Madoka no Mori — Hotel in Hakone

My mom and I just had a wonderful one night stay at this ryokan recommended by our friends in San Francisco! We were exhausted from our long train and car ride from Kyoto, but upon arriving and entering the vicinity, my mom and felt welcomed, cared for, and pampered until the moment they waved us good bye after dropping us off exactly where we had to go the next day. This was our very first ryokan experience coming from our stays at two fabulous Ritz properties in Japan and at Hoshinoya Kyoto and I have to admit, I was initially a bit nervous that we would have been already too spoiled by their 5-Star hotel amenities and facilities. However, this hotel which perfectly blended modern decor/amenities (I.e. stand-alone sink, illys espresso machine, plush beds, etc) without losing its integrity as a ryokan and essentially allowing us to experience what traditional vacations were like back when the above were not available yet. We especially loved the table with seats covered atop a Japanese heat-pad and covered in Asian style blankets as well as the wooden open air bath deck that's available for all rooms in the building.

Highlights -The public bath: the bath area here boasts multiple outdoor onsen pools of various temperatures, allowing you to enjoy onsen looking at the stars (or snowflakes in our case!). I was also very impressed by the spacious and flawlessly clean and well-manned vanity and shower stations, overall elevating our bath experience here greatly.

-The very personalized attendance to your needs during your stay that felt continuous as the same server/room attendant who came too check you in will serve all your meals as well

-The courteous, warm staff who all spoke good -enough English

-Separate dining facility apart outside of your room

-The lobby lounge area that's half open air where you get to enjoy the nature while being served Tea/Coffee

-The luxurious Shiseido skin care products (lotions, soaps, etc) available in your room and in public bath

-The very high-tech massage chairs!! Best free massage chairs ever

Lowlights Honestly not too many, but if anything, probably that it was 1) a bit further out from Odawara station and therefore expensive to get to via taxi when it was snowing 2) not reaching out personally to confirm arrival details after your reservations in order to work out your arrival time/means and 3) the food relative to other places we've eaten at - Hoshinoya Kyoto and Gora Kara - were not as delectable. However, the Hida beef, the sashimi course and the breakfast porridge were very impressive yummy.

Overall, the level of hospitality, the well-maintenance of its luxurious facilities, the awesome public onsen, the open air bath available in every room, the personalized service and attendance including your transfer to/from this ryokan make this place a top-notch ryokan in Hakone that delivers its 5-Stars hospitality experience without needing iPad docked rooms or a gym staffed with Power Plate machines. I'd take the superb massage chairs over a gym any...

This is the most incredible experience we've experienced in Japan, maybe just the best experience Ive ever had. Hospitality even prior to arrival was amazing, Billy helped us arrange for pickup and asked us about meal preferences, travellers, etc. Then when we arrived during the typhoon, we weren't able to call the Ryokan but Billy intuitively sent the shuttle to pick us up anyways knowing we had messaged him earlier of our planned arrival.

During the down pouring rain, the shuttle driver (which is actually a luxury minivan) came out with an umbrella for each of us, handled our heavy luggage, and took us to the Ryokan.

Upon arrival, the staff took out heavy luggage to the room as we checked in, we were brought matcha and flan as we checked in. All staff were incredibly polite, apologizing for things they didnt even do wrong! (i.e. apologizing for the delay when they was no delay at all). All of the staff bowed as we proceeded to the elevator, and escorted us to our room. They explained how everything in the room worked, meal times, onsen, etc.

The hotel is beautiful and overlooks the mountain range of Hakone, with clouds just drifting through the mountains. Its zen, peaceful, beautiful, and relaxing.

Dinner was quite simply the most stunning meal I've ever had. 10 courses, each exquisitely designed, plated, and perfectly executed. I've had michelin restaurants, this deserves all 3 stars in my book. Ingredients were supreme, each bite was just incredible. Breakfast the next day was also delightful, though I'm not quite used to having a 3 course breakfast.

The hotel itself is also beautiful. Floors throughout the hotel are covered in Tatami mats, even the elevator. In room onsen was relaxing, big enough for 2, clean and well maintained. The hotel was very quiet, making other visitors almost invisible. We felt like royalty the entire time. Public onsen was also incredible, indoor and outdoor baths, gender separated, with cleaning and wash up stations after exiting.

This was a once in a lifetime time experience that we wished we had stayed longer. You're not just paying for a hotel and simple dinner, its an experience that we'll never forget, and a meal and room we'll dream about for years to come. Thank you to the entire staff if...

We stayed at this ryokan for a few days in Room Ebine.

Hospitality and Service: 10/10 Every member of the staff we encountered was attentive and genuinely caring. Despite our late arrival in Japan due to unforeseen circumstances, the front desk kept in close contact to ensure we arrived safely. They even arranged a private shuttle outside of regular hours to pick us up from the station. Our attendant Natasha served each meal with elegance and care, while another staff member graciously showed us to our room and guided us around the grounds. From beginning to end, both the attendants and front desk staff made us feel warmly welcomed.

Room: 10/10 Our room was stunning, blending traditional beauty with comfort. Shoji screens, handcrafted Japanese furniture, and a breathtaking view over the valley created a serene atmosphere. The room included a spacious living/sitting area facing the valley, a large vanity, a kitchen area, and a separate toilet. The highlight was undoubtedly the private open-air bath fed directly by natural hot springs—a truly unforgettable experience.

Facilities: 10/10 The entire inn exudes a calm and serene ambiance. The communal onsen areas are separated by gender, each offering two indoor pools and three outdoor pools at varying temperatures. The changing rooms were well-equipped, with vanities and amenities that allowed us to freshen up after soaking in the baths. As it was my first time experiencing a public onsen, I appreciated the clear instructions provided in our room as well as the signage in the changing areas, which made the experience smooth and comfortable.

Food: 9.5/10 The meals were beautifully presented, each dish prepared like a work of art. The flavors leaned toward the adventurous side, which may be especially appreciated by those with a refined palate. While the cuisine occasionally pushed us outside of our comfort zone, it was always in a delightful and memorable way, and we thoroughly enjoyed the creativity and care put into...