Hotele Hot Springs w: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

A relatively old hot spring hotel, run by an elderly Japanese couple, and an auntie-like waiter. The overall experience is average, mainly because it is too old, the facilities are very old, and the hot spring is very small; it is far from Yumoto Station, the shuttle bus does not operate after 5 pm, the hotel does not have a pick-up service, the suitcase is large, and it is difficult to bring children Not recommended by tourists.

Ms. Chen's reception at the hotel was excellent; she was very nice, and I give her a good review. The onsen (hot spring) was very comfortable, and the room was spacious. The next day, my spouse fell ill, and a Japanese lady drove us a long way to buy medicine; we were truly grateful to her. Five stars!

As a Korean family living in the United States, we stayed here as a family of four with our two young children (40 months and 21 months old), and overall, we had a truly memorable experience. We booked through Trip.com, and because there were no clearly stated child occupancy policies during booking, we reserved the room as 3 adults. This later created some confusion during check-in, which I will mention below, but aside from that, nearly everything about this hotel was exceptional. First, the positives: The breakfast was outstanding—worthy of its Michelin Guide 2025 recognition. Every meal was beautifully prepared, thoughtful, and delicious. We chose a traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, and for our family with young children, it was perfect. Being able to remove our shoes and comfortably live on the floor felt especially natural and relaxing as Asians, and parents with little children will understand how convenient and comfortable this setup is. The location is also excellent—within walking distance from Gora Station, where the mountain railway arrives. Even with two small children, the walk was very manageable. The onsen experience was wonderful, and the guest lounge available from morning until 10 PM was another highlight that made the stay feel luxurious and comfortable. The dining area itself deserves special praise. Enjoying breakfast and dinner while overlooking the beautiful inner garden pond was peaceful and elegant, and the restaurant service team was abundant, attentive, warm, and professional. It truly felt like top-class hospitality. Now, one disappointment: During check-in, one female staff member wearing a headscarf made several comments that felt unnecessarily cold and transactional. Because we booked as 3 adults, she repeatedly explained that our children could be accommodated because of that booking choice—as if we were receiving an exception—despite there being no clearly stated child policy during reservation. She also explained that only 3 adult yukata/lounge outfits had been prepared in the room because we booked for 3 adults, and said we could request children's clothing “if needed.” When I asked when we should request them, she simply repeated that we could ask when necessary. At that point, a more thoughtful hospitality approach would have been something simple like: “I see you have two young children—would you like us to prepare children’s outfits now?” That small difference would have reflected genuine care. At check-out, I again observed behavior that felt uncomfortable. A trainee staff member was assisting us, and when the trainee forgot to request identification, the same staff member visibly frowned and corrected the trainee in front of us. It felt unnecessarily tense and unprofessional in front of guests. What stood out was that every other staff member we encountered was warm, polite, smiling, and genuinely welcoming. They bowed, greeted us kindly, and made us feel respected. Only this one staff member felt noticeably different—cold enough that we were left wondering whether it was discomfort toward children, cultural bias, or simply a personal attitude issue. I travel frequently internationally for business in a senior executive role, and this was the first time I experienced service that felt this distinctly uncomfortable from a luxury hospitality employee. That said, I want to emphasize: everyone else at the hotel was wonderful, and the property itself is beautiful, peaceful, elegant, and family-friendly. We would gladly return—but I hope the warmth shown by the rest of the team becomes the standard reflected consistently by every member of staff.

The food spread was fantastic, with a free flow of salmon, beef, and ice cream! My friend even ordered an extra bottle of beer. It's a two-meal-per-night stay, and while there isn't much commercial activity around, so evenings are pretty quiet with nothing much to browse, we mostly just enjoyed the hot springs. It's not like staying in the town center where you can explore many places at night, but other than that, there are no real downsides – I personally quite enjoyed it. If you're planning to take the cable car back with your rail pass, make sure to time it right and get there before 5 PM, or you'll miss it!

The moment our car pulled up, a staff member rushed out to help with our luggage, smiling all the while. They guided us through check-in, even offering a warm towel and welcome tea – talk about a fantastic first impression! Just outside the lobby, there's a lush, green mountain view. Lounging on the beanbag chairs there, just chilling out, was incredibly therapeutic 🌿. The room itself was a typical Japanese style, spacious and spotless. The balcony even had an open-air private onsen tub, so if you didn't feel like going to the public baths, you could soak in your own hot spring while enjoying the view – maximum privacy. The hotel also provided yukata robes, and wearing them around the premises really added to the whole experience 👘. The onsen facilities were definitely the highlight! The public baths on the fifth and sixth floors alternate daily for men and women. The open-air onsen on the sixth floor had an absolutely stunning view – mountains by day, starry skies by night. Soaking in the hot spring with a towel on my head, just zoning out, felt exactly like something out of an anime. The toiletries were POLA, with everything from makeup remover to toner and lotion provided. My skin felt so smooth after the bath, I just went straight back to my room and passed out ♨️✨. For dinner, we chose the teppanyaki. The chef cooked each dish right in front of us, meticulously explaining every course in English. The ingredients were fresh, the seasoning precise – you could really taste the care put into it. Breakfast was a buffet, and having unlimited sashimi rice bowls was pure bliss. Seafood donburi lovers, rejoice! 🍣 On checkout day, a staff member stood at the entrance, bowing goodbye and waving until our car was far out of sight. That feeling of being genuinely cared for truly makes you want to come back again and again.

I took a bus from Odawara Station, got off at the “Verde no Mori” bus stop, and reached the property in about an 8-minute walk. As it was my first time visiting Hakone, walking uphill from the bus stop while carrying a suitcase made me feel a bit uneasy at first. However, once I arrived, I was warmly welcomed with a welcome drink, and they kindly accommodated an early check-in, which was a big relief. The room was spacious with a beautiful view, and I was thrilled to finally experience a semi-open-air bath, something I had always dreamed of. The location is extremely quiet, making it a perfect place to truly relax and enjoy a peaceful escape from everyday life. There isn’t much around the property. If you have a car, this won’t be an issue, but for those without one (like me this time), I recommend bringing some snacks just in case. Although I didn’t use it, the hotel also seems to offer shuttle service to nearby bus stops. Dinner, which I reserved in advance, was served in a private dining room and featured a kaiseki-style menu. During my stay in late January, the sashimi course originally included bluefin tuna, amberjack, and ark shell. However, because “a Japanese guest (me!) was visiting,” they thoughtfully prepared usubahagi, a fish I had never encountered before. I was truly impressed by this considerate gesture. The sakura shrimp rice cooked in a small clay pot was another highlight. When I couldn’t finish it all, they kindly made rice balls for me to take, which was such a warm and thoughtful touch. Breakfast was also confirmed the day before, and I was able to receive some additional service. Both meals were excellent in quantity and flavor—I enjoyed everything immensely. The flowing hot spring bath in the room requires mixing in cold water and adjusting the temperature yourself, but by running the cold water about 5–7 minutes before bathing, it was not inconvenient at all. Honestly, this is a place that may divide opinions depending on personal preference. For me, however, it was a wonderful stay, and I definitely plan to return. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch his name, but the Japanese male staff member who took care of our meals was gentle, polite, and answered all my questions clearly, which made me feel very comfortable. There was also a young Southeast Asian female staff member; while there were minor communication misunderstandings, she worked very hard. As someone who also works abroad, I sincerely hope she continues sharing the beauty of Hakone and Japan with international guests visiting this inn. Next time, I will definitely stay for multiple nights!

This is one of the best places I stayed! Thank you very much! The hotel is located a little bit far from the train station and I think this is the only downside (and I didn't suffer from it). The price is expensive, but it is worth it because 2 meals are included, and they have great service. The staff is from Nepal so if someone comes here and expects Japanese, they may be disappointed by that. But in fact, this is way better as they don't have those strict Japanese traditions and are more flexible for guests. The atmosphere and hospitality make you feel like you are at home. There are 2 buildings and I was in the second building that has a big onsen. The names of guests are written on a board, so you get a feeling they were waiting for you. I was checking in a few minutes after check-in hours (18:06 or so), so I was nervous. Fortunately, I didn't have any problems with that. Also, I didn't expect any meal for dinner because of my previous bad experience with the Japanese staff. And then I was surprised when the owner said that the dinner time starts at 6 PM! So I had the meal after 30 minutes. This is really convenient for tourists because you can see Hakone and come to the hotel on the last train from Gora station (that's what I did) and then you will have a great dinner! After I finished the meal, they gave me a dessert! Overall, it felt like a regal banquet. I really like it! After that it was already dark, so I walked around the hotel and took pictures. It looks nice and comfortable. Then I needed a rest before the public bath. The owner said I can use onsen any time I want, it is 24 hours open. I didn't check that though I used it 10-11 PM. There are 2 pools with serum and some minerals from the volcano. The pool inside is hotter and more comfortable. The pool outside is almost body temperature. Actually the water from the spring is hotter, but the water temperature in the pool decreased. There were private baths, but I was tired and didn't go to check them. After you finish bathing, you can drink cool water from the cooler near the entrance. The breakfast that was included in my plan and the staff again pleased me with that. I like the variety and quality of the food. After checking-out I had a free transfer to the train station. So, I had a wonderful experience with this hotel, and it is one of the reasons I want to visit Hakone again. Thank you very much!!!

This hotel is self-service, but it's absolutely fantastic. First off, the location and the view from the window are unbeatable. It features authentic Hakone hot spring water directly to your room, and you can definitely smell the sulfur. You can also BBQ on the terrace while enjoying a foot bath and a drink. It's perfect for a longer stay during your vacation.

First off, let me explain why I chose this hotel. A colleague highly recommended it. Her Japanese relatives had taken her there when she visited Hakone before, and she said it was mostly frequented by locals. After checking in, I found this to be true, so I booked it. Now, about the location. It's right next to Kowakien. The bus stops in that area are all very close, with three stops within two to three hundred meters. You can take a bus from Hakone-Yumoto to Horaien, and the hotel is directly across the street. Buses run every 15 minutes, are very punctual, clean, and convenient. It's also very close to Ten-yu and Mori-no-yu, just a short walk away. As for the service, it was absolutely impeccable. There was a handsome, glasses-wearing gentleman who spoke Chinese and had an incredibly good attitude. There was also a slightly plump Chinese lady who was very kind. After check-in, she even escorted us to our room and explained everything. Throughout our stay, everyone we encountered had an excellent attitude. They even meticulously explained our itinerary for the next day and proactively helped with our luggage. As my son said, ”They're genuinely good.” Regarding the meals, I booked a half-board plan. Dinner started at 5:30 PM and was a Japanese kaiseki meal. I didn't realize at the time that some dishes could be swapped. My son was very hungry before eating, and we both pretty much finished everything. The wagyu beef was especially delicious. For breakfast, the staff asked us the day before what we preferred. My son chose the Western style, and I opted for the Japanese. The rice was delicious, and the salmon portions were generous. About the onsen (hot spring baths): We arrived in the afternoon on our first day and immediately went to Mori-no-yu for a soak. The hotel provided free tickets, along with four arcade coupons. In the evening after dinner, we booked a private bath. Here's a note: I had read online that you could reserve private baths, but that's not actually the case. You need to check with the front desk, and if one is available, you can use it. You can't make reservations; you just have to wait. My son asked earlier and was told one would be free at 5:30 PM. We went at 6:20 PM after the previous occupants left. There are three private baths, and each session is an hour long – very comfortable! As for the main public bath, there's one indoor pool and one outdoor pool. I went early the next morning when no one else was there, so it was like having a private bath with an even better ambiance. Cleanliness and the room: The room was very spacious with a balcony, offering views of lush green mountains and clear water. My son said the bed was very soft and comfortable. There was water provided, but no shower in the room itself. Although the hotel is older, it was very clean. Overall, I was extremely satisfied. My son said he wants to go back again, but unfortunately, my wallet isn't quite ready for it!

This hotel is a paradise in the mountains of Hakone! Traditional style of the rooms - it feels like you are living in a Japanese family. We were prepared a traditional dinner, which was served in our room. It was very tasty and varied! The hotel has 3 onsen: 2 - private, 1 - public. We visited only the private ones (you need to book a time in advance at the reception upon check-in, the visit time is 30 minutes). It was wonderful! The hotel also provides a transfer from and to the nearest train stations. The rooms are clean, cozy, we slept on tatami under soft blankets. The hotel has a relax room. With massage chairs and a very quiet atmosphere. We stayed in this room after visiting the onsen and got great relaxation. And you are also given national clothes for rest and sleep. It is very beautiful and cute. Breakfasts were also in kaiseki style - varied and unusual. The hotel staff is very kind and friendly. this hotel allows tattoo baths. great experience, thank you very much! want to come back again!