Kinnotake Sengokuhara

Staying at the Kinnotake Sengokuhara was one of the best decisions I made regarding my holiday in Japan. Making it our penultimate destination helped to completely refresh us before finishing the trip in Tokyo. Public transit to the ryokan using the bus from Odawara station was relatively simple, and the pick up and drop off points are very close to the hotel. Just prepare yourself for a small hike up a relatively steep hill to reach the entrance. All of the staff was helpful, kind, and accommodating, especially Mako who greeted us upon arrival. The complimentary items were of high quality and the food served for both dinner and breakfast was incredible. When I left, I accidentally forgot to pack one of my items, and the front desk staff was very prompt with answering my messages and shipping everything to my hotel in Tokyo, free of charge. I hope I can come back some day — this time, with a partner or a wife, as I think this place would make an incredible romantic getaway.

We were quite worn out by the time we got to this magical place in Hakone and the moment we were taken to our room, the stress just melted away. The spacious and homely expanse made everything feel so cosy including rainfall showers and the piece de resistance of the open air hot spring bath which was so inviting with its milky white waters and the quiet hum of the hot spring water circulating as you look out into the forest in front of you - a quiet, peaceful haven. There is also a very generously stocked mini bar which is completely complimentary which was unexpected. I had a facial as soon as I got to Kinnotake which was performed by the wonderful Misa who had magical hands and who was also multitasking as she checked us in and the process was seamless. The facial and massage itself was luxurious and such a treat - highly recommended after all the travelling that I had done. Later, the Kaiseki meal sets at both dinner and breakfast time are just sensational, beautifully crafted and presented - we were looked after by Yuseke who was fabulous, professional, courteous and also very engaging - we enjoyed chatting to him very much. On our second night, we were looked after by Kobiyashi who was equally professional, kind and very courteous to us. We felt very spoilt and well looked after by the staff at Kinnotake and highly recommend a stay here if you are planning to stay in Hakone. It is a beautiful property with only 9 rooms so you are assured of having privacy, discretion and peace. It is also very well located and placed for easy travel to all the must see sights yet far enough from the madding crowd. |I would definitely come back here again as the accommodation is just stunning and the staff are all Excellent and service oriented - very impressive and Thank you to all the team and in particular to Misa, Yuseke and Kobiyashi who made it extra special for us!

We were quite disappointed with our stay at kinnotake sengokuhara. Our hotel room was quite beautiful and clean, and the food we did receive was decent and seasonally planned with beautiful presentation, but the poor service overshadowed all the positives the hotel had to offer. The day we were checking in we called ahead to let the hotel know we’d be arriving late (around 9:30 PM) and asked if they could save us anything from dinner, even something simple like rice or beef. They told us no, unless we arrived before 8 PM — even though the same food items were listed on their room service menu. We clarified that we did not expect dinner service (that was included in the price) but anything would be helpful, and they said nothing would be possible. When we finally arrived, the nighttime bus into the area dropped us off five stops early unexpectedly. We called the hotel four times asking for assistance or a pickup, and no one answered. We finally ended up hiking 20 minutes uphill in the rain with our luggage to reach the property. Once checked in, we were told we weren’t allowed to leave our room without calling reception so someone could escort us, due to other guests wanting their privacy and not to be seen— something we found very odd and unlike any other hotel or ryokan we stayed at in our 3 week trip to Japan. The next day, we asked if they could help arrange a taxi to go out for lunch as there were no lunch options within the hotel. The staff simply said taxis were hard to get in the area and that we’d have to walk 20+ minutes to find food, I found it strange that they did not attempt to make a call or offer alternatives. Finally, we had arranged (and reconfirmed four different times) transportation through the hotel to take us to the train station. The hotel assured us it was confirmed, but the service arrived 25 minutes late, leaving us stressed and rushing to catch our train. Overall, the room itself was comfortable, but the lack of hospitality, communication, and basic service made for a frustrating and disappointing stay. At a price point of over 1000 USD per night, I would have expected the service to be warm, hospitable, and accommodating- but sadly it was lackluster. I would not recommend this hotel and would suggest looking elsewhere if you value reliability or guest care.

I would like to emphasize that the service from each staff member we interacted were friendly and professional. Shout out to the staff we remember the names of which are Gurung, Yuki, and Yusuke, they were attentive and great people. This is our first time staying in a ryokan and the service, the food, and the room all exceeded expectations. This ryokan is a must stay. Definitely recommend.

My husband and I stayed in the Mikado room and overall it was a wonderful, relaxing experience. For the price point (roughly $2,000 USD per night) I was expecting perfection. There were two issues that resulted in 4/5 stars. The biggest issue was the downstairs bed that had some very questionable white, crusty stains. The lesser issue was that we were not given any guidance or suggestions about what to do with our time when we were asked to leave our room for two hours while they performed room cleaning. The bambo bar does not open until 8 PM and aside from the spa, there was literally nothing else to do/nothing else open on the property. We ended up catching the bus and walking around town for a bit but it would have been nice to have received suggestions about what to do with our time.

Stayed here for two nights and it is such a special place. The staff are all so kind, thoughtful & attentive. The private onsens are amazing. This hotel has a real oasis feel to it — a worth while splurge!

Perfection. This luxury ryokan in Hakone is a hidden sanctuary, nestled among lush trees and almost enchanted by the gentle sounds of nature. Every detail is highly curated —from the exceptional in-room kaiseki meals to the outstanding wine selection in the complimentary minibar. Our room was a large suite, with a California king size bed and an 400 sq ft bathroom featuring dual rainfall showers. The crown jewel is a fully private open-air tub fed by natural hot spring water. The venue is surrounded by mesmerizing forest views. Pure bliss. The staff is very kind, discreet, and genuinely attentive. An unforgettable experience of calm, comfort, and total privacy. We came out entirely regenerated.

We stayed here for 2 nights for our honeymoon. It was such an incredible experience and the staff was so so nice. Loved having our own personal onsen and getting to have dinner and breakfast in our suite. We stayed in the Kirameki suite. The suite also came with our own garden and patio and having the patio to sit outside and enjoy was so special as well. And I was have an allergic reaction to seafood, so the staff switched my meals to this beautiful vegan / vegetarian option that was delicious. There were all these small touches that spoke of the luxury and elegance of this place. The fridge had all sorts of free yummy drinks (both alcoholic and non) and the check-in treat was delicious. Check-in was elegantly done in the room. The bed was a lovely king that was wonderfully comfortable and the bathroom was really cool overlooking the onsen. We also got some lovely parting honeymoon gifts that were so thoughtful and it was just truly a wonderful experience. Thank you Kinnotake for taking caring of us!!

I truly felt like a princess during my stay here at Kinnotake Sengokuhara with a booking at the Hime room. My boyfriend and I arrived later due to longer travel times than expected. Nevertheless, we were welcomed right in at 5:30pm and shown to our room. The room has a separate dining area, large double vanity, comfortable king bed, a large shower room, and then your own private onsen outside. The service is absolutely exceptional, with care and thought put into every aspect of our stay. We enjoyed a welcome drink and sweet treats, and refreshed ourselves after our travel day. Dinner came shortly afterwards, and every course was a feast, both for the eyes and the mouth. I especially loved the wagyu and sashimi courses. They were able to customize our menu in advance since we relayed on our reservation that my boyfriend is pescetarian and does not eat any meat. Breakfast was also a beautiful traditional spread of rice, fish, and veggies. They cooked our miso soup with the lobster from the previous night's dinner, making the most delicious seafood broth. Besides the food being a highlight, we loved our private onsen, which we enjoyed both at night and in the morning. The mineral packed water left us feeling refreshed and reenergized before we had to head to the airport. The provided amenities were amazing, including the comfortable yukatas and night wear. We never saw any other guests during our stay and it felt like the staff really went out of their way to make our stay very special. I am so happy we decided to splurge on this one night before we left Japan, definitely one of the most memorable ways to end the trip!

I stayed here for 2 nights when this hotel renovated at 2011, and by this day i still remember how special it was. Back then there were only grass land surrounding this hotel, so i took a walk outside at midnight. Everything was so peaceful and quite. It felt like as if i have entered into a different realm of the universe. Servicing is typical japanese grand accompanying grade. Servers were dressed in kimonos and polite and very attentive. Dinning experiences were great since they allow you to set the schedule to your wish, and the kaiseki was not bad at all. Now, the most memorable part of the hotel was the individual hot spring in each room. I enjoyed it fully since both days i were here happened to be raining. So i get to enjoy the real hot spring under cold rainy weather. Interms of the hot spring quality, i did not bring in a set of mineral testing equipment for inspection. Afterall, the mood has made up for it. The scenery, the hot spring, the kaiseki, the huge king size bed, it was perfect. And worthy the $1200 stay (per person per day).

Kinnotake. I stayed at this one in March, 2014. This place is located in Hakone, which is a motherlode of very exquisite onsen resorts. Usually, onsen places have this classical feel with a naturistic theme, but this is the first onsen resort that I've visited that had a modern theme. It was very gorgeous and relaxing here. Upon arrival, you are presented with complimentary champagne and a dessert snack while your hosts get your information together. They have 10 different room types here, with varying styles and sizes. Each room has it's own private bath (rotenburo) which is good for me because I have tattoos (tattoos are not allowed in most public baths in Japan). Very modern rooms. If I ever build my own home, I'd like it to kind of look like this place. This place also makes televisions optional in order to preserve the relaxing feel of this place. If you want a TV, just request it and they will bring one to you. Believe me, I didn't need it at all. I had complimentary beer in my fridge as well! This was so awesome. The dining area was also very classy and the multi-course meal that is served was absolutely delicious. You can also enjoy spa services and massage services on site as well as, of course, the public baths that they have here. Onsens are one of my favorite things in this life and there is no more relaxing feeling than bathing in an onsen out in the open night air.