HAKONE RETREAT VILLA by Onko Chishin

Stayed here for 3 nights in one of their villas. We opted to do the one with the private onsen due to my partner and I being tattooed and we were not disappointed. The villa was spacious with 2 bedrooms and large bathrooms/indoor onsens with a large outdoor onsen. It was so peaceful to be outdoors in the onsen while it snowed and rained. The staff from start to finish was always helpful and eager to do what they could for us. They brought beautiful flowers and a delicious cake to commemorate my partner and I’s recent engagement. Additionally, they also were helpful in carting us around the property for breakfast and dinner, as well as any off property restaurant destinations. Furthermore, the staff and chefs at Woodside were very accommodating with my seafood allergy and made little changes within their menu to ensure I could partake in their restaurants. I should note that the chef from the Japanese restaurant called our room and was rude to my fiancé as he was very upset with me allergies. We were told I couldn’t eat at the Japanese restaurant, so they cancelled our reservations there… we ate at the French restaurant twice for dinner and it was very good. This was our favorite stay in our trip and I’d highly suggest this resort and their villas. The only minor criticism we had was that it was odd they only had one masseuse so we couldn’t get massages because they were so booked out, their room service was only from 5pm-830pm so we had to go out to lunch each day, and apparently taxis aren’t a thing up there which we didn’t know so we spent most our morning trying to figure out how to take a bus that never came. We ended up taking a taxi that by luck was up there but the villa staff did drop us off at the bus stop, told us the bus time and did try calling taxis for us prior! Overall, I would definitely suggest this spot if you want an off the beaten bath luxury retreat in the mountain of Hakone. We truly enjoyed our time there.

My wife and me enjoyed our last 2 days in Japan in this luxurious resort in the mountains of Hakone. For us it was perfect to relax a bit because we have been sightseeing a lot before in rather crowded areas. The service and kindness of every(!) staff member on this resort is of the highest quality. I am studying japanese since 6 months so i only have basic language skills, but it was no problem at all. Everyone is trying their best to explain everything in English. We tried out both the japanese and french breakfast and dinner. Everything was delicious and the chef made changes to the menu because my wife is vegeterian and has sea food allergy. Arigatō gozaimashita! Our villa with private outdoor onsen made of wood with a view in the forest/mountains was phenomenal. Clean, spacious, and so quiet. Yes, it is expensive, but in my opinion definitely worth it. One minor criticism: Check-out was too chaotic. We were told it would be done at our appartment and the staff would drive us and the baggage to the bus station. Because we had to get our train at Odawara we told 3(!) different receptionists that we need to check out at 10:15am. One staff member even asked me again when the check out should be done. In the end i had to call the reception at 10:30am because no one came. A little bit frustrating but we somehow made it to the train in time. The bus who drives from Hakone to Odawara is very crowded and not very convenient. For the price of the accomodation i would wish for a pick up service at the train station. But again for us it was only a minor flaw. Thank you for the great time at Hakone Retreat Villa 😊

We enjoyed our 1 night stay in Cabin 5. Service is good. The location is great. It's an enjoyable experience, that is still definitely recommended. Loved the private onsen. Loved the fireplace. Loved the nature centered location. However, it's time for renovations and more attention to detail. - The shower is made out of wood, run down and just plain uncomfortable to shower in. - Some things are old and run down. The foot bench at the bed had full on black stains. - Attention to detail is lacking on the "finer things" like replacing damaged food containers used for room service. For this price, something of consideration. - The shower function on the toilet did not work. - Room service dinner was okay, nothing to write home about. We paid 400 euro for a night and for that price, you expect a bit more attention to detail and maintenance specifically. Tips for the owner: - Attention to detail. Broken or damaged equipment should be replaced/repaired. - Tile the shower, install a rain shower. Elevate the experience by fixing what's broken or replacing what is outdated and it would be a 5 star stay.

The place looks like the pictures.It’s about 20 mins away by bus from the hakoneyumoto station.We used the baggage delivery service at the train station (1000 yen per piece for regular size baggage) and when we checked in, our bags were in the room already.The staff is very nice and helpful. We’re thankful for the shuttle to the nearby bus station. The food is great. The onsen is very relaxing.We had a great time at this place.Definitely will stay again when I visit Hakone.

I want to say a special thank you to the Hakone Retreat Villa for making our engagement special. I decided to spoil us with their best Villa with a Private Outdoor Hot Spring Onsen and it was everything we dreamed it would be for our Japan Vacation. I commend the service team for their outstanding hospitality it is the best I’ve seen and we have stayed at many luxury resorts. They helped me arrange a check in surprise of flowers and special cake message for my new fiancé. She was very happy and it made the entire weekend special. They treated us with amazing service the entire stay. Food is also delicious we ate at the Woodfire restaurant for breakfast buffet and dinners it was a course meal with options and we very much enjoyed it (especially the desserts). Location is everything you want it is secluded away from the busy Hakone city and up the mountains. It is hard to get to and leave but I think that’s what makes the location special. I have a few critiques about the stay and hope the management considers solving these as I can see how other customers had felt with lower reviews. 1) Food Service: overall great but the Japanese restaurant was basically shut off to us as my fiancé had seafood allergies. I was upset because I looked forward to a traditional hot spring Kaiseki style meal I wish they had options to consider this. The chef called my room and was even rude to me and the check in staff because of the allergy over the phone. He made the service staff tell us we couldn’t eat at that restaurant. (I would give very low rating for that type of behavior but the service team made up for it) Related to food is room service only available 5pm-8pm very strange for a luxury hotel never experienced not being able to have lunch. Luckily they offer a shuttle for us and pick up to go get it which honestly we’re glad we did as we found our favorite restaurant because of it. 2) Lack of spa service they only had 1 person working the spa. I think for a luxury retreat that is unacceptable. I’ve never once been unable to book a couples massage due to lack of staff at any resort across the world. 3) Leaving the hotel was a last minute annoyance they should really let their guest know to reserve Taxis the day before checkout. On the day of checkout we had to scramble to find a ride as the bus was confusing. (I really think they should have a shuttle service to and from the station for the cost of these rooms) The service team really carried on their backs my 5 star rating. I think if it was not for them my review would be much lower. Room is amazing and the French side restaurant chefs were very professional and kind with great meals. Thank you again!

We stayed 2 nights at villa 6. It was beautiful! The fireplace was definitely a nice touch. ||Our room came with half board - dinner and breakfast. We did the first dinner at the Japanese restaurant - food was good and the sake list was better. Sake is not included in the room rate but it was not expensive. Our second dinner was at the French restaurant. We were not fans of the food, which was mediocre. Wine was good though. ||Overall I hope the culinary team improves over time. The property has a lot of potential. We ll be back!

The perfect stay to unwind after several busy days in Tokyo and Kyoto. A peaceful, nature filled, and conveniently located for hiking and sightseeing (by car). We stayed in Villa 17, which was near perfection: a private onsen, wood stove, numerous complimentary drinks, incredibly comfortable beds, and total immersion in nature. Though we came to relax for three days, we naturally found ourselves drawn to explore a bit each day... Day 1: We hiked from the hotel to Mt. Kintoki, looping back through town for lunch, a great morning option (about 5 miles round trip). Had massages at the hotel in the afternoon, perfect. Day 2: We drove about an hour to Lake Kawaguchiko and the Chureito Pagoda. A stunning day of light hiking, lake exploration, and amazing views of Fuji etc. Day 3: We headed down to Lake Ashi for a peaceful trail run to wrap up the trip. Beyond the villa, the breakfast spread and all-day complimentary cappuccinos (and other coffees) were also a treat. What truly tied the whole experience together, though, was the staff. They were genuinely kind, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they do. Thank you again for hosting us! Wishing you continued success in all your future endeavors!

Overall, I feel a bit mixed about my stay here. I stayed for two nights in February. The summary is: incredible rooms, lovely service, ok food, ok location. The room was truly spectacular - it was spacious and beautifully designed with charming touches (I loved the hand-grind coffee, the fireplace, and the small electric lantern they give you for walking the grounds after dark). This was also the most comfortable bed/bedding in my two weeks in Japan. And the private onsen was absolutely incredible and felt like true luxury. As far as accommodations alone, this was by far my favorite place I stayed in Japan. As a note, the hardwood floors in the room are gorgeous but a bit slippery - I slipped and fell down the steps in the room while wearing socks so went barefoot after that. The staff were extremely warm and helpful. We had one minor communication issue. Note that check out is at 11 am in your room (not sometime before 11 am at reception). I asked to skip breakfast and for an earlier check out at 9 am so that I could get to my train, but there was some confusion and they marked me down for breakfast at 9 instead so my check out was delayed and I missed my bus and needed to reschedule my train. The food was just ok. The Japanese restaurant did not have availability while I was there so I ate both nights in the French restaurant. The food felt a bit dated like it came from a 1960s French cookbook. The signature cocktail was unbalanced. I was a solo diner and both nights I was seated at the worst table in the room even though there were many other empty tables - it's tucked a bit behind the kitchen so you have a view of the unsightly duct work and service area. Finally, the location is just ok but it was a bit harder to get to Gora than I anticipated. I think that if you're planning to just luxuriate on the property and spend time in your room and the onsen then this place is great. If you're planning to do the Hakone loop or other activities in the area then I think it's not ideal (unless you came by car). Some of my experience was colored by the season - there was a bus driver shortage due to winter respiratory viral illnesses and the busses were on a winter schedule. There is a bus stop right outside the property and the buses were generally easy to use but came infrequently. One day I was attempting to return to the property from Gora around 3:30 pm and waited an hour in the cold trying to catch a bus back (and taxis were unavailable). The property notes that bikes are available but the roads are windy, steep, and have no shoulder - I cannot imagine biking here. As a side note in case this helps someone, the Hakone loop is difficult to accomplish in February - check the schedule as each half of the ropeway shuts down for maintenance for two weeks in February (and actually, I found this to be true for all the ropeways in February in Japan).