Gora Hanaougi

We stayed here last year for 2 night and it was an absolutely amazing experience. Our balcony had spectacular views and it was so incredibly peaceful. The bonus is the private onsen on the balcony which made it even more special and picturesque. The dinner and breakfast menus were both delicious, traditional Japanese meals with locally sourced produce and drinks - we unfortunately couldn’t stay for breakfast on our last day as we had an early bus to catch. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. Yes the stay is pricey but it is worth it - it was a completely unforgettable stay.

My wife and I just left the Gora Hanagoui after a beautiful 2 night stay. We absolutely loved staying in Gora and couldn’t have imagined a better experience. The service and attention to detail are out of this world. The room is beautiful and the bath on the patio is divine. They’ve really thought about everything. Everyone who works at the hotel is so incredibly nice and helpful. Five star service from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. ||A very special shout out to our server who took care of us the whole time (breakfast and dinner service both nights). Her name is Saito and she was so lovely and attentive. ||The food was incredible. So delicious and so thoughtful. Every dish that came felt like a special gift. Hats off to the chef!

My wife and my favorite place we have ever stayed. Romantic, unique, and luxurious. We never wanted to leave. Incredibly attentive and kind staff, clean room, beautiful view with private onsen. Food was an authentic experience for breakfast and dinner.

Enjoyed the onsen. The public baths had nice views and a massage chair. There was also a wooden tub near our room's balcony with an excellent view of the valley below and mountains in the distance. Dinner and breakfast were excellent, gourmet style. Service was top notch. Would definitely return when in Hakone.

This 24-room ryokan exceeded our expectations and experiences at various Four Seasons resort properties. The physical layout of the ryokan wasabsolutely stunning and impeccably maintained. The staff was most attentive and provided us with the royal treatment. The ryokan’s three public onsen hot spring pools, especially the two located outside were absolutely fantastic. The onsens were spotless and supplied with luxe products. The rooms were large and came with a private onsen. The washoku breakfasts and dinners dishes and service were equivalent to Michelin star meals. Will definite be returning during future trips to Japan.

It was raining heavily on the day of our arrival and there is no better place that I could have hoped to spend time indoors in than here. It was an amazing experience just staying in a room with an onsen with a fabulous view of the mountain side and it was elevated by the friendly staff. We got dinner and breakfast served and each dish provided was perfect selected making this one of the best dinning experience I've ever had. If I get the opportunity to stay in Hakone again, I will definitely be coming back here.

Getting to the hotel was a bit 'uncertain' while visiting this location for the first time and being caught up in fog and rain. But once we got to the top of the tram car station, it turns out they provide a lift down to their property right at the exit of the parking lot of the station - something they'd do better specifying on their website.||But once you get there, it's aces all around. Wonderful, gracious service! The rooms were very well appointed, with an onsen right on the outside deck of the room. The tatami floors were heated and soft. With the Kaiseki dinner and japanese breakfasts the highlight of our stay. The staff bent over backwards to make us feel welcome and comfortable. Cannot wait to return for Round 2 the next time we visit.

Very close to the cable car/ropeway station (they have a private elevator about 100 meters from the exit of the station). Room was very comfortable (good quality bedding and futons). Open air bath was amazing with great views of the surrounding area. Food and service was top notch - very English friendly. Extremely relaxing and we would return again.

From the moment you arrive (before even stepping in), you're transported to pure relaxation and warm, attentive service. I probably cannot give any more praise to this ryokan as it's that superb. I'm not sure how I'll ever stray to a different one after this first-time experience! I had done a lot of research while planning my Tokyo / Hakone trip and toward the end of my research this spot came up. Oftentimes when you see something online or on social media, they fall short in your expectations or personal experience. Not here. The ambiance is perfect for a relaxing, invigorating stay. Very clean premises. Lovely lighting. Mixed of what feels both traditional and modern. You take off your shoes at check-in and are offered your drink of choice, along with a snack. This came at the perfect time, especially after a somewhat long city trip, and immediately put me at ease. Our room, with private onsen, and beds but also tatami mats, was such an inviting refuge. I will note though that the bed frames are one, large piece of wood. So while I felt very comfortable in my deep sleep, I felt less so the morning after. Even though I prefer firm beds in the U.S., this was a physical adjustment for me. The layout of the shower to the outdoor private onsen is very thoughtful and appreciated. I didn't have to worry about being cold or getting certain indoor areas wet. You are provided various drinks in your room and some more snacks. You'll likely need them post onsen! You are asked to wear yukatas (not bath robes) around the premises and socks provided. There are instructions in your room about how to wear a yukata. Your stay includes dinner and breakfast. A major part of the experience. (Remember to wear your yukatas.) We had a private room for both, so that was really lovely and overall quiet. But we did see what looked like a larger group in an open, non-enclosed area dining. Dinner is the traditional multi course "Kaiseki." It includes various veggies, seafood, beef, and more. I enjoyed both meals, but especially loved breakfast, including grilled fish and tamago. You get a choice of rice or porridge and both my husband and I chose porridge, which was really special here. Everything is planned out for you ahead of time so you can let your mind settle a bit and not overthink. Both meals, as expected, beautifully presented and both a feast for the eyes and tastebuds. Amazing experience! I'd been looking forward to something like this back when I was still single, unmarried, haha. But you don't need to be with a significant other to do this. A couple was with what looked like their newborn baby, so I think this ryokan might allow babies / kids, but best to check to make sure. The service is thoughtful, even humorous with various personalities. Always cordial. It was hard to leave our one night at this ryokan, but am looking forward to being back!

The facilities are beautiful and very clean. The food was excellent, among the best we had in the whole trip. The onsens were clean and you could add cold water to lower the temperature, which was quite helpful. The service was wonderful. It's quite the splurge but given the quality of the food and the facilities, it actually felt quite reasonable, particularly when compared with high end restaurants that have similar quality food. Would highly recommend.

Our first visit at a hot spring spa resort. From the moment you stepped in to this beautiful, serene place with decor filled with natural wood, you are already relaxed. Waitstaffs are mostly ladies, all in kimono with gentle soft spoken manner. We checked into our room with private hot spring tub on the balcony. We had a pretty Mountain View. It started to snow the evening that we were there. Which makes the outdoor hot spring experience even more special! Dinner was served to us in a private dining room, so many little dishes, it was all in beautiful presentation, light and delicious. Breakfast was repeat of the same enjoyable experience! The one night stay was not enough for a great place like this, will have to make plans to come back in the near future.

We decided to splurge on a recent trip to Japan and booked the Suite at Gora Hanaougi for just one night. This place was had a beautiful sort of old school seventies vibe to its nature-focused construction. Our room had spectacular views and way too much space for the 2 of us. The onsen was crazy hot yet wonderful after a long trip. FYI, if you have not yet read a guide to staying at one of these traditional ryokans, you really want to-- they do NOT permit rule-breaking, and the rules are many. You need to remove your shoes and put on sandals the minute you arrive, you need to wash before getting into the spa, you need to wear your traditional clothes to dinner, etc. And you better f@cking be on time to your meals. In our case, we had our clothes on the wrong way when we went to dinner and the manager literally turned white with horror and directed us to a bathroom to correct our robes. Yikes! He then broke into a sweat adjusting my clothes because it made us a couple minutes late, and the walk to our dining area felt like a walk of shame. Our dinner was one that I'll remember forever, but mainly because I was so challenged by the food. I grew up eating a lot of Japanese food and have a Japanese aunt, but I could swear that the recurring theme at dinner was something like "Welcome to hell, Gaijin. This is what real Japanese food is like. You came to this fancy old ryokan thinking you're adventurous eaters. YOU ARE WRONG. You are cowed by our traditional dishes, which we serve to babies. You are pathetic." So many of the dishes had funky fishy elements to them, or used natto, which has the texture and appearance of snot. Whoot! Anyway, if you think that this sort of authenticity fun, you'll love it! My SO and I definitely had a memorable trip. :)

Simply put: Gora Hanaougi was amazing in every way. I've never stayed at a ryokan before this so I didn't know what to expect -- to say I had a great time would be a severe understatement. From arrival till departure is handled by a specialized staff. Everybody was super friendly and polite. You really feel welcome here. The beds are super soft - not sure what they use for the mattress and cover but I want them. The on patio private onsen is also a great perk to not having to crowd in with random strangers. And then there's the kaiseki dinner === super delicious! Good discovery: you can get your luggage delivered to the ryokan from Hakoneyumoto station for 1000 yen per luggage (just look for the suitcase sign). This will free you up for rest of the day without the need to go to the ryokan to drop off luggage if you happen to get in early.

There are Ryokan's, which is a old Japanese style of living (Like Last Samurai) and there is Gora Hanougi. By Ryokan standards, it's basically cream of the crop with a heavy price tag of $650 a night. After a 3 hour train ride from Tokyo, you find yourself settled atop a mountain overlooking nature at it's finest. Surround by cherry blossoms, beautiful mosaic of curvy hills, mountain peaks and trees. Upon your check-in you are greeted by women in Kimono. The Empress was carrying a 50 lb bag and the Kimono greeter was happy to carry it (although I, the Emperor for the day ended up carrying it). Your shoes are taken at the door and you will not be seeing them again for the rest of your visit. The room is gorgeous. Giant King bed, living room, and private onsen to dip in at your leisure. This was my life line since they do not allow people with tattoos in the public onsen. The room was a 5 star quality from every little detail of the room. The bathroom was epic. Located near the foyer, the lights automatically dim as you enter. Once you open the door, the toilet lid automatically opens. The seat is heated and an electric panel allows you to perform any toilet action you can fathom. From automatic seat lifting and closing, to bidet that has different bunghole spray settings to different flushing settings. The public onsen also has a room with a massage chair. I already saw two sets of hairy balls while the chair was massaging me. The food was good with a 10 course meal that ranges from sashimi, soups, seasonal vegetables, fish to Hidagyu beef (black haired cow). The cut we had was rated A5 for quality representing the highest quality -- Wikipedia. There will be some dishes that will be better than others but ts a great private dining experience. Just your pic ate table sitting in the center of an empty room. This place is amazing and the staff is equally amazing. People visiting Tokyo must make a stop here for at least a nights stay.

Great ryokan tucked away in the mountain of Hakone. Our room had a outside onsen! Yes they have public onsen too. Dinner was served in a private dining room. Everything was delicious. They were able to make accommodations for me since I don't eat meat! #Thankful Breakfast was delicious too. The best part? It's located right by the ropeway that takes you to the top of a mountain where you can see Mt. Fuji! The ryokan itself seems a bit old but that's ok. It gives it that nice traditionally Japanese flavor. Is go back.

Be prepare to sell your first-born daughter and kidney for this hotel because it is NOT cheap, but the experience is a once in a lifetime thing and is WORTH it! The price depends on when you go. We went right smack during cherry blossom season. Our room ended up being close to $750/night but considering the fact that dinner and breakfast is included it isn't so bad. I booked the room 5 months in advance on the-ryokan.com. Originally I booked a Western room but as the date got close I changed my mind and wanted a Japanese room for the full experience. They emailed me back and said unfortunately all rooms are booked so I could not make the change. Go figure. They only have 24 rooms and they get booked up FAST. Much to my surprise when we arrived they announced to me that they could accommodate me and switch over to a Japanese style room. I was ecstatic! So what is a ryokan you ask? It is a type of traditional Japanese inn that has existed since the eighth century. Known on many travel websites as the best ryokan in Hakone, Gora Hanaougi features a private open-air onsen bath in every room along with kaiseki (meal consisting of a variety of small dishes) meals and gorgeoous, scenic views. Located about a 2 hour train ride away from Tokyo, we did the opposite than most people. Instead of traveling here from Toyko, we first went to Osaka and Kyoto before rounding back to Hakone and Tokyo. Our thought is to save this relaxing experience for towards the end of our trip after a whole week of adventures. It was so worth it! There's something about that hot spring water that made me feel SO relaxed and sleepy. We arrived at Gora station around 2pm. The ryokan offers a pickup/drop off service from the Gora station. Just go to the information center and have someone there place your call. Upon arrival to Gora Hanaougi, they will serve you welcome drinks and small Japanese cookie. My boyfriend went with beer and I got the hot green tea matcha. They take a welcome photo of you and give you a nice print out upon your check out time. Also, they will take your shoes and you won't see them again until you check out as well. You will be assigned a personal "geisha" who will be with you the whole time. She will show you around the ryokan, your room, and serve you dinner/breakfast. Dinner and breakfast will be served in a private dining hall. You will be required to be dressed in your yukatas and socks for dining and walking around the ryokan premises. Aside from our open-air bath onsen, our Japanese-styled room has floor tatamis. Drinks like water, orange juice, Perrier, and beers in the fridge are complimentary. Additional orders are available. We were served a 13-course dinner and 9-course breakfast. My favorite was the Hidagyu steak which was very tender. Public baths are available as well but we did not take advantage of that. In regards to the surrounding areas in Hakone, there are quite a few places to explore if one desires. Owakudani Valley and Mt. Fuji are amongst some of the nearby landmarks to explore. We mainly stayed and enjoyed our ryokan, but if you'll be staying for a few days then do take the time to explore the surrounding areas. This is a once in a life time experience at a very well known, luxury ryokan. It is worth every penny. One thing that we did not regret splurging on. If you're thinking about it, just book it!

About two hours on the the Odakyu line from Shinjuku lies Gora Hanaougi. A 24 room Ryokan (traditional Japanese accommodation). Tatami mats everywhere. This place definitely deserves more than 5 stars. Check-in at 2pm but it will never be a problem if you're way too excited and get here earlier, they understand. As soon as you enter the premises an attendant will meet you at the door to take your belongings including your footwear. From now on you are shoes, sandals and/or slipper free. You will be led to clusters of seating areas in the lobby to be served with either coffee or tea and Japanese cookies while they check you in and prepare your room. A private attendant or geisha, if you will, is assigned to your group. She will take you to your room take down all your food preferences and show you everything there is to know including light switches, floor heating and the state-of-the-art toilet. Heated seats, bidet with different angles and water pressure, automatic lid opener, high pressure/low pressure wash...yes, we loves that toilet lol. Every room has their own open air bath with natural hot spring water. Feel free to soak all day, any time of the day, at night...as you watch the magnificent view out your room. A public Onsen (hot spring) is also available on the lobby floor. Men are separated from women and you bathe with each other. No staring please. The Onsen room is equipped with everything you need before and after bathing in the hot spring. A massage chair is also available for your use. Most guests use the Onsen once before and once after dinner. Dinner is Kaiseki style. It's a Japanese traditional dining experience where they use the freshest catch/harvest. It's a 2 hour process through each component. We were served in our own dining area by our attendant. Very pleasant and accommodating. She explained each dish and best way to eat it. A two thumbs up for their Hidagyu steak. So tender, so good. According to goof balls research (i.e. Wikipedia), hidagyu is the best meat with an a5 classification. Way better than Wagyu. And you will definitely taste the difference. Everything about this Ryokan screams luxury. Best time away from the bustling city of Tokyo. Don't let the $ signs deter you from booking this place, it's definitely worth every penny.

Known on most travel websites and guides as the best ryokan in Hakone, I'd certainly have to agree - Gora Hanaougi did not disappoint! Take a train from Shinjuku station on the Odakyu line, either by Romancecar or on the general line, and pick up an Odakyu pass for unlimited use of the tramway/bus/odakyu train/pirate ship transport services around the Hakone area. You'll wind up into the mountains, switchbacking back and forth and seeing some of the most beautiful scenery in Japan. Arriving at the Gora station, most ryokan are a bit of a hike. Luckily, the ryokan will pick you up! Just call them or specify in your reservation when you plan to arrive. Check in is at 2pm, standard for all Japanese hotels, ryokan and minshuku. From the moment you arrive, you will experience the traditional Japanese customs in a ryokan: The first thing that stood out in my mind was the beauty of this place. The ryokan is small and intimate, with only 24 rooms. Each room has an amazing view, either of Mt. Fuji or of the forest. Upon entering the ryokan, we were greeted cheerfully by many of the hotel staff, ushered into a sitting area and given a snack - a perfect way to unwind after hiking around the Hakone area! We were then given a tour of the premises by a super cheerful, kimono-donning hostess. As a Japanese-speaker, I was impressed by her command of keigo (very formal Japanese), for someone so young! The ryokan is truly beautiful in every way - the rotenburo (public bath) itself is really nice - with a large indoor bath and 2 outdoor baths. The rooms are also really well done. I had a nice suite with an indoor-outdoor shower, my own onsen with a patio balcony overlooking both a bamboo forest, with Mt. Fuji poking up overhead. A mood music CD with patio surround sound, and a tray of tea with wagashi (Japanese sweets) in my room sealed the deal. The bathroom was also stocked with every imaginable amenity you could imagine. Want 3 different type of body lotions, hair products, shampoo types, soaps....or any other beauty product you could possibly imagine? Well, they give you like 10 different choices! Once settled in, its fun to get into the onsen wear (a yukata, obi and owagi), and pop on the tabi socks, which you get to keep. The food - simply amazing! We had a 12-course kaiseki dinner and 8 course kaiseki breakfast. Our hostess was wonderful - she lived in Canada, and spoke excellent English. I visited this time with a non-Japanese speaker. So she indulged my desire to chat in Japanese while translating jokes and describing the meal in English as well! Going back to the food - it was delectable art. Almost too pretty to eat, but so tasty was each morsel. I recommend trying the plum cider, which comes from the Hakone and Kamakura regions. Really tasty! Overall - everything was a 5+/5. I wish I could give this place a 6 or 7/5. Every part of the service was intimate and personal. The staff here not only treat you with the customary Japanese formality and respect, but they truly make you feel welcomed. I had a smile from ear-to-ear my entire visit. Even paying the bill was done not in giving my card behind a desk, but by me sitting having a cup of coffee and being presented the bill with a gift from the hotel. Very classy. As we left the ryokan, our hostess waved to us our entire car ride down to the station. After we turned the corner, she couldn't see us, but she was still waving a bowing deeply. That is service. The only thing that potential customers might balk at is the price. Gora Hanaougi is not a cheap hotel. It's quite expensive, in-fact. I'd recommend checking on the rakuten or tripadvisor websites, as sometimes they link to deals for cheaper rates. Regardless, you truly get what you pay for, and I can say without a doubt that the experience was well worth the price. Great job, Gora Hanaougi!

This was the biggest splurge and so so worth it. Everyone was so friendly and the modern take on the ryokan made it really luxurious with traditional tie-ins. We were greeted immediately and offered a beverage of our choice. We were given a quick tour and up to our room where the lady went through everything quickly. We were given yukatas to wear to dinner. Dinner is a while other experience. A traditional kaiseki 11 course meal with fast, clean service. Our server found out it was our anniversary and took a picture and printed it for us to commemorate. The room we had was gorgeous, with a California king bed with sitting area. Had a private balcony hot spring tub which was perfect. I can't explain how amazing it was... truly a great experience. Wish I could go into every little detail but just know that service and accommodations are top notch here and I'm definitely coming back!

What can I say about Gora Hanaougi? Well certainly nothing negative, the place is beautiful, service is sublime. I don't think you can find a better Ryokan in Hakone, and probably not in Japan. You may be able to find an equal one, but even that would be hard. In case you didn't already know, this is a traditional Ryokan in the Gora/Hakone area with volcanic hot springs. Unlike other Ryokan in the area, each room has it's own private Onsen. There is also a public Onsen, although I'm not sure why you would go there when you have one in your room. There are beds as opposed to Tatami mats to sleep on, however the entire hotel has tatami throughout (and the wonderful fragrance that comes with it). The rooms are gorgeous, and each room has a private balcony (where your Onsen is) as well as a view that ranges from great to spectacular. Nothing is missing from the room, I never wanted to leave, I felt like I could have spent the rest of my life hanging out in my Onsen and drinking tea in my room. (Don't get me started on the toilet with remote control). This is probably not unique, but in the main hallway there is a Sake barrel that they have open, and you can grab a box and take what you like. It's hard to pass that up, I have no idea what type of Sake it was, but it was the first time that I really appreciated the fragrance that the bamboo box adds to the Sake itself. Unfortunately I only speak 10 or so words in Japanese, and so I had to rely on English - and everyone who worked there spoke it more than well enough. There was one gentleman who used to live in Brooklyn and moved back like 20 years ago, he was charming and friendly. They were all charming and friendly, and efficient. We were there with the half board package, which means breakfast and dinner. Trust me when I say that each meal is artfully crafted, locally sourced, and painstakingly detailed, each plate is unbelievably beautiful. I really can't imagine a better scenario. Meals are served in a private dining area for your party, by traditionally dressed servers. Ours was the same for the 4 meals we had there and she was very nice, friendly without being over friendly, everything you would expect from the Japanese idea of great service (which I totally agree with). By the way, forget Kobe beef, the beef they serve there is literally the most sought after in Japan, I think they call it Wagyu A5. I'm not smart enough to really know the difference, but it was spectacular. There are quite a few things to do in the Hakone area, depending on the season and of course the hotel staff will help you to figure all of that out. On our way back to Tokyo, one of the managers drove us to the station and my wife commented to him that she loved the little local sweets (Gora Moshi) and so he drove us to the place that makes them and explained in Japanese that we wanted to buy some. Of course this is good business for them, but for us it was just awesome. Really just an amazing experience all around. The only warning I can give you - this is not a place for a budget traveler, it's a little on the expensive side. I personally think it's an amazing bargain, but if your looking to spend $100/night this is not a good choice.

Gora is the name of town highest and furthest from the hakone station. You have to take the hakone to gora train which in itself is an experience as it is an old train line with four switch backs where the train stops vand the conductor has to get out and walk to the car on the other end every time. It's due to the streep climb up the side of the mountain and makes for a long 45 minute ride to cover a few miles. Once you get to gora station the ryokan staff will come and pick you up with their van after you call them from the information desk. You'll be driven to the hotel and will be escorted to a vast lobby that has a very Zen asthenic and put you on the R&R mood straight away. The staff is even more polite and service oriented and reminds you of the service you'd get from high end luxury hotel Mandarin oriental. You get assigned a staff member who will take care of you for the duration of the stay. The rooms are large with a large deck facing the mountain with a private wooden tub flirting with the hot spring water. It's small but the privacy and the view of the mountains made me use this more than the communal hot spring down stairs even though that one was also empty as I think everyone had the same idea. The food is served in the dining area which is divided into individual rooms for your party only. You use the same room for dinner and breakfast. The kaiseki was excellent. Beer and sake are included so drink up if you want. It's definitely as good of an experience as any luxury hotel but it includes all food and drinks plus the hot spring. Although not cheap it's still a great deal. One too, they will ask you if you want your bags sent to the hakone station for pick up there. I didn't but I wished I had. The next day after breakfast we took the cable car from souzon station, which is a short walk from the hotel and there is an exclusive elevator for hotel guests to the station parking lot. The cable car takes you to the top of the mountain where we got a great view of Mt. Fuji. It also takes you to a sulfur spewing fissure where there is a museum and a lot of tourists. You can take i the cable car all the way to the lake and take the pirate ship to the other side of the lake enjoying the view of the lake, Mt.fuji and the forest. You can then take a bus to the hakone train station and pick up your bags there and take the train to Tokyo, instead of having to double back my boat and cable car and then take the slow train from gora to hakone. This will save about two hours. Don't forget to get the two day hakone free pass when you buy the train tickets at Shinjuku along with the tickets for the Express Romance train to Hakone. It'll party for all your transportation while in hakone including the cable car.', boat and bus.

We honeymooned here and it was lovely! The staff was so great and attentive. The food was interesting and tasty. We enjoyed the onsen on the balcony. Would highly recommend!

This place was magical. Service throughout was phenomenal and it starts from the very beginning with the complimentary shuttle service from Gora station. Checking in was a breeze, the front desk patrons take your shoes (they keep it until you check out) and from here on out you will be either barefoot or wearing Japanese socks. During check in you are offered tea and a sweet treat. Then you are given a tour and showed to your rooms. They provide you with yukatas to wear for dining and around the ryokan. They also provide pajamas! The rooms have everything you need for the perfect onsen experience. My husband and I chose a room with an open terrace which I highly recommend because the beautiful mountainous atmosphere added to the serenity of the experience. Dinner and breakfast is absolutely sublime. (They do not offer lunch, but you won't need it because the other meals are filling!) You are assigned your own private tatami mat dining room and served the freshest ingredients, a true gastronomic experience. At the end of our stay we felt so relaxed and rejuvenated. During check out we asked if we could purchase yukatas as keepsakes, the staff seemed confused by this but quickly got my husband and I newly packaged yukatas and obis to purchase and wrapped it up for us very nicely. We will definitely be back, hopefully during winter!

Expensive and worth it. This was a real splurge and absolutely worth it. Make sure to use the baggage delivery service from Hakone-Yumoto station so you can go sightseeing without luggage. You must check in before 6pm if you will have dinner. I would recommend arriving by 4pm so you can enjoy onsen before dinner. This was a cultural experience and a luxurious experience. Very relaxing. One night was enough though two would not have been too much. We did the Hakone loop but didn't have time to see anything beyond that. This was one of our favorite experiences on our trip to Japan.

Great experience when Visiting Japan. My family thought it was a truly unique experience. When we checked in we were given a special attendant who watched over us and catered to us the whole time. From private breakfasts and dinners in our room to the relaxing and peaceful bathing experience, our attendant helped us learn the culture and not make any snafu's or embarrass ourself me ( like putting the right over the left when wrapping our kimono ). Best experience of our trip and would return again to that peaceful place.