Shichifukuso — Hotel in Hakone

We stumbled across this little gem and are so glad we did. We stayed in a two-bedroom townhouse with stunning views of Lake Ashi and Mt Fuji. The weather (early June) was perfect and we were lucky enough to see Mt Fuji clearly from our balcony every day.

Schichifukuso is an older-style hotel, but it’s very clean, comfortable, and full of charm. The lounge area in the main building is cosy, and the onsen, complete with views of the region and Mt Fuji was a real highlight. Our family of five loved it so much we extended our stay by an extra night (Thursday to Saturday).

If you’re up for it it’s a short 15 minute walk down to Lake Ashi from the hotel, an easy and enjoyable stroll down the mountain. From there, you can take the pirate ship across the lake to Hakone-machi, then enjoy a scenic 25-minute walk to Moto-Hakone. This route is a must-do, don’t rush it. Along the way you’ll pass through the restored Hakone Checkpoint and Onshi Park, both worth exploring, and you’ll finish up near an amazing bakery in Moto-Hakone that’s perfect for a break.

The location was perfect, giving us easy access to the pirate ship cruises (highly recommend!) and the ropeway up the mountain for more spectacular Fuji views. We used the 2-day Pirate Ship/Ropeway Pass constantly, great value and super convenient.

If you’re staying midweek in June, just be aware that dining options in Togendai are limited. Fortunately, the accommodation provides a complimentary driver who can drop you off and pick you up from restaurants or the local Lawson in nearby towns. One of the staff members, Nue, was especially helpful and transported us to restaurants and the port and ropeway on multiple occasions during our stay-thanks Nue!!

As the restaurant wasn’t open during low season, we stocked up on breakfast essentials at Lawson and enjoyed heading out each evening for dinner.

Overall, we couldn’t have been happier. This was a memorable stay in a peaceful, picturesque part of Japan and we wouldn’t hesitate to...

Gorgeous views from everywhere! My room looked out over the lake, the lobby faced directly toward towering Mt. Fuji, and the outdoor onsen was surrounded by nature. Peace, quiet, and recharge can be found here! The people running the property are super laid back and friendly; they made me feel like family. The food was lovely- definitely order breakfast at a minimum because it’s a total delight of flavors and variety. Don’t miss the outdoor onsen: so peaceful. The lake, ropeway, and bus station are all about a 15 minute walk downhill. Easy to get around even if you don’t have a car. Guests make their own beds, and clean bedding is in the closets. Tips: 1. They switch male and female onsen each day to allow a variety of outdoor views, so be sure to notice the signage so you don’t use the wrong sex onsen like I did. Also, bring a towel from the room to the onsen. 2. The lobby is up a hill with quite a few steps from the road. If you have a lot of luggage or struggle with steps, this could be a challenge. 3. As this retreat is deep in nature, don’t be shocked to find occasional insects sharing spaces. Staff on property speak Japanese and Chinese. Finally, I loved my stay and hope to...

This was a pleasant stay overlooking Mt Fuji. The breakfast was delicious and the Japanese-style rooms were spacious. However, there were some severe issues with our stay — the onsen was very poorly maintained with mold, algae and debris, and the temperature wasn’t hot at all. I got a bad infection from soaking in it, and my skin itched afterwards. The shared shower area was unhygienic and had dead bugs. Additionally, the staff was never present when we needed towels, or wanted to ask questions, or wanted to give feedback. We had to leave a day early because of the aforementioned issues.

While this was good value for money with the view, visitors should be aware that this area in Hakone is a food desert especially in the evenings. There is one izakaya open for dinner about 15 minutes away downhill, but you should go early (5:30-6pm) as it can get crowded. Additionally, the whole area in Hakone smelled like sulfur, which was pretty bad though it wasn’t the hotel’s issue. We would choose another hotel in a much more accessible area if we did it again, or honestly skip Hakone and spend more...