5-Star Hotels in Hakone

Great experience! From the receptionist in the parking lot to the front desk and lounge are first class As soon as I entered the wooden house, I smelled a faint woody fragrance, and my whole person suddenly relaxed a lot. You have to take off your shoes when you enter the hotel, and the front desk will take care of them, so you directly step on the tatami with your feet, soft and comfortable. The room is very large, there are three doors from the main door of the room to the position of the bed, so the room is very quiet. The bed is very large, moderately soft and hard. There is free water, beer and juice in the small refrigerator. The electric kettle has hot water that has already been heated, and there is also a pot of room temperature water to drink next to it The room is heated and air-conditioned at the same time In addition to shampoo and other products, there are also toners, makeup lotions, and lotions that can be used. There are also hair loops for long hair. The whole arrangement is very careful. The view of the room is first-rate, and soaking in a daze in the open-air hot spring is a first-class enjoyment. Dinner and breakfast are in the restaurant on the second floor. Arrange a time with the waiter to go to the first floor and they will show you where to eat. Dining is in a semi-private room with tatami mats, and no other guests will be seen. The waiter for both meals is the same person, needless to say, polite, with a bright smile, very hard to explain the dishes in simple English. It is suitable for people who like to be quiet, slow, and [not to see people]!

A ryokan that even the locals enjoy! It was an amazing experience staying in Madoka no Mori - from pick up at Gora station to the check-in, we were looked after. I was with my partner and accompanied by family members as well (their first time in Japan). The service was impeccable - communication was excellent, facilities were top-notch and the care we received was nothing short of amazing. We would definitely go back again in the future! The availability of your own private onsen in the room with hot spring water was so worth it. Great selection of seasonal food during dinner and breakfast. Staff very flexible in assisting our travel plans the next day as well. Given that it's located in the higher areas of Hakone, it does limit ability to get to the hotel unless you have a car. However, there is a shuttle available to pick up guests. Only thing was that our group got a questioning look from the driver initially when we approached the shuttle saying we had a booking. It wasn't until they saw our names on the list of guests that they happily helped us out. It did affect the initial feelings we had with the ryokan.

This time, I brought my parents for a vacation, and after looking at many hotels, we finally settled on Suishoen. It was absolutely the right choice! The room was very new and spacious, with a private onsen inside. A stream flowed just outside the balcony, and we enjoyed soaking in the hot spring while listening to the sound of the flowing water. The mini-bar offered a great variety of new drinks and snacks. My parents soaked in the onsen twice a day, and their skin improved noticeably. On the first day, we chose the Kaiseki dinner, and every dish was impeccable. On the second day, we went for Teppanyaki, and my mom raved about it; it truly lived up to Michelin standards. There's a Lawson convenience store right outside the hotel, and a 7-Eleven about 500 meters away. We bought the Hakone Free Pass, and the hotel even dropped us off at the train station. We took the mountain train, the ropeway, and the pirate ship – we experienced it all! This Hakone trip was very satisfying!

Service: The service was excellent. When checking in, they explained all the important details about the hot spring, the room, and the brunch. Food: We had the half-board option (dinner and breakfast), and the food was delicious – highly recommended! There was also free ramen for a late-night snack, plus a self-service snack area with a beverage machine, beer, and small treats. Environment: Clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. Overall, if I go to Hakone again, I'll definitely stay here!

Our stay at this luxury ryokan was simply magnificent in every aspect: the service, atmosphere, grounds, cleanliness, and the genuine care and attention to detail were all exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were treated with the utmost reverence and attentiveness, making us feel like honored guests and part of the ryokan family. As Russian guests, we were particularly impressed by the thoughtful arrangements made for our comfort. A Russian-speaking concierge was provided for check-in and orientation, and our waitress had made special preparations to explain the nuances and flavors of each dish in Kaiseki cuisine to us in Russian – a truly considerate touch that greatly enhanced our dining experience. The ryokan's dedication to guest satisfaction extended beyond the expected. When we mentioned visiting a nearby museum (a mere 2-minute drive away), the hotel immediately offered us a complimentary transfer in a Mercedes S-Class. This gesture, like everything else, felt genuinely heartfelt and was provided entirely free of charge. The onsen (hot spring baths) were superb, and our room, along with the overall tranquil and authentic atmosphere, was perfect. This experience has left a profound and lasting impression; you will forever hold a special place in my wife's and my hearts. We would like to extend special and heartfelt thanks to AJARA and ROSA for their outstanding service and remarkable sensitivity to our cultural background and Russian language needs. Your efforts made our stay truly unique and deeply appreciated.

The environment is amazing, and the dinner buffet is incredible – it was the best value-for-money hotel on my six-day trip. I especially have to mention the dinner; definitely book it, the quality is excellent. The private onsen I booked for the evening was also very clean. Although a bit small, it offered good privacy, so it was still great. It's a shame it rained on the day I stayed, so I didn't get a chance to explore the hotel. I'll definitely book here again next time I visit Hakone.

As a Korean family living in the United States, we stayed here as a family of four with our two young children (40 months and 21 months old), and overall, we had a truly memorable experience. We booked through Trip.com, and because there were no clearly stated child occupancy policies during booking, we reserved the room as 3 adults. This later created some confusion during check-in, which I will mention below, but aside from that, nearly everything about this hotel was exceptional. First, the positives: The breakfast was outstanding—worthy of its Michelin Guide 2025 recognition. Every meal was beautifully prepared, thoughtful, and delicious. We chose a traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, and for our family with young children, it was perfect. Being able to remove our shoes and comfortably live on the floor felt especially natural and relaxing as Asians, and parents with little children will understand how convenient and comfortable this setup is. The location is also excellent—within walking distance from Gora Station, where the mountain railway arrives. Even with two small children, the walk was very manageable. The onsen experience was wonderful, and the guest lounge available from morning until 10 PM was another highlight that made the stay feel luxurious and comfortable. The dining area itself deserves special praise. Enjoying breakfast and dinner while overlooking the beautiful inner garden pond was peaceful and elegant, and the restaurant service team was abundant, attentive, warm, and professional. It truly felt like top-class hospitality. Now, one disappointment: During check-in, one female staff member wearing a headscarf made several comments that felt unnecessarily cold and transactional. Because we booked as 3 adults, she repeatedly explained that our children could be accommodated because of that booking choice—as if we were receiving an exception—despite there being no clearly stated child policy during reservation. She also explained that only 3 adult yukata/lounge outfits had been prepared in the room because we booked for 3 adults, and said we could request children's clothing “if needed.” When I asked when we should request them, she simply repeated that we could ask when necessary. At that point, a more thoughtful hospitality approach would have been something simple like: “I see you have two young children—would you like us to prepare children’s outfits now?” That small difference would have reflected genuine care. At check-out, I again observed behavior that felt uncomfortable. A trainee staff member was assisting us, and when the trainee forgot to request identification, the same staff member visibly frowned and corrected the trainee in front of us. It felt unnecessarily tense and unprofessional in front of guests. What stood out was that every other staff member we encountered was warm, polite, smiling, and genuinely welcoming. They bowed, greeted us kindly, and made us feel respected. Only this one staff member felt noticeably different—cold enough that we were left wondering whether it was discomfort toward children, cultural bias, or simply a personal attitude issue. I travel frequently internationally for business in a senior executive role, and this was the first time I experienced service that felt this distinctly uncomfortable from a luxury hospitality employee. That said, I want to emphasize: everyone else at the hotel was wonderful, and the property itself is beautiful, peaceful, elegant, and family-friendly. We would gladly return—but I hope the warmth shown by the rest of the team becomes the standard reflected consistently by every member of staff.

The hotel is located in a very secluded mountainous area. I stayed in an open-air hot spring villa with a large courtyard, and soaking in the hot spring was incredibly relaxing and wonderful, whether it was cloudy or sunny, day or night. The courtyard was beautiful on rainy days. The entire villa area was almost completely silent; aside from occasionally seeing people at mealtimes, I barely saw anyone else, which was very pleasant. The hot springs were also excellent, leaving my skin feeling smooth and moisturized. The room had a living room with a fireplace and a Bluetooth speaker, making it spacious and warm. This was the hotel's biggest draw. However, some small details were lacking. Some villas don't have parking, like mine, and walking to the parking lot was quite a trek. The bathroom area wasn't well-heated; the shower and toilet rooms were very cold unless the door was left open. The hotel's toiletries need improvement; the cotton pads were unusable, of very poor quality, falling apart into shreds when I tried to wipe my face. The bedding was also quite mediocre, not comfortable at all, and the mattress felt saggy. However, the linens were very clean and fresh, which was good. Cleanliness was so-so. Both the hot spring pool and the shower room, being made of wood, are prone to mold, and the hotel should clean them more thoroughly. The Kaiseki dinner was very ordinary. The taste and ingredients were unremarkable, though the price was also reasonable. There's no need to eat the hotel's Kaiseki if you have other options. The service was decent. They thoughtfully sent champagne for our anniversary, which was a nice touch. Check-in and check-out were handled in the room, and other services were quite proactive.

The service was excellent, professional, and very attentive. The in-room amenities were premium and had a luxurious feel. The towels and hot spring attire were made from high-quality material and felt wonderful. It's an excellent choice for a hot spring inn.

Delicious!!! The private hot spring really does contain sulfur!!! The sulfur smell was a bit overpowering at first. We booked an outdoor private hot spring, and it was fine once the door was closed. I'm curious if the indoor hot spring will fill the room with the smell.