nol hakone myojindai — Hotel in Hakone

READ IN FULL – Proceed with Caution

We had extremely high expectations for Nol Hakone Myojindai. Their website paints a picture of a serene, five-star retreat focused on wellness, tranquility, and farm-to-table cuisine, topped off with the luxury of private onsens. Their inclusion in the Michelin Guide further solidified our decision to book during our visit to Hakone.

Unfortunately, the reality fell drastically short of the promise.

Upon arrival, we were informed that dinner would not be available that evening because we hadn’t pre-booked. The only slot for the following night was 5 PM. For a hotel charging over ¥90,000 (roughly $600) per night, this was not only disappointing but unacceptable. When we expressed concern, a staff member casually suggested we go eat burgers, an incredibly tone-deaf comment, especially if made based on the assumption that all English-speaking guests are American. As European food lovers, we found this not only unhelpful but offensive.

What followed was a series of letdowns. The hotel offers no lunch service at all, and breakfast was underwhelming at best. Processed orange juice, canned mango, and the only “hot” options being dry pancakes or a basic bacon-and-eggs plate left us unimpressed. The so-called farm-to-table concept was nowhere to be found, unless you count a few salad greens at breakfast. If it hadn’t been included in our stay, we would never have paid for it.

The spa area was similarly disappointing. Rules around diapered children in the heated pool were ignored, leading to a chaotic and unenjoyable experience for many guests. Seating was scarce, only 10 indoor and 4 outdoor lounge chairs, and the cleanliness left much to be desired. We ended up using only our private onsen, which, while nice, required us to clean tree debris out of it ourselves before use.

The rooms were spacious and generally clean, but scuffed walls and a lack of attention to detail suggested poor upkeep. Instead of focusing on improving the guest experience, the hotel prefers to highlight that guests will be charged ¥3,300 (around $22) per 30 minutes past the strict 11 AM checkout time, an unfriendly reminder that perfectly encapsulates the hotel’s tone: rigid, pretentious, and far from relaxing.

This was, by far, the worst service and food quality we’ve experienced in Japan, an otherwise incredibly hospitable and detail-oriented country. We found the experience shocking and unacceptable for a property that dares to label itself five-star.

I strongly urge anyone who values their time, money, and peace of mind to look elsewhere. Avoid Nol Hakone Myojindai, and perhaps the Nol brand entirely, to ensure a truly restful experience. I will also be contacting the Michelin Guide directly to recommend they reconsider this property’s inclusion to prevent other travelers from being...

The hotel was clean and the room spacious, but the onsen was fairly average. The location is also challenging for those without a car, as it requires a 15-minute walk to the nearest bus stop and offers only limited shuttle service, making it a bit inconvenient for sightseeing and dining. It is also a 15-20 minute walk uphill from that bus stop to get back to the hotel. Something to consider if you like to explore outside of the hotel.

Initially, I might have rated this hotel a 3, but a series of issues with the food quality, high prices, and unsatisfactory management response led me to give it a lower score. With a late arrival on our first night, we opted to eat at their restaurant—a decision we soon regretted. While the meal was acceptable, the cost was shockingly high, comparable to a Michelin-star experience in Kyoto, yet far from delivering that level of quality. The dinner experience seemed more about form than function, with a focus on presentation over flavor, prioritizing the plates and decor instead of crafting a memorable dining experience.

Breakfast was another disappointment. Options were limited to either eggs or pancakes as the main dish. On the second day, I requested a simple breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast, but was told only flatbread was available. They even attempted to charge an additional 300 yen for a second slice of bacon, only removing it after I voiced my complaint. The manager then informed me that future requests for extra bacon would incur a charge. I also noticed other guests receiving different desserts, yet after the first day, we were only served diced fruit in jelly, which lacked any real flavor.

The strict breakfast policy and lack of flexibility felt out of place, particularly given the hotel’s high price point. When I addressed these concerns, the manager appeared indifferent, a stark contrast to the attentive service we received elsewhere in Japan. This disappointing experience ultimately led me to write...

This hotel should absolutely not be on the Michelin list. From the moment we arrived, the experience was poor. The front desk staff were unhelpful and difficult to communicate with, and there was no access to the hotel's only restaurant between the hours of breakfast and dinner. We were told to get food from a “canteen,” which offered only chips, cookies, and self-serve wine poured by token — hardly what you’d expect from a Michelin-endorsed property.

The location is far from the city centre, so even getting a proper meal elsewhere was a challenge. The room itself was shockingly run down: stains on the sheets and carpets, marks all over the walls, and nothing like the photos online. We were so disappointed that we left within an hour of arriving; we decided to head to Tokyo instead. We knew we were risking the money we paid for the night, but chose not to spend the night unhappy, preferring to make good of our maiden trip to Japan.

We sent a polite but honest email to management and never received a response — which says everything about their approach to guests. Michelin, however, responded quickly and are reviewing this property’s listing on their site, which we strongly encouraged.

Overall, this is a three-star hotel at best, and it’s deeply misleading for it to appear on the Michelin list. I would not recommend...