Gora Hanaougi — Hotel in Hakone

I booked a one-night anniversary stay in this establishment that can possibly be best described as a luxury retreat which must be experienced to truly believe and appreciate. We traveled to Hakone by train from Tokyo, and after a charming trip via the mountainous region we were ready to experience the hospitality from what was the most expensive hotel in our itinerary. ||Per their detailed email instructions, I called the hotel from Gora station on our arrival and a pickup in a new vehicle duly arrived in less than the promised 5 minutes after my call. The driver was very polite and assisted us with our bags and off we went up a steep hill in the picturesque little town. As we approached the hotel, we spotted the members of staff waiting and waving at our car as we arrived, along with courtesy bows. ||There was a small guard of honour for us from the mini-van, along with a customary foot stool as we alighted and what followed was an incredibly warm welcome from all the members present. They politely informed us of the requirement for shoes to be removed when we entered the establishment (which is absolutely stunning - an almost retro wood feel but with the minimalist Japanese touch) which we duly complied with, and we were led off to the reception area and offered complimentary beverages and a small pastry treat (made of beans I believe - very tasty). ||We got accustomed to our surroundings before being taken to our room on the 2nd floor (via the modern lift in the hotel). The suite was simply stunning and incredibly spacious. The customary Japanese high-tech toilet was there along with a low traditional bed with a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountain range. The next room led to the lounge area, with a tv fridge and an in-built wardrobe with the clothes we would be required to wear around the establishment during our stay. The coup-de-grace was as our private onsen in a shaded outside area. We decided that we would first try the communal onsen (separate for males and females), a well made decision as it consisted of both an internal and external onsen that was an absolute delight to soak in. I felt myself instantly relax and allowed myself to drift to the sound of the water and the calming heat of the water.||I must mention that this was the height of Japan summer and my biggest fear was whether this would be all be a bit of a waste if I was feeling too hot to enjoy it but I need not have worried. The water can be enjoyed whether the weather itself is hot or cold and it was delightful. I was also the only person in the communal onsen for the duration of my 45 or so minutes there. We then finished, dressed in our traditional wear and made our way to dinner, which was in separate rooms within the dining area. The multi-course meal was indulgent, with a mix of traditional Japanese fare fitting of the best restaurants. I had earlier asked the front desk team to assist me with a proposal to my now fiancé and they went the extra mile, not only delivering the engagement ring as a surprise “extra course” but also capturing the moment on their own private phone. Just a really genuine and humane gesture which we will treasure forever. We retired to our air conditioned room and woke to an amazing multi-course breakfast that (as someone who is not accustomed to varied Japanese meals) found to a be fascinating gourmet experience. We spent some time in our private onsen thereafter, before departing for the train to our next city. The service, once again, was warm, polite and surpassed our expectations. ||Thank you to the kind team at Gora Haganougi for helping us create lifetime memories. You are...

What can I say about Gora Hanaougi? Well certainly nothing negative, the place is beautiful, service is sublime. I don't think you can find a better Ryokan in Hakone, and probably not in Japan. You may be able to find an equal one, but even that would be hard.

In case you didn't already know, this is a traditional Ryokan in the Gora/Hakone area with volcanic hot springs. Unlike other Ryokan in the area, each room has it's own private Onsen. There is also a public Onsen, although I'm not sure why you would go there when you have one in your room. There are beds as opposed to Tatami mats to sleep on, however the entire hotel has tatami throughout (and the wonderful fragrance that comes with it).

The rooms are gorgeous, and each room has a private balcony (where your Onsen is) as well as a view that ranges from great to spectacular. Nothing is missing from the room, I never wanted to leave, I felt like I could have spent the rest of my life hanging out in my Onsen and drinking tea in my room. (Don't get me started on the toilet with a remote control).

This is probably not unique, but in the main hallway there is a Sake barrel that they have open, and you can grab a box and take what you like. It's hard to pass that up, I have no idea what type of Sake it was, but it was the first time that I really appreciated the fragrance that the bamboo box adds to the Sake itself.

Unfortunately I only speak 10 or so words in Japanese, and so I had to rely on English - and everyone who worked there spoke it more than well enough. There was one gentleman who used to live in Brooklyn and moved back like 20 years ago, he was charming and friendly. They were all charming and friendly, and efficient.

I was there with the half board package, which means breakfast and dinner. Trust me when I say that each meal is artfully crafted, locally sourced, and painstakingly detailed, each plate is unbelievably beautiful. I really can't imagine a better scenario. Meals are served in a private dining area for your party, by traditionally dressed servers. Mine was the same for the 4 meals we had there and she was very nice, friendly without being over friendly, everything you would expect from the Japanese idea of great service (which I totally agree with). By the way, forget Kobe beef, the beef they serve there is literally the most sought after in Japan, I think they call it Wagyu A5. I'm not smart enough to really know the difference, but it was spectacular.

There are quite a few things to do in the Hakone area, depending on the season and of course the hotel staff will help you to figure all of that out.

On the way back to Tokyo, one of the managers drove to the station I commented to him that about the local sweets (Gora Moshi) and so he took me to the place that makes them and explained in Japanese that I wanted to buy some. Of course this is good business for them, but for me it was just awesome. Really just an amazing experience all around.

The only warning I can give you - this is not a place for a budget traveler, it's a little on the expensive side. I personally think it's an amazing bargain, but if your looking to spend $100/night this is not a...

Prefacing this with this is our first time in Japan and first time having a Ryokan / onsen experience.

Although great hospitality is commonplace throughout Japan, Gora Hanaougi takes this to a whole new level. From the attentiveness of the hosts, to the cleanliness of the facility and rooms, this place made us feel like royalty the moment we stepped out of Gora station. Contacting us in the days leading up to our stay, our hosts offered to pick us up in a private shuttle and whisk us away to the ryokan. We were worried about the language barrier (we are English speakers and know little to no Japanese), but every staff member was English friendly!

Our bags and shoes were neatly handled and carried on ahead while we were given a quick tour of the place and taken to our rooms. We had booked a queen room on the second floor with a private onsen, and the room absolutely blew us away. Complete with a breathtaking view of the Hakone hills and fall foliage, a spacious living room (with tatami mat flooring), and an all-inclusive mini fridges, nespresso, and sweets. Each guest is provided with Yukatas, pajamas, and tabi socks which are recommended to be worn while on the premises. The private onsen is perfect for two with knobs to add hot or cold water for the perfect soaking experience. There is also a public onsen available but we didn’t get the chance to visit it during our time.

Gora Hanaougi serves guests breakfast and dinner, with both meals being coursed experiences filled with the freshest seasonal offerings that are cooked to perfection. Special thanks to Watanabe-san for explaining every dish, and providing some of the best service we’ve ever had. The food leans closer to traditional Japanese cuisine, and though a lot of the dishes were foreign to us, the chef did a great job blending flavors from the seasons best into unique culinary gems of flavor and texture.

By the way, if you’re planning to visit the Hakone loop during your stay and don’t enjoy walking of the uphill variety, this ryokan offers a PRIVATE elevator up to Sounzan station, making it very conveniently located especially with the private shuttle shuttle service provided to and from Gora station.

In terms of price, Gora Hanaougi falls on the more expensive side / splurge. But, our stay at Gora Hanaougi was such a unique and pleasant one that we thought it was easily worth every penny to experience this rare treat. Ryokans in the Hakone area can have their vacancies filled quickly, and we had to book Gora Hanaougi about five months in advance.

Overall, Gora Hanaougi gave us an indelible, once in a lifetime experience. If we come back to Hakone again, we will definitely be looking for...