Luxury Hotels in Ashigarashimo District

"Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu is a truly comfortable and relaxing ryokan that made our stay very enjoyable. The staff were attentive and welcoming from the moment we arrived by car, and they promptly helped unload our luggage and delivered it to the hotel. They also assisted with carrying our luggage back to the car during check-out. The room was well-equipped, clean, and very hygienic, and the high-floor view was wide and beautiful. Breakfast and dinner buffet were both satisfying, with delicious food and a good variety of choices. The onsen was also impressive, with two levels of outdoor baths that are alternated between men and women at different times, allowing guests to enjoy both. The water park-style onsen area was a bit less impressive, but overall, this ryokan deserves a very high rating. The official site highlights its open-air onsen, private baths in all rooms, and well-regarded dining, which matches the strong overall experience here"

"This is my first time to experience this kind of pure Japanese-style hotel. Although I only stayed there for one night in a hurry, the experience was very rich and colorful. The service staff was warm and considerate. Although we relied almost entirely on translation machines and body language, it did not affect our communication. The aunt who was responsible for taking care of us would patiently help us change our clothes, remind us to appreciate the cherry blossoms, and ask us where to go. It felt like my own relatives were taking care of the children who came to travel. This is probably the meaning of a family hotel. Dinner and breakfast were very delicious and sufficient! The girls really couldn't finish it! When I learned that someone of us had a birthday, I got a handwritten blessing card, which was very touching! Our friends agreed to stay more time to come here next time!"

"The room was clean and tidy. It was a pity that I didn’t go to the top floor to experience the scenery while watching the hot spring. The banquet package booked in the hotel tasted good."

"My main reason for choosing Hotel Indigo was the expectation that a foreign hotel would offer more diverse food options than traditional Japanese cuisine, and that the rooms would be more modern. Both expectations were met, which was great. However, the hotel's location is quite remote, making it difficult to walk to Gora Station. Thankfully, the hotel provides a shuttle service to the station from 10 AM to 6 PM. If you plan to take the shuttle to Odawara, remember to book it in advance at the front desk. There's also an unsightly warehouse-like structure next to the hotel, which is a bit of a letdown considering how secluded the location already is – it really spoils the view. Around 90% of the guests here seem to be Western tourists, likely in groups, as the breakfast area was almost full before 8 AM. For dinner, we decided to eat near Gora Station and had some excellent unagi (eel) rice. A taxi back to the hotel cost us 700 yen. For first-time visitors to Hakone, I'd recommend staying in Hakone-Yumoto instead, as it's livelier, offers more dining choices, and has more convenient transportation. Also, the hotel's public bath is mixed-gender, requiring you to bring your own swimwear or borrow special attire from the front desk, which I found a bit inconvenient, so I didn't end up using it."

"This was my second stay here. My previous visit with my child was so enjoyable that when a friend came to Japan, I brought them here for a night. Throughout our stay, the staff were incredibly kind and thoughtful. Both breakfast and dinner were very satisfying. However, at check-out, one particular staff member's attitude absolutely floored me. 1. For self-check-out, there were three machines. One was free, and there was no queue, so we just went ahead and used it. 2. After checking out, I wanted to inquire about the hotel shuttle and public bus routes and schedules, as we didn't have a car this time. Both manual check-out counters were busy with guests, so I stood behind them, waiting my turn. 3. Suddenly, a staff member came out from the side to guide guests queuing for check-out. She noticed I was inadvertently standing in front of the line she was directing. She gestured for me to move, and I apologized and immediately stepped aside. Then, when she had a moment, I asked her where I should queue to inquire about the hotel bus schedule. For some reason, she seemed extremely annoyed. She spoke to me with a blank expression for a couple of sentences, then realized I didn't speak Japanese, and that she couldn't explain it to me quickly. Our conversation wasn't even finished when she angrily turned and walked away... At first, I thought she was in a hurry to attend to the queuing guests, as it was peak check-out time, and that she'd get back to me. So I waited in a spot where I wouldn't bother her or her line. But then I realized she completely intended to ignore me! I just stood there waiting for her, hahaha. Eventually, I thought, 'This isn't right. Is getting a schedule really this difficult?' She was the only person available to ask, so I went up to her again and asked in English. She froze, looking at me with a surprised expression, perhaps not expecting me to come back after her impolite demeanor. So, she had to patiently, albeit reluctantly, quickly reply to me in English. I asked if she could give me a copy of the schedule. She didn't even say ”please wait a moment.” She just turned directly to the counter, grabbed a schedule, practically slapped it into my hand with a ”Pia!” sound, said absolutely nothing, and then spun around and walked away, hahaha. I even managed to say ”thank you” to her. I was stunned. A 2600 yen per night hotel, and in my two years in Japan, this was the first time I'd experienced such shockingly poor service. I suggest that during peak check-out times, more staff should be assigned, or essential information like schedules should be placed in a conspicuous location, which would also save staff the trouble. And while the hotel indicates Chinese-speaking service is available, if staff who only speak Chinese are discouraged from asking questions, then I suggest the hotel shouldn't be on platforms like Ctrip trying to attract Chinese customers in the first place."

"Cons: This onsen ryokan is located on a hill, so the location isn't the most convenient. It's quite difficult to explore the onsen town or walk around nearby. Perhaps because it's a smaller onsen, the public bath doesn't have an open-air bath, but the private open-air bath in the room somewhat makes up for it. Pros: The lobby offers expansive mountain views, the hotel interior is new, and the room layout is well-designed. Both dinner and breakfast are above the standard for an onsen ryokan; you can really feel the chef's dedication, not just a typical mass production. I wrote this review mainly to express my gratitude to our server, Ms. Saki Takano. She communicated with us in English and even used a few simple Chinese words to introduce the dishes. When we left, she wrote us a blessing card in Chinese characters. Her sincerity and warmth, without any pretense, truly made us feel at home. Thank you very much."

"The forest-view rooms are located in the wing built in the 1960s. The decor isn't just retro; it's genuinely vintage. You can tell they used quality materials and had good taste, but it definitely feels dated. The public bath is conveniently located on the 6th floor of the forest wing. The shower stalls have dividers, so privacy is decent. If you're not comfortable using the public bath, the hot water in the room's bathtub is actually hot spring water, so you can enjoy a private soak in your room. The hotel itself has a lot to offer. There's a hiking trail behind it where you can see Mount Fuji, but it takes about an hour, and I didn't have time for it this trip. For breakfast, you can choose between Western or Japanese. The Japanese breakfast requires a reservation. Our timing didn't work out, so we had Western breakfast for two days. The menu was exactly the same both days, and while the dishes were standard, they were meticulously prepared. As a hotel that was once a showcase for Japan's opening to the West, you can feel the high standards of design and service everywhere. Most of the guests are older, which reminds me a bit of China's Friendship Hotel. For families with children, the hotel provides kids' yukata and toiletries, and you can buy fish food for 100 yen to feed the koi, which made the kids very happy."

"We were looking for onsen with private bath on the balcony and probably hit the sweet spot. Unfortunately we had only 1 night stay, but it was fantastic. Onsen is located at the top station Gora, where you can get from Odawara. That’s around 2 hours from Tokyo all together, around 3 hours from Kyoto. Last 2 sections of the way are going through a picturesque steep railway. Views are great! Be sure to rush to the front or back seats (doesn’t matter which) to secure a spot for nice photographs. Private bath is fantastic, rooms are clean and spacious with a touch of ryokan style (tatami etc). That’s a perfect place to sit and relax doesn’t matter it’s sunshine or pooring rain outside. The food was fantastic (according to my wife), however the options are limited if you’re not eating fish or sea products due to allergy or other reasons. For Karaku team - I would suggest adding a signature wagyu set for those who would like something else. Selection of wine and alcohol drinks is superb. Free snacks and coffee are available till 8 p.m. as well with a view terrace. For those who like some regular conbini stuff - Lawson is around 10 mins walk with Miyazaki style trains passing by👌🏻 All in all, we wish we had stayed at least 2 nights as there are lots of activities around.  Thanks to Karaku staff for a warm welcome and tailored experience!"

"The private onsen was lovely, and the hotel is located near Gora Station, though it's up a hill, so I wouldn't recommend heavy luggage. If you do have a lot, it's best to ask the hotel for a pick-up or take two more stops on the Hakone Tozan Railway. The room was very Japanese in style with classic decor. Both meals were also good, and the service was attentive."

"Check-in was easy, and I received an email a few days prior with instructions. The room was generally clean and tidy. The view right outside the hotel was stunning. It was so chill to walk to a coffee shop in the morning. The only downside is that Moto-Hakone is a bit remote; most restaurants close after 6 PM. You might need to drive about half an hour (on mountain roads) to find a livelier town."