Yugawara Onsen Guide: Nature, Temples and Coastal Charm Near Tokyo
Looking for a peaceful getaway from Tokyo that’s completely off-the-beaten path? Let me introduce you to Yugawara (湯河原), a charming onsen town tucked along Sagami Bay. Just over one hour from Tokyo, Yugawara has long been known as a hot spring destination, yet it remains under the radar compared to nearby towns like Atami or Hakone.
I spent a weekend in Yugawara and loved how relaxed and nostalgic it felt. Whether you’re after a soak in healing waters, a quiet temple stroll, or a coastal walk, Yugawara is a refreshing escape from Tokyo that feels like a secret full of relaxation and nature.
Why Visit Yugawara?
Yugawara has been a popular onsen resort for the Japanese for centuries, and is even mentioned in ancient Japanese poetry. Indeed, Yugawara's hot spring water was described in a poem in the Manyoshu, the oldest Japanese anthology of waka poems compiled during the Nara era (710-794). Since the Meiji era, writers and artists have sought rest and inspiration in Yugawara, for its atmosphere of refined tastes, hidden hot springs and historical heritage.
Today, Yugawara retains a slower pace but still offers a wide range of activities to appeal to all types of traveller. You'll find riverside parks, small temples, seasonal flowers and you can also relax on the beach, all with fewer crowds than in Atami or Hakone. If you're looking for a retreat off the beaten track, Yugawara offers you the chance to slow down and appreciate Japan's local charm.
How to Get to Yugawara
Located between Odawara and Hakone, Yugawara is at the extreme south-west of Kanagawa Prefecture, bordering Shizuoka Prefecture and the nearby Izu Peninsula. Getting to Yugawara is quick and easy, making it an ideal weekend escape from Tokyo. If you’re coming by train, there are three options to get to Yugawara station from central Tokyo. From Tokyo station to Yugawara station for instance, you can:
Take the shinkansen to Odawara station, then transfer to the JR Tokaido main line to Yugawara station (55 min, ¥4,460). This is the fastest but most expensive option.
Take an Odoriko Limited express train (1hr 15min, ¥2,710)
Take a local or express train on the JR Tokaido line (1hr 30min to 1hr 45min, ¥1,690)
Best Things to Do in Yugawara
Soak in a Relaxing Onsen
Yugawara is popular as a onsen town for its mild and rejuvenating hot spring water, renowned for relieving fatigue and joint pain. As soon as you leave Yugawara station, you can enjoy the Hand Spa for your first experience of Yugawara water. I’m used to foot baths in Japan, but a hand spa was definitely a pleasant surprise to start my stay in Yugawara!
You can enjoy the waters in traditional ryokan (some offer day-use), or head to one of the day onsen spa like Kogome no Yu (日帰り温泉 こごめの湯) or Yugawara Soyu Retreat (湯河原惣湯 惣湯テラス).
Relax at Yoshihama Beach
In summer, Yoshihama Beach (吉浜海水浴場) is a dark sandy beach that can be a good alternative to Kamakura's busier beaches. It's a popular spot for surfers, the beach is clean and there are public toilets. There is a national road right next to the beach, which I found a bit odd and noisy, but the advantage is that you can stay below the overpass to enjoy its shadows.
If you’re looking for a restaurant near Yoshihama Beach for lunch, I’d recommend Hanamaru Yugawara (回転寿司花まる銀彩), a conveyor belt sushi restaurant with a great selection of delicious, fresh sushi.
Explore Yugawara’s Temples and Shrines
Gosho Shrine
One fo the Shichi-fukujin
If, like me, you love shrines and temples, you'll be pleased to know that there's plenty to explore in Yugawara. I particularly enjoyed the Gosho Shrine (五所神社), where you can have fun looking for statues of the Shichi-fukujin, or the seven deities of good fortune. The shrine is also home to a number of ancient trees, including an 850-year-old sacred camphor tree.
About 10 minutes from Gosho Shrine, don't miss Fukusenji Temple (福泉寺), a unique little atmospheric temple with a large Buddha head. I wasn't familiar with this temple at the time of my visit, but would love to check it out next time.
In addition, I’d also recommend Jouganji Temple (城願寺), a small temple located on a hill near Yugawara station. It was very peaceful and there’s a majestic tree behind the gate. I love discovering these kind of small temples and shrines in Japan.
Jouganji Temple
Enjoy a Stroll Through Manyo Park and Oku-Yugawara
Man-yo Park (万葉公園) is ideal for a gentle afternoon stroll. It’s named after the famous Manyoshu poetry collection, and you’ll find quiet paths and small bridges, where you can enjoy the lush greeneries and sounds of the river flowing around. You can stop off at a foot bath, called ashiyu, and visit Tanukifuku shrine (狸福神社), a charming shrine dedicated to Tanuki and Kumano shrine (熊野神社), home to the god of hot water.
I’d also recommend taking a stroll through the nearby streets of Oku-Yugawara, which have a charming old-town atmosphere where you’ll find traditional ryokans as well as small shops, restaurants and cafés. For instance, you can stop off at one of the shops, like Koumedo (小梅堂) or Efuya Honten (えふや本店) to try kibimochi, one of Yugawara’s specialties (Japanese dumplings made from millet and rice flour ).
You can also walk to nearby waterfalls called Fudo waterfall (不動滝), 15 meters high, and Godan waterfall (五段の滝) further up in Oku-Yugawara.
Relax at Tivoli Sweets Factory
After all that exploring, a nice place to buy souvenirs and take a break is the Tivoli Yugawara Sweets Factory (ちぼりスイーツファクトリー 湯河原本店). The café offers all-you-can-eat biscuits for an hour with a glass of drink for just ¥770! As a sweets lover, I found this very exciting! I also tried the mikan cream puff, which was delicious (mikan is another specialty of the region). As well as the café, there's a free mini-course tour of the factory and a sweets-making corner (more information on the official website - in Japanese).
Where to Stay in Yugawara
Yugawara has a wide range of accommodations to choose from. I recommend choosing a place with an open-air bath for a relaxing onsen experience. Some places offer traditional kaiseki meals and nature views from the rooms, ideal for a peaceful retreat.
I stayed in the summer house of Japanese friends when I visited Yugawara so I didn’t get to stay in one of Yugawara’s charming ryokan, but based one reviews, next time I go to Yugawara, I’d be interested in staying at Wakamatsu Hakone Yugawara, a charming ryokan with old time feel, or, for a special occasion, Fukiya Ryokan, for an authentic ryokan experience in a luxurious, serene setting.
➡️ Check more Yugawara ryokan and hotels on Booking.com
➡️ Browse stays with hot springs on Agoda
A Few Travel Tips to Enjoy your Time in Yugawara
How to Get Around Yugawara
From Yugawara station, you can walk or use the local buses to reach most of the sights. Renting a bike is also a good idea if you want to explore at your own pace, which you can do at the tourist information centre next to Yugawara station.
Best Time to Visit Yugawara
Each season brings its own charms to Yugawara:
Spring: In early spring, you can admire ume plum blossoms at Makuyama Park (幕山公園). If you visit in May, don’t miss the Yu-kake Matsuri (which means “Hot Spring Water Splashing Festival”) during which mikoshi (portable shrines) carried by groups of townspeople are splashed with hot spring water as they parade through the streets of Yugawara. The festival takes place every year on the fourth Saturday in May.
Summer: As mentioned before, Yugawara is a great destination for the beach season. You can also enjoy summer matsuri (festival), like the Yugawara Yassa Festival or the Yugawara Onsen Seaside Fireworks Festival which take place every summer in early August.
Autumn: You can enjoy the autumn foliage season in Yugawara, usually from mid-November through early December, with maple leaves in Man-yo Park and at Momijo no Sato (池峯もみじの郷). Around the same time, from October to December, you can also go mikan-picking at a farm, or you can buy them already freshly-picked from shops and stalls around town. You can find more information on Yugawara Onsen Official tourism website (in Japanese).
Winter: Bathing in a hot spring in winter is a real pleasure. And if you're lucky, you can even watch the snow fall while you bask in an open-air bath, which is an extraordinary sensation.
➡️ You can find more information about seasonal events in Yugawara here.
Other Things to Do Around Yugawara
You can combine a visit to Yugawara with other nearby cities like Atami, Odawara or Hakone. There are all fantastic destinations! You can read my Atami guide, and I’m looking forward writing about Odawara and Hakone (don’t hesitate to sign up for my monthly newsletter to be notified of my newest articles).
You could also head down the coast for a scenic trip by train or by car through the Izu Peninsula, an underrated but beautiful destination near Tokyo, which is packed with natural sites, onsen towns and other fun attractions to discover.
Read More of My Articles on the Izu Peninsula:
A Nature Day Trip to Izu: Jogasaki Coast and Mount Omuro Itinerary
Kawazu Seven Falls: A Nature Lover’s Hidden Gem on the Izu Peninsula
Experiences Ideas Nearby
Check out experiences on Klook or GetYourGuide like guided or hiking tours, or traditional experiences or local food tastings nearby.
To Conclude
If you're looking for an easy weekend getaway from Tokyo that's not too touristy but full of charm, Yugawara is a hidden gem that slow travelers will love to discover. Between the nostalgic streets of the onsen town, forested walks along the Chitose river and the ocean breeze, it's the ideal place to relax and recharge your batteries.
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