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.

The place was spotless, the environment was beautiful, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Even though English wasn't their strong suit, they used translation apps effectively to communicate. We weren't aware they offered a pick-up service, so we took a taxi there. However, they kindly provided a drop-off service to the station when we left. They also patiently explained which station had luggage lockers, as we were planning to move on to a different location the next day. If we hadn't already made other plans, staying two nights would have been ideal. The dining experience felt like a hotel's set course meal. While dinner was a little slow, the overall experience was excellent, and the dining staff were all wonderful. We also had pleasant encounters with local Japanese people in the public baths; they were very friendly. One even waited outside to recommend some ice cream to us! Overall, I had a fantastic impression of Hakone.

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!

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.

Had a wonderful 2-night stay in Hakone! Having breakfast and dinner at the hotel saved us a lot of hassle. While you're at Owakudani, make sure to try the famous local specialty, the black eggs. There's a small stall tucked away in the back of the supermarket behind Owakudani that sells them – 4 hot eggs for 500 yen. They say eating them adds years to your life, haha!

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.

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.

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 😂