Ryokan Recommendations in Hakone?
 

I'll be going to Japan during cherry blossom season 2023. This will be my husband and my second time in Japan and first time going to Hakone. It's been easy to find recommendations and reviews for award hotels in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, but I've been having a hard time finding a core list of ryokans that are frequently recommended. It also doesn't help that I like to book lodging way in advance and it seems that a lot of the websites don't open up reservations until 3 months in advance. We'll be paying cash and would like a kaiseki dinner included. Please let me know if you've been to any ryokans in Hakone that you'd recommend! Access to an onsen is a must. Thank you.

I think you really need to be more specific about what you want (price range, traditional or modern, family friendly, tattoos friendly …. Etc). There are hundreds of ryokans in the Hakone area, and nearly all of them provide kaiseki dinner and access to onsen (the whole point of going to Hakone ryokan is onsen, don’t see the point of any ryokan without one).

Fair point. 1 night only stay for a couple (male & female) with no tattoos. Budget of $400-500. Ideally, it'd be close to public transit, possibly in the Gora Station area, since we'll be doing a few activities in that area. Looking to stay in a more traditional ryokan.