Hakonowa Hot Spring Inn

The onsen was quite nice. The breakfast was decent (soup every day). However, there was a bad smell in the closets and the futons also smelled unpleasant. The check-in process was via video with a guy working remotely. This felt quite far from a human interaction. There's a burger restaurant on the ground floor. It's good but expensive. The nearby mountain stream is refreshing, and there are waterfalls with a small Shinto shrine just an 8-minute walk away.

Check-in is via advance registration. There's a cafe on the ground floor with delicious burgers. We arrived early. They kindly agreed to store our luggage until check-in, so we went for a walk without any luggage. It's quite noisy before closing, but it's not a distraction, but you need to be prepared. But after closing, it's quiet. We were lucky with our neighbors. The hostel has three rooms. The common area is equipped with a water cooler with sugar and cream for coffee, a microwave, and a board for booking an onsen. The onsen is small but lovely. :) The cafe staff will help with check-in if needed. They are very polite and pleasant. Burgers can be ordered to your room. The room itself is very atmospheric, Japanese-style. It was chilly, but the room had an air purifier, an air conditioner with a heating function, and a separate heater, for which we were especially grateful. The bedding is nice and comfortable. The room was quite dusty in some places, but it didn't bother us personally. However, you need to be prepared that this is not a luxury hotel, but a very atmospheric place with its own vibe and energy.

There are three Japanese-style rooms, all located on the second floor of the box burger restaurant, but it is quiet at night and you don't have to worry about being disturbed. The staff is very enthusiastic and patient, and speaks fluent English. Hot springs require reservations. One room has two reservation opportunities per night, one in the morning and one in the evening. After the reservation is successful, you can enjoy it alone. The room is made of wood, and the overall clean and elegant, but the sound insulation and stability are not very good. Guests in three rooms share a washbasin and toilet, and need to make their own beds (but it's very simple). It is suitable for guests who want to experience Japanese houses. Overall, it's good.

Very good Japanese-style inn experience! Box Burger is not difficult to find using the location navigation. It is not far from the station, but it looks a bit out of the way. The hotel's own hot spring is also very comfortable, the breakfast is delicious, and the sound insulation is better than expected. The only thing is that there are not many toilets, which may be a bit inconvenient to use. And remember to try the burgers at Box Burger, they are super delicious!

Very nice B&B! Very clean, the hot spring water is smooth. There are only three rooms, so it is always quiet. Suitable for enjoying it slowly without rushing! It is about a 10-minute walk from Hakone Yumoto, and it is very convenient to go out for dinner. Highly recommended!