5-Star Hotels in Ashigarashimo District

Tucked into the foothills of Hakone, in a quiet village along Yugawara Parkway, we found this small villa surrounded by greenery and the sound of a nearby stream. But what stayed with me wasn’t the villa—it was us. The kids ran straight to the deck, reaching out to catch the falling cherry blossom petals as they drifted onto the water, arguing over who caught the most before they slipped through their fingers. Someone left the door open, letting the cool air drift in. By evening, we were all gathered upstairs, half-talking, half-listening to the steady rhythm of the stream below. No one reached for their phones. Later that night, we slept with the windows open. You could hear the water, constant and calming, like it had always been there. It’s strange—places fade, but moments like this don’t. The quiet, the laughter, the feeling of having nowhere else to be. That’s what I’ll remember. 

The place was spotless, the environment was beautiful, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Even though English wasn't their strong suit, they used translation apps effectively to communicate. We weren't aware they offered a pick-up service, so we took a taxi there. However, they kindly provided a drop-off service to the station when we left. They also patiently explained which station had luggage lockers, as we were planning to move on to a different location the next day. If we hadn't already made other plans, staying two nights would have been ideal. The dining experience felt like a hotel's set course meal. While dinner was a little slow, the overall experience was excellent, and the dining staff were all wonderful. We also had pleasant encounters with local Japanese people in the public baths; they were very friendly. One even waited outside to recommend some ice cream to us! Overall, I had a fantastic impression of Hakone.

Facilities: Excellent Cleanliness: Good Ambiance: Comfortable Service: Good Located on Gora mountain, there isn't much to explore nearby, but you can take a pleasant walk along the road with fresh air. The hotel facilities are excellent, and the half-board (two meals and one stay) is fantastic; both breakfast and dinner were delicious! After a satisfying meal, we enjoyed a very relaxing dip in the hot springs. The lobby offers tea and coffee, and in the evening, there are various snacks, alcoholic drinks, and other beverages available. The staff are very friendly. Overall, we are extremely satisfied.

The hotel's shuttle service made getting around incredibly easy. We pre-booked it on Ctrip, and the shuttle to/from Odawara was right on schedule. It also offered flexible pickups and drop-offs at several attractions. After returning to the hotel, a soak in the hot spring was the perfect way to unwind and wash away the day's fatigue.

As a Korean family living in the United States, we stayed here as a family of four with our two young children (40 months and 21 months old), and overall, we had a truly memorable experience. We booked through Trip.com, and because there were no clearly stated child occupancy policies during booking, we reserved the room as 3 adults. This later created some confusion during check-in, which I will mention below, but aside from that, nearly everything about this hotel was exceptional. First, the positives: The breakfast was outstanding—worthy of its Michelin Guide 2025 recognition. Every meal was beautifully prepared, thoughtful, and delicious. We chose a traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, and for our family with young children, it was perfect. Being able to remove our shoes and comfortably live on the floor felt especially natural and relaxing as Asians, and parents with little children will understand how convenient and comfortable this setup is. The location is also excellent—within walking distance from Gora Station, where the mountain railway arrives. Even with two small children, the walk was very manageable. The onsen experience was wonderful, and the guest lounge available from morning until 10 PM was another highlight that made the stay feel luxurious and comfortable. The dining area itself deserves special praise. Enjoying breakfast and dinner while overlooking the beautiful inner garden pond was peaceful and elegant, and the restaurant service team was abundant, attentive, warm, and professional. It truly felt like top-class hospitality. Now, one disappointment: During check-in, one female staff member wearing a headscarf made several comments that felt unnecessarily cold and transactional. Because we booked as 3 adults, she repeatedly explained that our children could be accommodated because of that booking choice—as if we were receiving an exception—despite there being no clearly stated child policy during reservation. She also explained that only 3 adult yukata/lounge outfits had been prepared in the room because we booked for 3 adults, and said we could request children's clothing “if needed.” When I asked when we should request them, she simply repeated that we could ask when necessary. At that point, a more thoughtful hospitality approach would have been something simple like: “I see you have two young children—would you like us to prepare children’s outfits now?” That small difference would have reflected genuine care. At check-out, I again observed behavior that felt uncomfortable. A trainee staff member was assisting us, and when the trainee forgot to request identification, the same staff member visibly frowned and corrected the trainee in front of us. It felt unnecessarily tense and unprofessional in front of guests. What stood out was that every other staff member we encountered was warm, polite, smiling, and genuinely welcoming. They bowed, greeted us kindly, and made us feel respected. Only this one staff member felt noticeably different—cold enough that we were left wondering whether it was discomfort toward children, cultural bias, or simply a personal attitude issue. I travel frequently internationally for business in a senior executive role, and this was the first time I experienced service that felt this distinctly uncomfortable from a luxury hospitality employee. That said, I want to emphasize: everyone else at the hotel was wonderful, and the property itself is beautiful, peaceful, elegant, and family-friendly. We would gladly return—but I hope the warmth shown by the rest of the team becomes the standard reflected consistently by every member of staff.

Yes, the hotel provides breakfast and dinner. The Japanese food is exquisite and the service is also very good. If the price/performance ratio is higher, it will be more enjoyable. I will go there again in the future. The private hot spring is very good and the service is very good.

The service was excellent, professional, and very attentive. The in-room amenities were premium and had a luxurious feel. The towels and hot spring attire were made from high-quality material and felt wonderful. It's an excellent choice for a hot spring inn.

The hotel is located in a mountainous area with a beautiful environment. The interior of the hotel is beautifully designed. The staff are very attentive and enthusiastic. The room we stayed in this time has hot spring facilities. It was semi-open air and the atmosphere was very good on a rainy day. Will definitely stay again next time.

The hotel service is very good, the rooms are clean and the food is of high quality. Drinks including red and white wine, sake and snacks are available in the lobby after 8 o'clock. All drinks and gels in the room are also free. There are also telescopes provided, so you can see the stars in the dark night sky, which is very considerate. I stayed in three different hot spring hotels in Hakone. I checked into Gengensen Saryo on the second day. When I left, they would take me to nearby attractions in Hakone. The service was very good. When I checked into the third hotel in Hakone Yumoto, I found that I had left my ring at Gengensen Saryo. I immediately went to the reception to inform them. It turned out that they had already informed me via email in the afternoon, but I had not read the email. After confirming that the ring was in Gen, I planned to take a 45-minute drive back to the hotel to pick it up the next day, but they knew I was still in Hakone and sent someone to return the ring to me that night. I was very grateful and also felt very sorry. If I have the chance to visit Hakone again, I will definitely stay at Gengensen Saryo again.

The famous house is over 300 years old and well maintained. The decoration of the waiting area is more English style, with free drinks and a comfortable fireplace. The waiting area for each group of customers is relatively independent and undisturbed, which is good. On the way from the waiting area to the room, you will pass through several rest areas with different functions, with beautiful window views of different scenery. This time I stayed for only one night, and it was a pity that I couldn't feel the tranquility in front of the window. The room I booked has an outdoor private bath, and it is quite comfortable to enjoy the courtyard view while soaking. The Kaiseki cuisine is standard and there is no surprise. The check-out time of Hakone Hotel seems to be 10 am, too hurried 😂