5-Star Hotels in Hakone

Second stay, the hotel environment is very good, hot spring is also very good. Meals, breakfast and dinner are rich, delivered to the room, but the barbecue and hot pot smell very strong, I proposed to eat in the restaurant, and applied several times before being approved. My companions were sick, and all the pharmacies nearby were closed due to the economic depression. The first aid kit in the hotel was not updated, and it was barely enough for emergency. The town is quite quiet, the forest art gallery and sightseeing train are still there, but they are obviously very dilapidated.

Check-in was easy, and I received an email a few days prior with instructions. The room was generally clean and tidy. The view right outside the hotel was stunning. It was so chill to walk to a coffee shop in the morning. The only downside is that Moto-Hakone is a bit remote; most restaurants close after 6 PM. You might need to drive about half an hour (on mountain roads) to find a livelier town.

The hotel's shuttle service made getting around incredibly easy. We pre-booked it on Ctrip, and the shuttle to/from Odawara was right on schedule. It also offered flexible pickups and drop-offs at several attractions. After returning to the hotel, a soak in the hot spring was the perfect way to unwind and wash away the day's fatigue.

Yes, the hotel provides breakfast and dinner. The Japanese food is exquisite and the service is also very good. If the price/performance ratio is higher, it will be more enjoyable. I will go there again in the future. The private hot spring is very good and the service is very good.

Every city's soul resides in a hotel. The Peace Hotel in Shanghai, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, the Ritz Paris. These masterpieces, born from local spirit, aesthetics, and a unique mission, are irreplaceable classics, forever one-of-a-kind. They are undeniably the ultimate experiences to explore in these great cities. In 1871, a 20-year-old Japanese man moved to America for work. After saving enough money, he returned to Japan during the Meiji Restoration and enrolled at Keio University. There, he was enlightened by Fukuzawa Yukichi, the father of modern Japan, and first realized the importance of international tourism. In the same year (1874), Emperor Guangxu was only 3 years old; the gears of history began to turn. Fukuzawa's portrait is still on Japan's highest denomination banknote today. The young man, Yamaguchi, realized that Japan didn't have a true hotel for foreigners. So he picked up a blank piece of paper and began to draw the blueprint for Japan's future state guesthouse: 1. A place foreigners would love most. 2. Close to Tokyo, with beautiful scenery. 3. Must have natural hot springs. The intersection of these three coordinates landed in the Miyanoshita area of Hakone. In 1878, Japan's first resort hotel – Fujiya Hotel – was born. However, fate was cruel; just 5 years later, a major fire engulfed the hotel, along with all records since its opening, turning everything to ash. The once eternal legacy became as thin as a wisp of smoke. Fortunately, Yamaguchi resolutely chose to rebuild. In 1891, the new building was completed and has been operating ever since. The symmetrical facade and main entrance portico emphasize a solemn ”frontality.” Inside, there are sofas, fireplaces, and radiators. Even the height of the doorknobs and beds was customized to suit the stature of Westerners. Yet, at the same time, the graceful curves of the Japanese roof, vermillion railings, and dragon wood carvings constantly remind you – this is Japan. No other hotel can better interpret the four characters ”Wa-Yo setchū” (a blend of Japanese and Western styles) than Fujiya Hotel. During the war, it interned over 70 European and Central/South American diplomats. Over a hundred years, the countless celebrities, dignitaries, and royals it hosted are dazzling: Charlie Chaplin, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Yukio Mishima, The King of Belgium, the Crown Prince of Sweden, the Duke of Windsor, Emperor Hirohito, the Last Emperor Puyi, Chiang Kai-shek... For nearly 150 years, Fujiya Hotel has witnessed the collapse of countless colossal powers. How many kings and generals once stood by its west-facing windows, witnessing the twilight of their empires? I checked in during early summer, like pushing open a door to time. The hustle and bustle had long faded, but it still retained its former glory, humbly yet proudly refusing to awaken. Time stands still here, leaving amber-like imprints, as if nothing has ever truly left.

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.

Hotels in Hakone are generally expensive, but Kai Hakone offers a pretty good value for money. Room: We booked a standard room. It was newly renovated, clean, bright, and well-designed with a great view. Very comfortable stay. Onsen: The public bath isn't large, with one open-air bath for men and one for women, both overlooking the valley. It's small but charming. The baths switch locations between morning and evening. The lemon water is delicious. Other Activities: There's a tea house in the common area with a beautiful view. They offer complimentary tea and snacks in the afternoon, and local shochu in the evening (though it wasn't great). You can also book a local yosegi woodworking activity. The lobby also provides free tea and water all day. Food: Breakfast and dinner are provided. Post-pandemic, the quality of dining at Kai is not comparable to pre-pandemic times, especially breakfast. Overall, the food is decent with some thoughtful touches, and their desserts are particularly good. I'd recommend staying for 1-2 nights. Currently, the restaurant only offers two dinner menus plus a vegetarian option, and for breakfast, one Chinese and one Western set. So, for our 3-night stay, the dining experience on the third day felt a bit underwhelming. Location: It's located halfway up a mountain, so you'll mostly rely on taxis for getting around. It's about 1500 yen from Hakone-Yumoto Station.

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.

Pros: The terrace is very photogenic! The hotel is bright and spacious. It was my first time in Hakone. I could see a beautiful sunrise in the morning. The room was beautiful when I took photos. The facilities and equipment were relatively new. The highlight was the cafe in the lobby. There were a lot of coffee, tea, drinks, and wine for free. The juice was very delicious. The oat milk was also organic. Unlike other hotels, the refrigerator only had a few bottles of drinks. Disadvantages: 1. The hot spring pool was not clean enough. Many places were yellow or moldy and not cleaned. 2. The hot spring was not constant temperature. It was very troublesome to add water by yourself. 3. In addition, the room was actually quite cramped. It was not as big as it looked. The toilet was very small. 4. The bed and bedding were really uncomfortable. The pillow was very small and the quilt was a bit short... 5. The partitions of the hotel were all made of stone. They were very hard. In addition, the room was not big. My friend's hand was scratched. 5. The food was really not delicious... too Japanese. Many things were very rigid. You must eat breakfast at 8:30. The waiter would go into the room and turn on the lights regardless of whether you were sleeping or not. When you took a nap, he would knock on the door repeatedly to confirm all your itineraries for the day. Time: departure time, use shuttle time If you can't confirm, just keep asking...

The famous house is over 300 years old and well maintained. The decoration of the waiting area is more English style, with free drinks and a comfortable fireplace. The waiting area for each group of customers is relatively independent and undisturbed, which is good. On the way from the waiting area to the room, you will pass through several rest areas with different functions, with beautiful window views of different scenery. This time I stayed for only one night, and it was a pity that I couldn't feel the tranquility in front of the window. The room I booked has an outdoor private bath, and it is quite comfortable to enjoy the courtyard view while soaking. The Kaiseki cuisine is standard and there is no surprise. The check-out time of Hakone Hotel seems to be 10 am, too hurried 😂