Explore honest ratings and real traveler reviews to help you find the perfect stay
Posted on Jun 13, 2026
Guest User
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!
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Price per night from:£452
Posted on Aug 11, 2026|Twin Room with Lake View Non smoking
Guest UserThis hotel was by far the best one we stayed at during our trip to Japan. The breakfast offered both Japanese and Western options; while the selection wasn't huge, which is a common trait of Japanese hotels, the environment was absolutely stunning. I checked in at night, and when I woke up in the morning, I was completely amazed by the beautiful scenery outside the window. I couldn't even sleep in; I quickly got up to enjoy the view in the garden. The staff were very friendly, and there was a lovely ********* lady who helped us communicate without any issues. She even brought our luggage all the way to our room and thoughtfully explained everything, which was incredibly helpful. The room was spacious too. We booked a double room, but since their beds are 1.4 meters wide and there were three of us, the hotel thoughtfully converted the sofa into a separate bed for us, turning a double into a triple! I loved it so much. I'll definitely recommend it to friends and I'll stay here again next time I visit Japan! 🎉
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Price per night from:£207
Posted on May 26, 2026
LKMYThe room is spacious as advertised, the hotel is a bit old but overall is still comfortable and relaxing. The in room hot spring is awesome with nice view of the lake. The open air public bath is not very big but it's fine when no crowded. The observatory deck (Take the stairs from 4th floor) is slightly below expectations due to the handprints on the window but it's still a nice place to chill. The food for dinner and breakfast have limited choices but the taste is good. You can have the view of Mt Fuji outside the lounge on a clear sky day. Free shuttle from hotel is available to pick up at Motohakone pier and the bus (Hakone Free Pass) to Hakone Yumoto station is available at the front of the hotel.
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Price per night from:£121
Posted on May 10, 2026
Nathan_SuhAs 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.
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Price per night from:£604
Posted on Jul 25, 2026|Superior Room With Open Air Bath
Hefeng05The 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.
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Price per night from:£446
Posted on Jun 9, 2025|Japanese-Style Deluxe Room
ANASTASIIA_BERDNIKOVAThis 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!
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Price per night from:£257
Posted on Jun 2, 2026
Emilie P
What an amazing guest house with beautiful interior design! This was the best stay I’ve had in Japan so far. The staff are super kind and welcoming. The atmosphere is zen and social. I loved having dinner there (you need to reserve in advance as spots are limited). It was delicious and a wonderful experience to wear yukatas as a group. A big thank you to Nana, Kira and Fuko :))
Another great advantage is the location is excellent, right by the Hakone open air museum (best museum I’ve ever been to) and near a Lawson and 7/11. There’s also a bus stop right there and the closest train station is only a few min away by foot and Gora station is about a 15 min walk.
I think the Hakone free pass is also worth doing for 2-3 days because the value and convenience is very good. One morning, I had breakfast in the caravan parked outside the guesthouse, run by Tom, and that was practical and yummy.
I didn’t have time to check this out, but there’s the Hakone foot spa nearby that’s supposed to have nice views and there’s also the Beer Bar by Gora Brewery that looks nice for dinner or lunch. Kowakidani Horaien Gardens and Chisuji Falls are also nearby (20 min walk).
Overall, I highly recommend this place and would gladly have stayed longer and hope to come back one day!
Arigato gozaimasuuuu 😃
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Price per night from:£17
Posted on Jul 12, 2026
Guest UserFirst 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!
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Price per night from:£196
Posted on May 2, 2026|Japanese-Style Room With Twin Non-Smoking
Anonymous UserA very enjoyable vacation experience. The hotel's large public bath facilities are complete, with three pools, one of which is outdoors with a pleasant view, along with a sauna and an ice bath. We stayed for two days, and the hotel thoughtfully arranged different breakfast and dinner sets for each day, fully showcasing the essence of traditional Japanese cuisine. The Japanese-style room was spacious and comfortable.
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Price per night from:£209
Posted on Jun 30, 2025
Grigorii Ryzhkov
I would recommend everyone to experience this ryokan at least once. A huge room with a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, toilet and a hot bath. There is no window in the room with the bath, but because the bath is hot, you don't feel the coolness, but you can enjoy the views of the mountains.
Dinner and breakfast - my respects! Gigantic and filling, but in the Japanese spirit. Fans of continental breakfasts in regular hotels will be sad.
The staff is friendly. They try to speak English. It is not always possible to understand each other, but they try very hard! A special plus for this!
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Price per night from:£206