overseas

Hotel Okada is one of the easier Hakone hotels to book from overseas. Several options:

• Official English website: The hotel has an English-language site with direct booking capability
• International booking platforms: Available on Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, and other major platforms. Rates on Expedia start from approximately $93 (~¥14,000) per night, though this varies significantly by season and room type
• Japanese booking platforms: Jalan and Rakuten Travel sometimes offer better rates, but require Japanese-language navigation

Direct booking through the official site may offer better cancellation policies. Whichever platform you use, confirm whether meals are included — some rates are room-only.

Detail	Information
Check-in	14:00
Check-out	10:00
Total rooms	117
Parking	Free, 100 spaces
English support	Available at front desk and via English website

Prices shown are approximate from 2025 data — check current rates before booking.

Getting to Hotel Okada from Tokyo

By Train and Shuttle Bus

The most common route:

1. Shinjuku Station → Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto Station (about 85 minutes, reserved seating)
2. Hakone-Yumoto Station → Hotel Okada shuttle bus, A Route/Taki Dori (滝通り) — about 5 minutes, ¥100 per adult

Alternatively, take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station (35 minutes), then transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railway to Hakone-Yumoto (about 15 minutes).

The shuttle bus departs from Hakone-Yumoto Station and does not require advance reservation. Look for the A Route (Taki Dori) signs at the station bus area.

By Car

From Tokyo, take the Tomei Expressway toward Hakone. The hotel has free parking for approximately 100 vehicles — no reservation required. The drive takes about 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic.

Best time to visit: Spring (cherry blossoms, April) and autumn (foliage, November) are the most scenic seasons. Summer offers the seasonal outdoor pool. Winter is quieter with lower rates and the appeal of hot bathing in cold weather.

Frequently Asked Questions