Hotels in Hakone are generally expensive, but Kai Hakone offers a pretty good value for money.
Room: We booked a standard room. It was newly renovated, clean, bright, and well-designed with a great view. Very comfortable stay.
Onsen: The public bath isn't large, with one open-air bath for men and one for women, both overlooking the valley. It's small but charming. The baths switch locations between morning and evening. The lemon water is delicious.
Other Activities: There's a tea house in the common area with a beautiful view. They offer complimentary tea and snacks in the afternoon, and local shochu in the evening (though it wasn't great). You can also book a local yosegi woodworking activity. The lobby also provides free tea and water all day.
Food: Breakfast and dinner are provided. Post-pandemic, the quality of dining at Kai is not comparable to pre-pandemic times, especially breakfast. Overall, the food is decent with some thoughtful touches, and their desserts are particularly good. I'd recommend staying for 1-2 nights. Currently, the restaurant only offers two dinner menus plus a vegetarian option, and for breakfast, one Chinese and one Western set. So, for our 3-night stay, the dining experience on the third day felt a bit underwhelming.
Location: It's located halfway up a mountain, so you'll mostly rely on taxis for getting around. It's about 1500 yen from Hakone-Yumoto Station.
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