2 Best Hotels in Japan

This small, family-run Japanese inn has simple tatami rooms with the bare essentials. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Takahashi, speak English and are a great help in planning trips off the beaten path. The inn is between Odawara Station and Togendai; take a bus (30 minutes) from Hakone-Yumoto Station (Lane 3) and get off at the Senkyoro-mae stop. 

This friendly hostel on the main street leading to the shrine's steps offers a mix of dorms and simple singles and twins. Being a budget hostel, the rooms are barely furnished and have wood-chip walls that give an almost unfinished feel, but the beds are comfortable and rooms come with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Staying here also gives access to a laid-back coworking space, a communal lounge, and a shared kitchen.