Hakone Kowakien Hotel

I originally planned to stay one night in Hakone, but after checking some guides, I realized there were so many attractions. So, I decided to book an extra night. Apparently, booking two separate nights doesn't guarantee you the same room. The front desk lady spent quite a while checking her computer to arrange a single room for me. Next time, I'll remember to book both nights at once. It might have been because of the Chinese New Year period when there are lots of guests checking in. Hakone is perfect for a one-night, two-meal stay. Since the attractions in Hakone are spread out, it's best to spend the day fully immersing yourself in sightseeing. If you get hungry at lunchtime, just grab some snacks to save time, and then enjoy the hot springs and buffet at the hotel in the morning and evening. The rooftop hot spring might use regular hot water, but it wasn't too crowded, and they had some toiletries and skincare products, so I just decided to wash up there instead of in my room.

This hotel offers great value for money. It's my second time in Hakone, and compared to the hotels by Lake Ashi, this one feels much newer. The rooms are quite spacious for Japan, with a 1.5-meter bed and a 1.1-meter bed side-by-side. The toilet is separate from the shower, which is a wet/dry design. The view from the window is also lovely. The hot springs are on the sixth floor, featuring both outdoor mountain-view onsens and indoor ones. The outdoor area also has a single and a double private pool, which is a nice touch. Overall, it's pretty good. The breakfast and dinner are more Japanese style, with ramen, miso soup, sashimi, and sweet shrimp. The mattress in the room was really comfortable. All in all, a great stay. Right opposite the hotel is the Okada Museum of Art, which I highly recommend visiting, especially as a Chinese person. The first floor of the five-story museum is dedicated to Chinese porcelain from various dynasties, with the oldest being a green-glazed阁楼 (pavilion) from the 2nd-3rd century BC (Former Han Dynasty), standing about a meter tall. I won't say too much more, as photography of the artifacts is not allowed.

The hotel has been recently renovated and is very clean. It's located near Kowakudani, and the hotel shuttle bus stop is behind Gora Station (for the Tozan Railway). After getting off, go in the opposite direction and through the underpass, and you'll find many hotel shuttle buses parked there. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes. The hotel is also very close to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, about a 1km walk, which is quite convenient. I think you need a separate ticket for Mori no Yu, or maybe I checked in after 4 PM? Perhaps I booked too late, as it closes at 7:30 PM. The front desk didn't specifically mention this hot spring. Both breakfast and dinner are buffets. There's a bit of a wait for breakfast, but it's very well-organized. Dinner is served in two shifts, at 5 PM and either 7:30 or 8 PM – you need to book in advance. The hot spring baths are decent.

This was the first hotel we booked for our trip, and it didn't disappoint. The service was warm and attentive, the room was spacious, and the breakfast and dinner buffets were plentiful. The natural environment around the hotel is truly beautiful. When in Hakone, hot springs are a must, and across the road, the Kowakien Yunessun spa resort has two areas that hotel guests can access for free and unlimited times. The only downside is that transportation isn't the most convenient; we took a bus from Odawara Station. It would be easier if you were driving or renting a car. However, this is truly a hotel with excellent value for money.

It takes about 40 minutes by bus from Odawara Station. The hotel itself is relatively new, which suited us as we prefer not to stay in traditional Japanese tatami rooms. The Japanese girl at the front desk provided excellent service; she helped us check in early and even switched our room. However, there's currently a crane operating in the hotel's garden area, which obstructs the view and creates a lot of noise. They were even working on a rainy day when we checked in. The hotel stated construction would begin after 10 AM, but it started at 9 AM, disturbing our rest. The public onsen (hot spring bath) was nice, with both indoor and outdoor options. The private bath costs 2,500 JPY per hour, but I'm not sure if it's real hot spring water as I didn't smell any sulfur. The breakfast and dinner buffets were average; there were many options, but nothing particularly tasty or outstanding in terms of ingredients. For the off-season price of just over 1,000 JPY (presumably per person or per night), it's decent value, but it wouldn't be worth it during peak season due to the higher cost.