Great view, beautiful room, beautiful kimono, great guest lounge to enjoy, shuttle provided, nice staff One if the chefs, tall slim guy is so nice, amazing and pleasant, we really enjoyed that night but next time we had a different chef which was totally opposite!!!

Private onsen in room needs cleaning, not kids friendly menu for non Japanese kids, two restaurants but same food when staying long unless you upgrade which price is way too high!! Some staff are way too much in your face when eating or when at lounge which makes you a bit uncomfortable There are two chef at teppanyaki restaurant , one slim tall guy who was amazing , funny, kind , professional and so pleasant, the other one was a bit mean, he took away the olive oil out of my husband hand and put it away!!!! Very rude , we didn’t like it at all At the time of check out, we were waiting for someone to come to us like others but they didn’t so I just went to the them at reception to check out! You should treat everyone the same!!

WOW, WOW, WOW. It would be easier to ask what we didn't like. From check-in to check-out, you felt like royalty! We are from the US, and I feel terrible because everyone told us not to tip, and I really think we should have tipped. It just felt so exceptional on a service level. The lounge with drinks and snacks was an added bonus I did not know about. The number of shoes they give you to use! 4 pairs for different purposes in our room! The amenities in the room were OUTSTANDING!!! My daughter used the face steamer 3 times a day. The Sony Bluetooth light speaker was so cool and really enhanced the experience. My husband and I booked a private onsen in the evening and that was lovely! One small thing is that I wanted a Japanese experience, so I booked the Japanese meal, which would have been perfect for me and my husband, but it was not my 15-year-old's favorite meal. I wish I had booked the western meal for the family so our teens enjoyed the food more. The staff was INCREDIBLE!!! I mean, WOW! I changed our transport to the train station several times and then asked to change again, but it was full. I completely understood, and that was on me. During dinner, they came to find us and told us there was a cancellation at the time we needed and they could accommodate us. When we were in the lounge and getting some fresh air outside on the patio, one of the staff came and asked if we would like a family picture. There are so many examples of exceptional service from this team that we have and we were only there for one night. I posted a picture of the futon beds they set up if you have 4 people in the room. I didn't see any pictures of the setup so I posted one below.

Nothing

I’ve visited Hakone a number of times previously and stayed at other 5-star hotels with a similar price point and Hakone Gora KARAKU is by far the best place I’ve stayed at so far. From the room, the facilities, the meals and service - everything was top class. I’ve read some negative reviews online about the food and service but I have nothing but positive things to say about KARAKU. I stayed here a few nights and they really made the effort to change up the meals for me, both breakfast and dinner, which I really appreciated. The service at both their restaurants, TOMURA and MUTSUKI, were impeccable. If you’re less adventurous with your food, I would recommend you select the western/grill (teppanyaki) option for dinner and the western option for breakfast. I had a mix of traditional Japanese and their grill/western menus and enjoyed both. Chef Ikuhirosan at TOMURA even remembered how I liked my steak cooked the second night I was there, which was a very nice touch! There’s free flowing drinks and snacks at their lounge for most of the day - a nice place to stop by and chill after you’ve been out for the day. I also had a deep tissue massage at their spa and Chiaki was excellent - the price was also very reasonable for a 5-star hotel. Finally, the location was very convenient. Gora station is just a few steps away and it’s a short walk to Hakone Gora Park. I really enjoyed my stay at KARAKU and will definitely be back!

Nothing - everything was perfect!

My stay at this hotel was absolutely wonderful! The décor and facilities are modern and stylish, and the overall ambiance is incredibly relaxing. The room was spacious, spotlessly clean, and thoughtfully designed in every detail. The staff were all exceptionally kind and attentive, providing warm and meticulous service that made me feel truly welcomed. I especially loved the layout of the room. There’s a small entryway that separates the entrance from the bedroom, creating a sense of privacy. The room also includes a cozy sitting area. Another thoughtful touch is the space leading to the balcony—it’s separated by a sliding shoji-style door, allowing guests to change after enjoying the private onsen bath outside without dripping water into the room. It’s small details like these that really reflect the hotel’s care and consideration. The private open-air bath on the balcony was one of the main reasons I chose this hotel. Unlike many other hotels that simply provide a small tub, this is a full-sized stone bath that comfortably fits two people. There’s even a small table and chairs next to it, perfect for resting and enjoying the beautiful mountain view. It was an incredibly soothing and luxurious experience. The hotel is nestled in a tranquil mountain area, surrounded by peaceful nature. The scenery is truly breathtaking—so much so that even just wandering around the hotel feels like a visual retreat. Every corner, every hallway, and every window offers a picture-perfect view. The harmony between the architecture and the natural surroundings is so beautiful that I often found myself stopping just to take it all in. The dining experience was excellent as well. Meals are served in set courses, with options beyond traditional kaiseki—including teppanyaki. Breakfast includes both Japanese and Western-style selections.

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Shuttle from Odawara was very helpful. Western room and western breakfast and teppanyaki dinner were terrific. The staff are extremely diligent and take notes on very little details during your meals, etc. We noticed this on day 2 when staff were bringing things to us before we even asked. I have celiac and Chef Koji was extremely attentive. After night one, I didn’t even have to say a thing and everything was taken care of, which I sincerely appreciated. From 8-8, there is a break room with all sorts of booze, snacks, and delicious cappuccino and coffee. Hotel location is right next to the bus station and tram/cablecar station to get to lake Ashi quickly.

This was the best hotel we stayed in in all of Japan. What made it so special was our private onsen. It was worth the splurge. Meals were exceptional as well. Visitors to Japan for the first time will be surprised the hotel provides four sets of slippers: one for walking around the room, one for the onsen, one for the toilet area, and one for walking to the dining room. The hotel also provides kimonos which you can wear to meals.

It was hard to get around without a car. We took a taxi to the Open-Air Art Museum, but it was hard to get back. It turned out to be in walking distance, but we didn't know. At the train station we were told there were no taxis, but we stumbled on one on our walk back. Since it was so difficult to get around we didn't do any other sightseeing, but we didn't mind because we loved being in our room.

Well designed hotel. Excellent room (Japanese style) with lovely onsen. Spa treatment (massage) was one of the best I have had. Food for dinner was also very good and included in the cost of the hotel.

Western breakfast was very average-poor - but that is something I have found across Japan. Japanese breakfast was nice enough so would recommend that of the two. Not a significant problem as the staff were super friendly, but it did not have a full range of options for room service and equally it was not clear to take drinks from the bar to the room. Lastly, there is a lot of families that attend this hotel and it would have been nice if they had shown more courtesy to other guests (ie loud ipads on in the bar area) who were trying to relax. I would prefer an adults-only hotel next time.

The overall experience of staying here was wonderful. The service was phenomenal- all the staff bent over backwards to make sure we had an excellent stay. Loved all the little extras from the free flowing drink times, to the multiple clothes and nigh wear provided. The private onsen on the balcony was incredible, as was the open air onsen on the roof. The location was super central in Gora, which is perfect for sight seeing in Hakone.

It’d hard to fault. However I wish it had been more affordable so we could have stayed for more than one night. I also wish the free flow hours at the bar had gone on later - so we could have enjoyed a drink after dinner (the bar was too expensive to get a drink from otherwise.)

The property is spacious and luxurious. We liked the way the buildings are connected and the common places. There was one place were could enjoyed unlimited drinks and snacks. The decoration was warm and cosy, helping us relaxing more. The facility offered free transport from and towards Gora station which made it easier to reach. Our room was just as the photos. We had plenty of space, comfy beds, many free amenities, yukatas and more. The staff was friendly and very polite. If we knew that our experience would be so amazing, we would have stayed another night.

Excellent 5 star hotel in the middle of Gora. The rooms are spacious and the food is truly amazing and very cared for. The view from the balconies are mesmerising! Hakone is a gem of Japan

Everything is truly great!