Things to Do in Yugawara (湯河原町), Kanagawa: Sights, Train Access & Travel Guide

Last reviewed: October 25, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview & City Profile

Yugawara (湯河原町) in Kanagawa Prefecture (Kanto, Japan) is anchored by local sights including Ten Province Pass (十国峠), Myōjinga Dake (明神ヶ岳), Dōryōson Hakone Betsuin (道了尊箱根別院) and served by Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) via the regional hub at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station. Set at 413 m elevation (35.1662°N, 139.0790°E), Yugawara offers travelers a base for sampling regional Yokohama Chinatown steamed buns & shumai, Yokohama Iekei tonkotsu-shoyu ramen, Shonan shirasu (whitebait bowls) cuisine and exploring neighboring Manazuru (真鶴町) (4.9 km), Hakone (箱根町) (5.6 km), Atami (熱海市) (7.8 km), Kannami (函南町) (9.7 km).

Yugawara is a sheltered valley hot-spring town at the southwestern tip of Kanagawa Prefecture bordering Atami, celebrated in the Man'yōshū poetry anthology, Man'yō Park along the Fujiki River, and winter plum groves of Makuyama Park. Situated across rolling inland terrain at 413 m elevation in Kanagawa Prefecture, Yugawara is anchored by local landmarks including Ten Province Pass (十国峠), Myōjinga Dake (明神ヶ岳), Dōryōson Hakone Betsuin (道了尊箱根別院) and connects to neighboring Manazuru, Hakone, Atami via Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km). Within Kanagawa Prefecture, Yugawara (湯河原町) serves as a town (町) in kanagawa prefecture (municipal incorporation: 1889-04-01) and pairs naturally with wider prefectural highlights such as Yokohama Minato Mirai & Chinatown, ancient temples and Great Buddha of Kamakura, Enoshima Island, Odawara Castle, and Hakone hot springs overlooking Mt. Fuji.

What to See & Do in Yugawara (湯河原町): Landmarks & Sights

Visitors exploring Yugawara (湯河原町) from Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) at 413 m elevation (35.1662°N, 139.0790°E) can visit these nearby shrines, temples, parks, and geographic landmarks (with straight-line distances from central Yugawara):

• Ten Province Pass (十国峠) — local sightseeing landmark near Yugawara (湯河原町).
• Myōjinga Dake (明神ヶ岳) — local sightseeing landmark near Yugawara (湯河原町).
• Dōryōson Hakone Betsuin (道了尊箱根別院) — local sightseeing landmark near Yugawara (湯河原町).
• Hakone Komagatake (箱根駒ヶ岳) — local sightseeing landmark near Yugawara (湯河原町).
• Primary Rail Gateway for Yugawara: Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) (connecting to Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station).

Closest Neighboring Municipalities to Yugawara

When planning a regional rail or driving loop around Yugawara (湯河原町) and Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km), consider pairing your stop with the 5 closest neighboring municipalities across Kanagawa Prefecture and Kanto:

• Manazuru (真鶴町) — 4.9 km from Yugawara (Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Hakone (箱根町) — 5.6 km from Yugawara (Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Atami (熱海市) — 7.8 km from Yugawara (Shizuoka Prefecture)
• Kannami (函南町) — 9.7 km from Yugawara (Shizuoka Prefecture)
• Odawara (小田原市) — 11.3 km from Yugawara (Kanagawa Prefecture)

Getting to Yugawara & Getting Around

Train & hub access to Yugawara (湯河原町) via Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km): 25–30m from Tokyo Station to Yokohama or Kawasaki on JR lines; 35m to Odawara on the Tokaido Shinkansen; 55m to Kamakura on the JR Yokosuka Line. From Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station, transfer to local JR or private rail lines serving Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) to reach central Yugawara (35.1662°N, 139.0790°E).

• Local rail & IC cards at Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km): JR regional trains and private commuter lines link Yokohama with Yugawara (湯河原町) and neighboring Manazuru, Hakone, Atami. Nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) work at major urban gates; for rural branch stations or local buses around Yugawara, carry ¥1,000 bills and ¥100 coins for the onboard fare box.
• Luggage & station coin lockers: Day-trippers stopping in Yugawara between Yokohama and Manazuru can store bags at major transfer stations or check suitcase dimensions in our Luggage & Locker Checker and ship large bags ahead via Takkyubin.
• Driving & car rental around Yugawara: While Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) anchors public transit for Yugawara, picking up a rental car at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station makes it easy to link Ten Province Pass (十国峠) and Myōjinga Dake (明神ヶ岳) with nearby Manazuru (真鶴町) (4.9 km), Hakone (箱根町) (5.6 km), Atami (熱海市) (7.8 km), Kannami (函南町) (9.7 km). See our Renting a Car in Japan Guide.

What to Eat in Yugawara (湯河原町) & Kanagawa

Dining near Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) and across Yugawara (湯河原町) highlights the regional food culture of Kanagawa Prefecture and Kanto. Look for these local specialties at station restaurants, family-run shokudo, and markets in Yugawara:

• Yokohama Chinatown steamed buns & shumai — regional specialty enjoyed across Yugawara (湯河原町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Yokohama Iekei tonkotsu-shoyu ramen — regional specialty enjoyed across Yugawara (湯河原町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Shonan shirasu (whitebait bowls) — regional specialty enjoyed across Yugawara (湯河原町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Odawara kamaboko fish cakes — regional specialty enjoyed across Yugawara (湯河原町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Yokosuka Kaigun curry — regional specialty enjoyed across Yugawara (湯河原町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.

If you are dining in Yugawara (湯河原町) with food allergies or dietary restrictions, use our Japanese Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards at restaurants around Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km).

Where to Stay in Yugawara (湯河原町)

Visitors staying overnight in Yugawara (湯河原町) can look for business hotels, traditional ryokan, or family-run minshuku near Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km), or base at major rail hubs in Yokohama (Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station) or neighboring Manazuru, Hakone, Atami for quick train access into Yugawara. Compare hotel tiers and ryokan etiquette in our Japan Accommodation Guide.

Best Time to Visit Yugawara & Seasonal Highlights

Seasonal guide for Yugawara (湯河原町, 413 m elevation at 35.1662°N, 139.0790°E): Late March–April for cherry blossoms in Kamakura & Yokohama Sankeien; June for Kamakura hydrangeas; October–December for crisp Mt. Fuji views from Hakone & Enoshima.

Wider sightseeing across Kanagawa Prefecture that pairs well with visiting Ten Province Pass (十国峠) in Yugawara (湯河原町) includes: Yokohama Minato Mirai & Chinatown, ancient temples and Great Buddha of Kamakura, Enoshima Island, Odawara Castle, and Hakone hot springs overlooking Mt. Fuji.

Practical Travel Tips for Yugawara (湯河原町)

• Tourist information (観光案内所) for Yugawara: Stop by the Kankō Annaijo desk at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station or Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) for local bus schedules to Ten Province Pass (十国峠) and walking maps of Yugawara (湯河原町).
• Cash & ATMs in Yugawara: Convenience stores and major hotels around Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) accept international cards, while smaller eateries and shrines near Ten Province Pass (十国峠) often prefer yen cash; 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post ATMs in Yugawara accept foreign debit cards.
• Local dining hours in Yugawara: Around Yugawara Station (湯河原駅) (3.1 km) and neighboring Manazuru, Hakone, Atami, lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and dinner spots open around 5:30 PM with last orders between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.