Kon’nichiwa!
So the fun thing about onsen towns like Hakone is that you might randomly come across ashiyu.
Ashiyu = onsen for your feet!
An ashiyu in Hakone that I unexpectedly came across as I was making my way to the Hakone ropeway to see the Owakudani volano valley.
I was walking from the cable car to the ropeway at Sounzan Station, and there was an observation terrace with a footbath! This was a Hakone ashiyu with views! This area is called cu-mo Hakone.
Since it is something that’s located in a popular area, it is possible that it will be full. But if you pass by and happen to see an open seat, it can be a quick and fun very-Japanese thing to do!
It’s open seating. It’s an observation area that has a place to sit… except instead of your feet being on the ground, it’s in onsen mineral water!
This terrace ashiyu is free to use, and you’ll want to bring a small towel so you can wipe your feet when you’re done.
I’ll show you below how simple it is to find the footbath terrace when you are going to the Hakone ropeway from the direction of Gora Station!
📌 Save this post for later! Save on Pinterest! 👈📌
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.
PLAN YOUR HAKONE TRIP > Hakone Loop map | Odawara Station map
Onsen hotels in Hakone: Hakone Yutowa in Gora | Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu | Lakefront Hakone Hotel
Hotels near Odawara Station: Tenseien Annex | Toyoko Inn
Sounzan Station is the transit point if you’re going to the Hakone Ropeway from Gora Station.
I used the Owakudani pass which covered the route from Gora Station to Owakudani, as well as from Odawara Station to Gora.
Instead of using the Owakudani pass (which is really if you want to see the volcano valley ONLY), the Hakone transportation pass (Hakone freepass) will also cover you from Gora to Owakudani, as well as more of the Hakone loop.
So going from Gora Station to Owakudani, Sounzan Station is along the way.
Once I got to Sounzan Station, having arrived by cable car from Gora Station, I continued to follow the signs to the next thing that’s a part of the Hakone loop… which is the Hakone ropeway! And along the way, there are signs for the “footbath,” and the footbath terrace is right before you go through the ticket gate for the ropeway!
👆 Getting off the cable car and arriving at Sounzan Station. Next up: transfer for ropeway!
👆 As soon as you start walking at Sounzan Station, there will be signs directing you to the Hakone Ropeway. Simply follow the signs! You will also soon see actual signs for the footbath and the cu-mo shop too!
👆 There are clear signs for where the footbath is located.
👆 And then soon, it will be straight ahead. There will be doors leading to an outside observation area, and that’s the footbath terrace.
👆 It’s literally right next to the path to the Hakone ropeway so you can’t miss it!
👆 You’ll go through the doors to get to the outside observation terrace with footbath.
👆 The regular hours of the ashiyu footbath are from 9am to 4pm. The terrace is open until 4:45pm.
👆 Soak your feet in mineral-rich onsen hot springs water in Hakone… with views!
And once you’re done with that, you can get on the ropeway to Owakudani, and then eat the black eggs that were boiled in an onsen pond!
If you want to do more mineral-soaking for your feet, there’s a free ashiyu in Odawara too!
JAPAN TRAVEL > HAKONE TRAVEL TIPS