Hotele Hot Springs w: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

I spent a wonderful night here during New Year's Eve. The waiter barely understands people and foreign languages, but he is friendly and good at communication. I booked a public bathroom first, but then I changed it to a private bath when there was room. My satisfaction improved a lot! The hotel is very close to Hakoyō-Yumoto Station, and the taxi cost was less than 1,000 yen. Later, we couldn't get a taxi and it was very comfortable for us to walk to the station for 15 minutes with our children🏳️🌈

[Fufu Hakone: A Luxurious Mountain Escape] Fufu Hakone is located in the quiet Gora region and seamlessly blends modern comforts with traditional Japanese ryokan hospitality. The property stands out for its unique dual hot spring experiences, providing private balcony baths with clear mineral water in every suite alongside communal pools filled with therapeutic, milky-white sulfur volcanic water. We had a wonderful one-night stay at Fufu Hakone on 28 May 2026, which included a Kaiseki dinner and breakfast. [Getting There] Our journey began with a midnight flight from Singapore, reaching Tokyo at 9:00 AM. From there, we caught the Narita Express and changed to the Tokaido Shinkansen to travel to Odawara, before making our way up to Gora. We arrived at Gora Station close to 3:00 PM to find it drizzling. Unfortunately, local taxis were completely unavailable and we could not find any vehicles on the GO app. Fortunately, we managed to get into the shelter of the tourist information centre. The lady on duty was incredibly helpful, assisting us to call Fufu Hakone for a pickup and directing us to the exact area where hotel shuttle services operate. We highly recommend that you do not attempt to walk to the resort from the station, especially in poor weather. [Arrival Experience] The moment we arrived at the resort, we were met with warm smiles and greetings. We were guided to the reception area located on the second level of the front building and seated comfortably in the lounge, where we were served hot tea. A designated staff member came over to complete our check-in process and then escorted us to our room in the guest building. The level of attentiveness was outstanding. The staff member explained every single detail in the room, including the layout of the suite, the private balcony onsen, the water temperature controls, the television, and the mini-bar, which is entirely complimentary. They also carefully went through our dinner order, taking down all of our personal preferences, likes, and dislikes. [The Suite] Our suite, named 楢の芽 (Naranome), was located on the third level. Rather than trying to describe the beautiful layout in words, I will let the accompanying photos speak for themselves. The room features two super-single beds that are incredibly fluffy and soft, with each bed featuring two plush pillows to guarantee a perfect night of sleep. The resort provided both pyjamas and a two-piece samue yukata for our stay. The pyjamas are strictly for use inside the room, while the samue yukata is intended to be worn when exploring the public areas of the property. [Dinner and Breakfast] Both the Kaiseki dinner and the breakfast were exceptional. Because many of the exquisite dishes feature seasonal ingredients that change throughout the year, please refer to my photos for a visual look at what was served during our stay. [The Ultimate Onsen Routine] To make the most of the dual hot springs, I highly recommend this routine: - Welcome Soak: Start with the light and refreshing clear mineral water on your private balcony to gently wash away travel fatigue before dinner. - Dinner and Rest: Enjoy your Kaiseki meal, then return to your suite to digest comfortably for a few hours. - Nightcap Soak: End the evening in the communal baths. The thick, milky-white sulphur volcanic water melts away muscle tension and deeply relaxes the body before sleep. [Areas for Improvement] While the stay was mostly flawless, there are two minor points to note: - Toothbrush Set: The provided toothbrush set was rather small for my liking. It felt like it took ages to finish brushing my teeth. You should definitely bring your own if this is a concern for you. - Room Attire: The two-piece samue yukata was not comfortable at all. It is not mandatory to wear it around the property, but we chose to do so anyway to fully immerse ourselves in the traditional ryokan culture.

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.

The Japanese service is, as always, impeccable. The only minor issue was that I found the food a bit hard to get used to.

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!