This ryokan is in a beautiful area of Hakone. We rented two rooms for our family of 4. We really enjoyed the in room balcony onsen with a beautiful view. The water is relaxing and leaves your skin feeling great. The kaseiki dinner was really great and so filling. Such a variety of food served by the amazing and gracious staff. The breakfast was good as well. They also provide Japanese clothing, slippers and thoughtful amenities. Overall it was a fantastic stay with attentive ryokan staff and a beautiful view. The location is great as you can access Gora, and the Hakone tram, cable car and railway quite easily. The open air museum is a must see. The ryokan has a shuttle service to pick you up from the train station as the Hakone area is very steep with narrow and winding roads. It's possible to walk from town to the ryokan, but be careful as the winding road is shared with passing cars and busses. The area is pretty and quaint. The land is terraced and the staircases bring you to quaint shops and cafes worth exploring a slower side of Japan compared to Tokyo.

That being said, the rooms need a little refresher or paint. Ceilings have some noticeable moisture damage and spotting.

The location and ryokan itself were incredible. We stayed in the Luxury Suite with Open Air bath and it was stunningly beautiful. All staff were lovely and very helpful and the dinner and breakfasts were delicious. It was such a treat having two separate private onsens (one in the bathroom and one on the deck). The onsen on the deck has a spectacular view across a valley. This was a special treat for our 10-year wedding anniversary and it did not disappoint!

There were a few spots where a bit more maintenance could be done: the couch in the room was worn through and there was a spot on the side balcony that was caving it. It was signed and we didn't go near it, but it would be better if it were fixed.

I had an unforgettable experience at this ryokan, and I can't say enough good things about it. First, the property itself is stunning. The traditional Japanese architecture and serene garden create a peaceful atmosphere that immediately transports you to a different world. The room I stayed in was spacious and beautifully appointed, with traditional tatami mats and a comfortable futon. The sliding doors opened up to a private terrace overlooking a breathtaking view. Now, let's talk about the Japanese dinner served in the room. It was an absolute feast for the senses. The presentation was a work of art, and every dish was bursting with flavors I had never experienced before. Dining in the comfort and privacy of my own room made it even more special. And then there's the private onsen on the terrace. Soaking in the hot spring water was a magical experience: It was incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating. But what truly made this stay exceptional was the wonderful staff, particularly the young lady named Aoi (I hope that her name is correct). Her sweetness and professionalism went above and beyond to make my stay memorable. She was attentive to every detail and made me feel like a valued guest. Overall, this ryokan exceeded all my expectations. It's a place where tradition and luxury meet, creating an unforgettable Japanese experience.

Nothing

Absolutely fabulous place to rejuvenate after running around Japan. Hotel offers a pickup/drop off shuttle from the Kowakudani train station you get to transferring from Hakone yumoto - take advantage of this as walking to the hotel is a full workout with a bag. I arrived a bit early for check in and they just set me up in the library upstairs which was very retro Japan to me and I appreciated having a quiet place to recover after my hike. I’ve seen some reviews complaining about shuttle only being offered till a certain time but what you have to understand is this is a small operation and in the evening they are serving a 5 course meal to every room and their staff is busy with that. I had the suite on the third floor which was the only guest room on the floor with no rooms above or below - truly idyllic. The onsen on the balcony has a slotted wooden wall and the rest of the view overlooks the little valley directly at the open air museum (if you’re in the foot bath there you look directly at the hotel so the privacy is appreciated). The room was spacious and comfortable with a great transition shower to the onsen. Dinner is served kaiseki style every night in room and is fabulous - excellent presentation and delicious creative bites, different each night, I couldn’t believe it was included in the cost. I was alone so it was a bit exhaustive to have that style dinner by myself but I was delighted with every bite. Not to mention ever dinner includes a soba course and the noodles are made by hand by the owner. If you have any respect for Japan and their cuisine that alone sells me. Staff was incredibly accommodating and had great English skills so I never felt overwhelmed or ignored, and I didn’t see a single other guest the entire stay (huge pro in my book). Breakfast was also served in room with your choice of time, a lovely meal that saved me from going to a conbini.

Impossible to fathom a single complaint.

We loved the hotel’s location—it’s tucked away in a quiet area, offering a peaceful retreat. The private onsen was an absolute highlight, providing a relaxing and luxurious experience. A bonus was the shuttle service offered to guests, which made getting around even more convenient. The service was exceptional, and the staff went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed and cared for.

The only drawbacks we experienced were related to the age of the property. Some mold was visible in the rooms, which was concerning. Additionally, the dinner could use some improvement, as the course meals were slightly cold by the time they were served. However, the outstanding staff and exceptional service more than made up for these issues, leaving us with an overall positive impression.

The view was gorgeous from the deck and sides. We were in the Romanee suite and had loads of space - 2 bathrooms, lots of living and sleeping space. The amenities were lovely. We appreciated the various types of attire to wear both in and out of the room. The meals were exquisite. Because there were three of us, we were served in the dining room. Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. The staff could not have been more courteous, attentive, and responsive to our needs. They picked us up and transported us around town and assisted with other transportation arrangements. We rarely spend so much time in our room, but here we savored it as it was very relaxing. We especially loved having the private outdoor onsen and large deck.

The common areas are worn and dated. Likely because of the location, there is a great deal of rotted wood, mold, and mildew both inside and out. Keeping the AC on helped mitigate the aroma, and we were not sensitive to it. Inside our room, the floors, baths and bedding were all pristine, but the furniture definitely was worn. I had read this in other reviews, and I’m glad it did not deter us from staying here as we loved it.

Beautiful location and amazing staff. Wonderful presentation of dinner and breakfast.

Although part of our room, the balcony floorboards are almost rotten, and we feared we’d fall through when we walked on them. The partial wall to the right of the beautiful onsen was also rotten where it was supposed to be bolted to a rotted wooden brace; during high winds the night we stayed we heard constant banging from that partial wall banging against the rotted brace. In summary, the inside of the suite was pretty nice, but the much-lauded balcony and onsen was old and rotten.

My friend and I are in Japan for a month and wanted to book one really nice place to stay for one night as a treat. We’re both college students and have never experienced anything like this before. The private bath was great, the room was spacious, the bathroom came with all the amenities you could ask for. It was very quiet and peaceful and the staff was so kind and polite. The provided yukata and pajamas were comfortable and beautiful. The shuttles to and from the hotel were very handy. It was a very unique experience being guided straight up to your room and not having to leave for anything at all for a one night stay. The dinner was beyond what I expected. There were a lot of things I’d never tried before.

My only complaint is that during the meals, none of the food was very warm. This may have been intentional, but some of the things which I would expect to be served warm/hot (soup, tea, cooked vegetables and meat, the dessert, eggs benedict) were not. I wonder if it had unintentionally cooled down by the time it got to us. And if you’re like my friend and I, who are not used to lavish experiences like this, the level of service may be unfamiliar and somewhat uncomfortable! But that is of no fault to the staff. It was still a great and relaxing night overall. A welcome rest near the end of our very busy few weeks in Japan.

The stay was very good, the food was great and they were able to make small changes to deal with allergens for which I was grateful. The staff were amazing and it was fun conversing with them in Japanese even though my abilities are only at basic conversation level. The shuttle bus service they have can drop you off in the morning to nearby stations which was a big help too.

We booked the top floor with the balcony onsen which was very good but one of the panels has come off probably due to a storm, it seems very recent. They have done some small repairs but they should probably do more to repair it. The outside onsen also had an exposed screw, it was easy to avoid but ideally shouldn't be there at all. There was a loose board in one of the steps too.

The room and the view exceeded any pre-set expectation. Enjoying the hot water in the onsen, engulfed by nature, was truly relaxing and our stay was worry-free. Our hostess Jun, was super friendly and welcoming, which added a lot to our experience! She made our stay memorable. The traditional dinner was beyond description. Each course was more delicious than the one before it. Compliments to the chef and staff!

The room can use some maintenance and renovation in some parts. For example, the ceiling and some parts of the wooden floor were worn down. But overall, that was negligible, and the room was very clean.