Hakonenomori Okada

How do I put it? This hotel is a bit of a mixed bag. Pros: The triple room with breakfast and dinner (dinner menus didn't repeat over two nights) was a third cheaper than other places. The hot springs were also good, with four outdoor pools. Cons: The location is inconvenient, right at the highest point in the Hakone-Yumoto area. The shuttle bus runs late in the morning and early in the evening, which doesn't really match most people's itineraries. Taking a taxi is probably the most sensible option, at 900 yen one way, plus a 400 yen surcharge for calling one. Of course, walking down the hill from the hotel to the station without luggage isn't too strenuous, taking about 20 minutes. As for facilities, there's no complimentary bottled water in the room, and no washing machine. And the service... after dinner, a waiter accidentally spilled a bowl of soup all over my pants while clearing the table. They handed me a dry towel, and that was pretty much it. No further apologies or assistance.

This hotel is a bit far from the station, but thankfully, they offer a shuttle bus service every 20 minutes. Just make sure to check the schedule. The hotel itself is a bit old but kept very clean. The set dinner was decent, and the breakfast buffet was just average. If you're not too picky, it's a fine place to stay. The outdoor hot springs are fantastic, with five large and very comfortable pools. Next time, I might just come for a day trip to use the onsen, as that would be even better value for money.