Explore 5-Star Hotels in Ashigarashimo District

Tucked into the foothills of Hakone, in a quiet village along Yugawara Parkway, we found this small villa surrounded by greenery and the sound of a nearby stream. But what stayed with me wasn’t the villa—it was us. The kids ran straight to the deck, reaching out to catch the falling cherry blossom petals as they drifted onto the water, arguing over who caught the most before they slipped through their fingers. Someone left the door open, letting the cool air drift in. By evening, we were all gathered upstairs, half-talking, half-listening to the steady rhythm of the stream below. No one reached for their phones. Later that night, we slept with the windows open. You could hear the water, constant and calming, like it had always been there. It’s strange—places fade, but moments like this don’t. The quiet, the laughter, the feeling of having nowhere else to be. That’s what I’ll remember. 

When checking in, the hotel will explain the tourist route of Hakone. It's a no-brainer to check in and just follow the map provided by the hotel. The service exceeded my expectations. I felt like a princess returning home during my stay. I thought this was the standard Japanese service. But later I stayed in other hotels and found that the service of Gora Kadan is far better than other hotels of the same price. The room is a bit old and the shower is also very old, but it is cleaned quite well.

This was my second stay here. My previous visit with my child was so enjoyable that when a friend came to Japan, I brought them here for a night. Throughout our stay, the staff were incredibly kind and thoughtful. Both breakfast and dinner were very satisfying. However, at check-out, one particular staff member's attitude absolutely floored me. 1. For self-check-out, there were three machines. One was free, and there was no queue, so we just went ahead and used it. 2. After checking out, I wanted to inquire about the hotel shuttle and public bus routes and schedules, as we didn't have a car this time. Both manual check-out counters were busy with guests, so I stood behind them, waiting my turn. 3. Suddenly, a staff member came out from the side to guide guests queuing for check-out. She noticed I was inadvertently standing in front of the line she was directing. She gestured for me to move, and I apologized and immediately stepped aside. Then, when she had a moment, I asked her where I should queue to inquire about the hotel bus schedule. For some reason, she seemed extremely annoyed. She spoke to me with a blank expression for a couple of sentences, then realized I didn't speak Japanese, and that she couldn't explain it to me quickly. Our conversation wasn't even finished when she angrily turned and walked away... At first, I thought she was in a hurry to attend to the queuing guests, as it was peak check-out time, and that she'd get back to me. So I waited in a spot where I wouldn't bother her or her line. But then I realized she completely intended to ignore me! I just stood there waiting for her, hahaha. Eventually, I thought, 'This isn't right. Is getting a schedule really this difficult?' She was the only person available to ask, so I went up to her again and asked in English. She froze, looking at me with a surprised expression, perhaps not expecting me to come back after her impolite demeanor. So, she had to patiently, albeit reluctantly, quickly reply to me in English. I asked if she could give me a copy of the schedule. She didn't even say ”please wait a moment.” She just turned directly to the counter, grabbed a schedule, practically slapped it into my hand with a ”Pia!” sound, said absolutely nothing, and then spun around and walked away, hahaha. I even managed to say ”thank you” to her. I was stunned. A 2600 yen per night hotel, and in my two years in Japan, this was the first time I'd experienced such shockingly poor service. I suggest that during peak check-out times, more staff should be assigned, or essential information like schedules should be placed in a conspicuous location, which would also save staff the trouble. And while the hotel indicates Chinese-speaking service is available, if staff who only speak Chinese are discouraged from asking questions, then I suggest the hotel shouldn't be on platforms like Ctrip trying to attract Chinese customers in the first place.

Yes, the hotel provides breakfast and dinner. The Japanese food is exquisite and the service is also very good. If the price/performance ratio is higher, it will be more enjoyable. I will go there again in the future. The private hot spring is very good and the service is very good.

Every city's soul resides in a hotel. The Peace Hotel in Shanghai, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, the Ritz Paris. These masterpieces, born from local spirit, aesthetics, and a unique mission, are irreplaceable classics, forever one-of-a-kind. They are undeniably the ultimate experiences to explore in these great cities. In 1871, a 20-year-old Japanese man moved to America for work. After saving enough money, he returned to Japan during the Meiji Restoration and enrolled at Keio University. There, he was enlightened by Fukuzawa Yukichi, the father of modern Japan, and first realized the importance of international tourism. In the same year (1874), Emperor Guangxu was only 3 years old; the gears of history began to turn. Fukuzawa's portrait is still on Japan's highest denomination banknote today. The young man, Yamaguchi, realized that Japan didn't have a true hotel for foreigners. So he picked up a blank piece of paper and began to draw the blueprint for Japan's future state guesthouse: 1. A place foreigners would love most. 2. Close to Tokyo, with beautiful scenery. 3. Must have natural hot springs. The intersection of these three coordinates landed in the Miyanoshita area of Hakone. In 1878, Japan's first resort hotel – Fujiya Hotel – was born. However, fate was cruel; just 5 years later, a major fire engulfed the hotel, along with all records since its opening, turning everything to ash. The once eternal legacy became as thin as a wisp of smoke. Fortunately, Yamaguchi resolutely chose to rebuild. In 1891, the new building was completed and has been operating ever since. The symmetrical facade and main entrance portico emphasize a solemn ”frontality.” Inside, there are sofas, fireplaces, and radiators. Even the height of the doorknobs and beds was customized to suit the stature of Westerners. Yet, at the same time, the graceful curves of the Japanese roof, vermillion railings, and dragon wood carvings constantly remind you – this is Japan. No other hotel can better interpret the four characters ”Wa-Yo setchū” (a blend of Japanese and Western styles) than Fujiya Hotel. During the war, it interned over 70 European and Central/South American diplomats. Over a hundred years, the countless celebrities, dignitaries, and royals it hosted are dazzling: Charlie Chaplin, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Yukio Mishima, The King of Belgium, the Crown Prince of Sweden, the Duke of Windsor, Emperor Hirohito, the Last Emperor Puyi, Chiang Kai-shek... For nearly 150 years, Fujiya Hotel has witnessed the collapse of countless colossal powers. How many kings and generals once stood by its west-facing windows, witnessing the twilight of their empires? I checked in during early summer, like pushing open a door to time. The hustle and bustle had long faded, but it still retained its former glory, humbly yet proudly refusing to awaken. Time stands still here, leaving amber-like imprints, as if nothing has ever truly left.

The hotel is located in a very secluded mountainous area. I stayed in an open-air hot spring villa with a large courtyard, and soaking in the hot spring was incredibly relaxing and wonderful, whether it was cloudy or sunny, day or night. The courtyard was beautiful on rainy days. The entire villa area was almost completely silent; aside from occasionally seeing people at mealtimes, I barely saw anyone else, which was very pleasant. The hot springs were also excellent, leaving my skin feeling smooth and moisturized. The room had a living room with a fireplace and a Bluetooth speaker, making it spacious and warm. This was the hotel's biggest draw. However, some small details were lacking. Some villas don't have parking, like mine, and walking to the parking lot was quite a trek. The bathroom area wasn't well-heated; the shower and toilet rooms were very cold unless the door was left open. The hotel's toiletries need improvement; the cotton pads were unusable, of very poor quality, falling apart into shreds when I tried to wipe my face. The bedding was also quite mediocre, not comfortable at all, and the mattress felt saggy. However, the linens were very clean and fresh, which was good. Cleanliness was so-so. Both the hot spring pool and the shower room, being made of wood, are prone to mold, and the hotel should clean them more thoroughly. The Kaiseki dinner was very ordinary. The taste and ingredients were unremarkable, though the price was also reasonable. There's no need to eat the hotel's Kaiseki if you have other options. The service was decent. They thoughtfully sent champagne for our anniversary, which was a nice touch. Check-in and check-out were handled in the room, and other services were quite proactive.

The service was excellent, professional, and very attentive. The in-room amenities were premium and had a luxurious feel. The towels and hot spring attire were made from high-quality material and felt wonderful. It's an excellent choice for a hot spring inn.

Pros: The terrace is very photogenic! The hotel is bright and spacious. It was my first time in Hakone. I could see a beautiful sunrise in the morning. The room was beautiful when I took photos. The facilities and equipment were relatively new. The highlight was the cafe in the lobby. There were a lot of coffee, tea, drinks, and wine for free. The juice was very delicious. The oat milk was also organic. Unlike other hotels, the refrigerator only had a few bottles of drinks. Disadvantages: 1. The hot spring pool was not clean enough. Many places were yellow or moldy and not cleaned. 2. The hot spring was not constant temperature. It was very troublesome to add water by yourself. 3. In addition, the room was actually quite cramped. It was not as big as it looked. The toilet was very small. 4. The bed and bedding were really uncomfortable. The pillow was very small and the quilt was a bit short... 5. The partitions of the hotel were all made of stone. They were very hard. In addition, the room was not big. My friend's hand was scratched. 5. The food was really not delicious... too Japanese. Many things were very rigid. You must eat breakfast at 8:30. The waiter would go into the room and turn on the lights regardless of whether you were sleeping or not. When you took a nap, he would knock on the door repeatedly to confirm all your itineraries for the day. Time: departure time, use shuttle time If you can't confirm, just keep asking...

Perfect hotel. The environment is elegant, the room is large and comfortable, the dressing room, bathroom and open-air hot spring are in the same area, very user-friendly, complete toiletries and makeup remover care products, and a mask, considerate. Kaiseki dinner is perfect, every dish is made with seasonal ingredients, the taste is rich and delicious, the breakfast is also very good, praise the chef. The service of the hotel staff is warm and thoughtful, especially thanks to KAWASE, the family is as kind, let us spend a particularly beautiful two days.

The famous house is over 300 years old and well maintained. The decoration of the waiting area is more English style, with free drinks and a comfortable fireplace. The waiting area for each group of customers is relatively independent and undisturbed, which is good. On the way from the waiting area to the room, you will pass through several rest areas with different functions, with beautiful window views of different scenery. This time I stayed for only one night, and it was a pity that I couldn't feel the tranquility in front of the window. The room I booked has an outdoor private bath, and it is quite comfortable to enjoy the courtyard view while soaking. The Kaiseki cuisine is standard and there is no surprise. The check-out time of Hakone Hotel seems to be 10 am, too hurried 😂