ホテル森の風箱根仙石原 — Hotel in Hakone

We stayed only one night but this is the best ryokan I've stayed in and among my top 3 favorite hotels around the world. The staff is great and speaks English. The food and onsen is AMAZING and the hotel has the peaceful quaint quality you need to help you unwind and relax. The facilities are pristine and spotless. There are pants/top traditional wear that make you feel like you've stepped into the Edo period vs a yukata. We ate in the dining hall among other guests. Was my favorite meal of our entire Japan trip and we ate a LOT of great food. But every dish was so perfectly arranged amd cooked. It's a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. It's also seasonal so their cuisine changes based on ingredients available. If I lived closer I'd definitely visit regularly because the summer unagi set looks amazing. Breakfast was really good as well. It is traditional cuisine with grilled fish, and many little side dishes. If you have a food allergy please tell the hotel early on. We had someone who didn't eat beef and they were more than happy to accommodate which isn't always available for larger ryokans I've stayed in. Fyi they have a nice wine list to order from as well. The staff are very professional, and courteous. Some might find the environment a bit stuffy since it can feel more uptight but just know that at a ryokan the staff are literally there to help you have the most relaxing and enjoyable stay possible so it won't feel the same as a western hotel where smiling and warmth are more commonplace but the attention to detail and quick response to questions and requests in the most courteous and prompt manner is more the style you'll be getting here. As for the hotsprings facilities itself, they are so so clean and as beautiful as pictured. It is a smaller and newer ryokan so the amenities are limited (this isnt one of those all you can drink n snack spots like larger establishments) but the pristine environment, overlooking a beautiful japanese garden seriously can't be beat. This place has literally set the bar for me for ryokans. It is harder to find when searching on google as only the japanese name shows up on location but its a hidden gem. I kind of wanted to keep it a secret but i also want more people to see and experience this place for themselves. Now for the rooms, they are spacious enough for 2 with luggage plus it has everything you need with small amenities there for your use. The beds are comfortable albeit smaller because its 2 separate twin beds for the western style room we had. The japanese style room has a warmer/softer style flooring but beds and such seem to be the same. Only thing of note was the blanket duvets are very crisp so it does make loud rustling sounds so if you are a lighter sleeper earplugs will help. Also, if you have never stayed in a ryokan, there are some etiquette you will want to know about such as its full nude. You bring your towel basket and tired body in, put your shoes/sandals in a cubby, attach a number to your slipper, take your items to a locker, strip naked, take the key with you, than proceed to shower in the seated area where you wash up. Shampoo soap and all is available for use including makeup oil wash and scrubs from your towel basket. Than you can soak all your worries away with both indoor and outdoor tubs and one cold dip for you brave souls. Very relaxing and perfect after a long day in the city or exploring the area. There were also kid friendly items for use as well for families. Free popsicles to enjoy in the common area as well. They switch the men and womens bathing areas so you get to enjoy both sides. One is more warm, full of cedar and soft pastel tones with a mural of the country side. Other side is warmer dark tone w stone and rocks and a mural of mount fuji. Note, if you are traveling by train they have a shuttle van available for pickup and drop off from Gora station area so you can take the cablecar to Gora, walk 2 minutes through the tunneled stairs that go down from the right side. 2 times slots in afternoon and mornings for...

Had a delightful stay at the ryokan. The rooms are quite impeccable with the smell of the hinoki filling the room, it was quite heavenly. We chose the room with the outdoor bath. And given the cool weather, our bathing experience was amazing. The location was also perfect if you are making a trip to the Sengokuhara Susuki Pampas Grass fields, which is such a scenic spot and of which we enjoyed walked to and through in the setting sun. We also opted to have dinner at the ryokan, who specially made it Halal-friendly for us. What's most amazing to us regarding the ryokan was the service. We had a Nepalese staff speaking with us most of the time, as he was the best in English. He personally brought us to our room and even gave an introduction to the room, and what we needed to take note off. After we checked out, he enquired how we were making our way to the train station. There was conveniently located bus stop just outside the ryokan, so we were going to take that. On our way out, he drove out and stopped along the road beside us (good thing there was no traffic) and to our utter surprise offered to drive us to the train station. We found out that he was actually knocking off, but instead of going straight home to rest (before his next shift in the evening), he wanted to drive us to the station. We were exceptionally touched at his extremely kind gesture (as we didn't think it was hotel protocol to do so). Nonetheless, his actions left us a beautiful and lasting impression on the ryokan.Would definitely go again for the...

Beautiful hotel with onsen in Hakone. The location is very good, near the bus stop and the main attractions. The hotel itself feels very new and cozy. The rooms are nicely decorated and comfortable. They have Japanese and Western style rooms so you can choose. The public onsen are very nice! They have different (very warm) pools and a sauna. They are separated by gender and each day they exchange so that you can enjoy both onsen. The food offered is delicious. Breakfast and dinner are served as Kaiseki meals and you can tell they have been prepared and served with so much attention to detail. The staff of the hotel and the restaurant are very kind and despite I didn’t speak Japanese they went out of their way to help me in everything they could and make me feel welcome. I would definitely recommend staying here if you are planning on visiting Hakone for a few days and want to experience onsen and authentic...