Hakone Kowakien Hotel

I originally planned to stay one night in Hakone, but after checking some guides, I realized there were so many attractions. So, I decided to book an extra night. Apparently, booking two separate nights doesn't guarantee you the same room. The front desk lady spent quite a while checking her computer to arrange a single room for me. Next time, I'll remember to book both nights at once. It might have been because of the Chinese New Year period when there are lots of guests checking in. Hakone is perfect for a one-night, two-meal stay. Since the attractions in Hakone are spread out, it's best to spend the day fully immersing yourself in sightseeing. If you get hungry at lunchtime, just grab some snacks to save time, and then enjoy the hot springs and buffet at the hotel in the morning and evening. The rooftop hot spring might use regular hot water, but it wasn't too crowded, and they had some toiletries and skincare products, so I just decided to wash up there instead of in my room.

It takes about 40 minutes by bus from Odawara Station. The hotel itself is relatively new, which suited us as we prefer not to stay in traditional Japanese tatami rooms. The Japanese girl at the front desk provided excellent service; she helped us check in early and even switched our room. However, there's currently a crane operating in the hotel's garden area, which obstructs the view and creates a lot of noise. They were even working on a rainy day when we checked in. The hotel stated construction would begin after 10 AM, but it started at 9 AM, disturbing our rest. The public onsen (hot spring bath) was nice, with both indoor and outdoor options. The private bath costs 2,500 JPY per hour, but I'm not sure if it's real hot spring water as I didn't smell any sulfur. The breakfast and dinner buffets were average; there were many options, but nothing particularly tasty or outstanding in terms of ingredients. For the off-season price of just over 1,000 JPY (presumably per person or per night), it's decent value, but it wouldn't be worth it during peak season due to the higher cost.

Hot spring hotels in Hakone are really hard to come by on weekends. When I booked, only double rooms were available. Since I had a child with me, I had to pay an extra 30,000 yen at check-in for two nights, which was almost the price of the room itself. A word of advice for those traveling with kids: make sure to include everyone in your booking! The hotel is conveniently located right by the station. The onsen is on the 6th floor; there aren't many pools, so you'll be done in about half an hour. Yunohana Onsen across the street is part of the same group and has a few more pools. Breakfast had a good variety, enough to satisfy our appetites; I recommend the curry rice. Cleanliness was just okay; there was no duvet cover, just a sheet loosely draped over the duvet. Downstairs, there's a self-service, all-you-can-drink coffee and beverage station.

This is a new, good-value hotel located on Hakone Mountain, right across from the Kowakien bus stop. The 6th-floor public bath has an outdoor section, and many young people frequent it. Breakfast is extensive, with a DIY sashimi bowl bar and various alcoholic beverages included. The dinner buffet, however, features pretty much the same dishes as the previous night.

This hotel offers incredible value for money. The room size was surprisingly spacious for Japan, and it's super convenient as the bus stop is right outside. The tram station is a bit of a walk, but I think they have a shuttle service. It's pretty much nestled in the mountains, with a convenience store nearby. They even offer complimentary tickets to a local hot spring, though I didn't get a chance to go. The breakfast spread was fantastic, and the private onsen experience I booked was wonderful. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.

It was very relaxing this time, and there were many Chinese tourists, which was very convenient as there was a Chinese translator available.