Kinnotake, which operates five ryokan and four restaurants in Hakone, Kanagawa, is highlighting recommended events and stays for a summer trip to Hakone.
Summer in Hakone is packed with highlights, from the Daimonji bonfire to four major fireworks displays and traditional festivals held across the area. While the Ministry of the Environment issues heatstroke alerts day after day amid the ongoing heat, Hakone stays around 7°C cooler than central Tokyo, making it a natural retreat where visitors can enjoy the cool climate along with traditional events that light up the night sky.
To let more guests experience these Hakone summer highlights, Kinnotake is running an official-website-only "30% Off Summer Sale" at four of its ryokan starting Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Four Major Fireworks Displays and Traditional Events for Summer Hakone Trips
Beyond its cool climate, summer in Hakone is best known for its traditional festivals and fireworks displays held night after night. This year marks the 1,269th anniversary of the founding of Hakone Shrine, and the main events take place from late July through mid-August.
1269th Lake Ashi Summer Festival Week
Dates: Friday, July 31 to Thursday, August 6, 2026
Details: Fireworks light up Lake Ashi's four bays -- Motohakone, Hakone, Hakone-en, and Kojiri -- every night starting at 8:00 PM (except August 6).
- July 31 (Fri): Kosui Matsuri Fireworks Display (Motohakone Bay) -- underwater fireworks color the lake surface for this festival honoring the deity Kuzuryu Okami.
- August 1 (Sat): Reitaisai Hoshuku Fireworks Display (Motohakone Bay) -- a spectacular fireworks display celebrating Hakone Shrine's largest festival of the year.
- August 2 (Sun) and 3 (Mon): Hakone-en Summer Night Festa (Hakone-en Bay) -- cooling summer fireworks held alongside the Goshinkosai procession.
- August 4 (Tue): Kojiri Ryujin Festival Fireworks Display (Kojiri Bay) -- following rites at Kuzuryu Shrine's main hall, a sacred fire is lit on the lakeshore and fireworks light up the night sky.
- August 5 (Wed): Torii-yaki Matsuri Fireworks Display (Hakone Bay) -- a torii-shaped altar floating on the lake is set alight in a dreamlike festival dedicated to the dragon god.
Hakone Gora Onsen Daimonji Bonfire
Date and time: Sunday, August 16, 2026, ignition planned for 7:30 PM (held in light rain; postponed in severe weather)
Details: A summer tradition in Gora since 1921, a giant "大" (dai) character is lit on the slope of 924-meter Mt. Myojogatake, paired with starmine and Niagara fireworks. As a send-off fire for the Obon holiday, the display colors the night sky red.
Fireworks Viewing Support and Summer-Only Events to Avoid the Crowds
Kinnotake also offers summer-limited events that can be enjoyed indoors away from the daytime heat, along with special support for guests heading out to the evening fireworks displays in comfort.
Fireworks Viewing Support at Matsuzakaya Honten
Matsuzakaya Honten is offering "Special Fireworks Viewing Support," limited to 24 guests on a first-come, first-served basis by check-in, so guests can avoid the crowds and head out comfortably.
Early dinner seating: Dinner is served earlier than usual, starting at 5:00 PM or 5:30 PM, giving guests plenty of time before heading out.
Free one-way shuttle to the viewing area: To beat the crowds, a free shuttle bus runs to near Motohakone (departures at 6:15 PM, 6:45 PM, and 7:15 PM; guests are asked to use public transportation for the return trip).
Summer-Only Tanabata Event (July 8 to August 15)
Kinnotake Sengokuhara is holding a "Summer-Only Tanabata Event," where guests can send their wishes for a loved one into the night sky. At the property's Bar bamboo, limited-edition cocktails inspired by Hakone's starry sky and mocktails featuring the flavor of green tea are served, adding a beautiful touch to an anniversary trip for couples.
Edo Time Slip Festival (July 1 to August 31)
Matsuzakaya Honten, founded in 1662, is recreating the lively atmosphere of the Edo period in a comfortable indoor setting, with a festival featuring bamboo bow-and-arrow games, yo-yo fishing, and specialty shaved ice for guests of all ages. A "Summer Family Plan" is also available in guest rooms with an open-air bath, letting up to two children of elementary school age or younger stay free.
Four Stays to Match Every Style of Summer Trip
This summer's sale spans four distinctly designed ryokan, so guests can choose the stay that suits their trip, whether a family holiday or a couple's getaway.
Kinnotake Sengokuhara
A hideaway for adults built around the concept of "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter," Kinnotake Sengokuhara offers a dreamlike setting inspired by the story of Princess Kaguya, where guests can step away from daily life. All nine rooms come with a private open-air bath, and both dinner and breakfast are served in-room. Much like Princess Kaguya's limited time on Earth before returning to the moon, the ryokan offers a luxurious stay meant for savoring precious time with someone special.
Kinnotake Tonosawa
Built around a "no-line resort" concept that removes boundaries between service, space, and surroundings, Kinnotake Tonosawa offers all nine room types with a private open-air bath fed by the property's own hot spring source, letting guests take in nature through the seasons. The ryokan also features a newly added pool, sauna, and gym, a spa set inside a renovated traditional farmhouse, and a teppanyaki restaurant serving Kanagawa's only premium branded beef, making it a comprehensive luxury resort.
Matsuzakaya Honten
A hot spring ryokan with roots dating back to the Edo period, Matsuzakaya Honten draws on a source that flows at 200 liters per minute, providing 100% source hot spring water rich in mineral flakes. It is a rare hot spring containing all three of the major "beautiful skin" spring types: sulfur, sulfate, and bicarbonate. The rooms span roughly 4,000 tsubo of grounds across six separate buildings with 21 rooms in total, and the historic architecture offers a comfortable stay for the whole family, spanning parents' and grandparents' generations alike.
Kinnotake Saryo
Kinnotake Saryo offers the ultimate retreat built around the luxury of doing nothing at all. In a private space undisturbed by anyone else, paired with a source hot spring bath, guests can enjoy a blissful stay wrapped in quiet. The ryokan offers four ground-floor rooms with a private open-air bath fed by the source, and two second-floor rooms with a reservable private open-air bath, so guests can choose the style that suits their stay.
Official Site 30% Off Summer Sale Overview
Participating properties: Kinnotake Sengokuhara / Kinnotake Tonosawa / Kinnotake Saryo / Matsuzakaya Honten
Reservation period: Wednesday, July 1 to Wednesday, July 15, 2026, until 11:59 PM
Stay period: Through Friday, September 18, 2026 (no blackout dates)
Terms: This is a prepaid plan requiring credit card payment at the time of booking. Please note that changes or refunds are not available once a reservation is confirmed.
How to book: Reservations can be made through each property's official website.
