Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone

We had a wonderful 2-night stay at Kai Hakone. The baths were peaceful and relaxing, and we had a wonderful time at the activities, which are a unique way to learn about local industries and history. The staff also made our stay feel very special. We didn't get everyone's name, but Taku, Saya, Risako, and Gen were all so fun and kind that they elevated the experience for us.

This is the BEST place of Hakone and for sure the best place of our whole trip in Japan. The hotel facility is absolutely gorgeous, beautiful from the lobby to the very BIG room, the magnificent onsen and THE restaurant, best place to eat. The menu is delightful. We’ve been served by Yuna Yoshikawa-San, who has been truly wonderful, professional, so kind, so thoughtful and generous. THANK YOU ! We’ll come back again for sure. Well, it’s a Must Stay. 🫶🫶🫶

We chose this hotel for an extended weekend, looking forward to a traditional Japanese experience. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to the price or the star rating of the hotel, and I regret to say that we were quite disappointed. It was the first time I’ve stayed in a hotel of this category where we had to carry all our luggage to the room by ourselves. Our room had a very unpleasant smell, and instead of offering us a new room or any meaningful solution, the staff simply placed a dehumidifier in the room, which did nothing to improve the odor. Additionally, there was no milk available anywhere in the hotel, meaning it was impossible to have a simple coffee with milk. Regardless of the focus on Japanese cuisine, this is something quite basic that one would expect, especially given that at least 50% of the guests tend to be European or Western we were told. The dining experience was also extremely inflexible. Each guest was assigned a fixed portion with no possibility of changes or additional servings. During the so-called “tea time,” it became clear that only one pastry per guest was allowed, which felt rather stingy, especially since it was never communicated how many guests would actually attend or what exactly would be served. What disappointed us the most, however, was the competence of the staff. Despite attempts at friendliness, their English was very poor, and they were unable to provide even the simplest suggestions for exploring the area. After long explanations and polite questions, we were often met with blank stares and the feeling that the staff were overwhelmed and unable to answer even basic tourist questions. This was extremely disappointing, and in the end, we chose to avoid contacting the staff altogether, as they never offered real solutions and often made things worse. The design of the hotel is beautiful, and the room itself looks exactly like you would imagine a traditional Japanese room to be. However, for this category and price range, we expected a bit more and therefore, we unfortunately have to leave a negative review. You’ll honestly get more helpful tips from local taxi drivers than from the hotel staff. We also recommend booking taxis through Uber, as relying on the hotel to book one might leave you waiting 4–5 hours for the next available ride. Everything here feels a bit stuck in the past.

While a beautiful hotel with gorgeous views of trees and river , the flaws were glaring. Most problematic was the location- as taxis are NOT available. From town after arriving by train- we finally figured out to take Bus K. Look for bus stop marked 4. Cost 290 yen. Runs every 30 min. The hotel DOES NOT suggest this or offer any help sorting arriving to the property. Ridiculous. Our room was 700$ USD and cannot provide shuttle? So bad. So frustrating. Same issue departing. “ no taxis” available when requested day before. Really? Ok. Take bus. It was raining and we walked 200 meters to where we thought bus stop was. It was about 10 m farther. No staff helped us up steep driveway to road. Or showed bus stop. Bus passed us even though we were waving at it. We stood on road with our small bag and could not believe it. Getting damp in rain and just over it. We had to walk 35 min to town carrying our bag. Hint- only take very small overnight bag to Hakone. Funny but NO Japanese guests taking bus. Maybe they all drove or ?? Food- dinner was amazing. vegetarian ( NOT vegan) option if booked in advance. Very good. Plenty of food. Wine only sold at dinner. So if want a pre dinner drink bring your own. There is no bar. Only tea house. ( which offered free sake at 7 pm). Breakfast was very Japanese- zero western choices. It was nicely presented but it’s salad and fish and rice. Tea offered. NO coffee offered. Seriously???? There was a coffee machine in lobby. I guess I was supposed to walk all the way back up stairs and get my own?? Room beautiful and huge. Lovely view. Kimono type outfit offered. No other pajamas. Onsen nice. Staff polite Overall overpriced. And the hotel gave no care to guests needing to get to town or get up or down steep long drive from bus. It ruined our relaxing day and I will choose elsewhere if I ever return. I will never forget the staff watching us carry our bag up the steep driveway in rain. To a bus. That did not stop.

This was hands down one of the most beautiful properties I’ve ever stayed in — not just in Japan, but anywhere. The room was immaculate and incredibly spacious (a rare luxury in Japan), and having our own private onsen made the experience feel like a true retreat.||The resort is a bit further from the center of town, which may not be ideal for everyone, but we were specifically looking for something more remote and peaceful — and it was perfect. The quiet, natural surroundings only added to the sense of relaxation.||The meals were another highlight. Both breakfast and dinner were included, and each one was beautifully prepared, elaborate, and clearly made with so much thought and care. It was exactly the kind of authentic Japanese cuisine we were hoping for.||We also booked in-room massages, and I can honestly say it was the best massage I’ve ever had. The therapist used just the right amount of pressure, paid special attention to sore and tight areas, and created such a restorative experience.||While the resort does offer public onsens, we didn’t end up using them since we had our own private one in the room — which made the stay feel even more special and intimate.||If you're looking for rest, beauty, and a deeply immersive Japanese hospitality experience, this is the place. Could not recommend it more highly.

Great ryokan in Hakone - although some people may be put off by its slightly further location away from the main town center, I had no problems with it as I purposely chose this for its location as it’s next to the river and you do get very therapeutic and soothing stay atmosphere when you stay here. ||Also, I didn’t drive, so I relied only on public transport to get here from Hakone - the taxi from the train station to this hotel was not expensive, and there are bus stops outside (but you do have to check the timetable as they are not that frequent), that will bring you to Hakone or Lake Ashi easily. ||I stayed in a Japanese decor room with one bed, and it was a spacious room with tatami sitting area as well as a sofa. My room had a small balcony that faces the river and I was able to open the sliding doors to take in the beautiful river sounds and sights. The bedding was extremely comfortable, and the bathroom even had a Japanese Cyprus wooden soaking tub. I used the bathroom tub as I spent most of my time in the onsen, there too, and rotate daily so that you get to experience both. ||Breakfast and dinner are included in my room plan and the food was Japanese Kaisaki and delightful. ||Overall, I found a hotel to be peaceful, quiet and relaxing, but if you really want to do a lot of sightseeing and do not spend a lot of time in the hotel, then this is probably not the right place for you .

A nice stay in a great setting. We moved to Kai Hakone after a mistake with their sister hotel nearby… ||I have to stay the hotel itself is certainly dated in comparison to its sister, Kai Sengokurha. The room Itself was fine, clean and traditional Japanese. Although it had a very distinct wooden smell which was tough to get used to! ||A lovely view from the hotel and a great in room massage!||The onsen is STUNNING. Way better than the one at Kai Senkogkura and the best one we have found in Japan. It truly is in an incredibly peaceful setting and I was very impressed! ||The food was also better that its sister and the staff couldn’t do any more for you!

Staying here is a once in a lifetime cultural experience! This is not for you if you are looking for a traditional western hotel but come with an open mind and have the most relaxing stay of your life. The rooms were large and peaceful in traditional Japanese style. The bed was supremely comfortable and we slept with the porch door open so we could hear the river running below us. We love our kaiseki meal for dinner and the breakfast was delicious and plentiful. There is no room service here so if you are a late night snacker bring something. |The absolute highlight of the stay was the onsen. It was so peaceful and beautiful. The hotel was full but both times I visited I was lucky to be the only person for at least part of my soak. |We stayed here the last night of our Japan trip and it was a perfect relaxing end to our trip! We absolutely loved our visit and cannot wait to visit more onsen ryokans.