HOTEL MORI NO KAZE HAKONESENGOKUHARA

The reviews for Mori no Kaze are clearly overhyped and misleading. Perhaps it used to be run well, but my recent stay showed that it's clearly not operating up to par anymore. I won't be choosing any hotels from this brand in the future. Firstly, despite being a new hotel, the building quality is very low. The windows offer absolutely no soundproofing; the noise from passing cars on the road is very noticeable, and almost every room seems to have this problem. Those who value peace and quiet should definitely think twice. Secondly, the entire hotel has incredibly poor taste. There's no garden to speak of, so finding a relaxing and pleasant mood is impossible. The walls are covered with numerous sub-par paintings by the same artist – it's truly visual pollution. The in-house yukata (robe) is made of shiny, pure synthetic material with a very unpleasant feel. But the most unbearable aspect was the dinner, which was terribly substandard. I chose the 7:30 PM slot, and by the time I arrived, the appetizers had clearly been sitting out for a long time. They lacked freshness, losing much of their color, aroma, and taste. The dishes were served out of order. The sashimi fish was mushy and falling apart, the tuna was stringy, and the tempura tasted like something bought from a supermarket and reheated – definitely not freshly fried twice. The batter was thick and not crispy at all. Even though I was very hungry, I could barely stomach two bites. The only good thing was the chestnut rice. This dinner was hands down the worst I've ever had at a hot spring hotel. Breakfast was just average. There was also a lot of dust in the room that hadn't been wiped clean. The only redeeming quality was the onsen (hot spring) itself, which was excellent – calm, not crowded, and with a comfortable temperature. Overall, I absolutely do not recommend this place.

Excellent and very comfortable! The breakfast was exceptionally delicious, though dinner was a bit less impressive compared to breakfast. The hot springs were absolutely beautiful and not crowded at all.

Surrounded by mountains, the hotel offers stunning views. The Japanese garden-style architecture is very elegant, and the rooms are clean and tidy. The front desk staff were very polite. In the evening, there are several restaurants within walking distance, making dining very convenient. This onsen hotel certainly didn't disappoint! The hot spring baths were very clean, divided into several areas with different water temperatures, and there was even complimentary ice cream for guests. The Japanese breakfast provided by the hotel on the second day was exquisite and delicious, and I could enjoy the scenery outside the window while eating! I really didn't want to leave! I'll definitely come back next time!

I absolutely loved this chic and quiet Japanese onsen hotel. My stay was incredibly satisfying. The hotel service was warm and attentive. I really enjoyed the hotel's hot spring — it was clean and comfortable, especially the outdoor bath, which was so relaxing. The Japanese kaiseki dinner set was quite extensive. I hope to visit again!

The hotel is quite new, but its location is a bit out of the way. While there's a bus stop right outside, the bus schedule is unreliable. It would be perfect if you're traveling by car. It's also quite close to the Glass Museum.

The hot spring was fantastic. Breakfast was abundant and unique. It's very close to the golf course and Gotemba Premium Outlets. The service was very attentive.

The hotel is very close to Mangcangyuan, and having a FamilyMart across the street is super convenient. The rooms are surprisingly new for a hot spring hotel. I highly recommend the dinner; we spent nearly two hours enjoying it. Highly recommended overall.

The hotel is easily accessible, with a direct bus from Odawara Station right to its doorstep. There's also a direct bus to Togendai, where you can connect to the cable car and pirate ship, making sightseeing around Hakone incredibly convenient. The room itself was impeccable, a classic onsen ryokan layout with a Japanese-Western style (with a bed), so even those not used to futons will be comfortable. The half-board (dinner and breakfast) meals were also excellent.