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. 

Great experience! From the receptionist in the parking lot to the front desk and lounge are first class As soon as I entered the wooden house, I smelled a faint woody fragrance, and my whole person suddenly relaxed a lot. You have to take off your shoes when you enter the hotel, and the front desk will take care of them, so you directly step on the tatami with your feet, soft and comfortable. The room is very large, there are three doors from the main door of the room to the position of the bed, so the room is very quiet. The bed is very large, moderately soft and hard. There is free water, beer and juice in the small refrigerator. The electric kettle has hot water that has already been heated, and there is also a pot of room temperature water to drink next to it The room is heated and air-conditioned at the same time In addition to shampoo and other products, there are also toners, makeup lotions, and lotions that can be used. There are also hair loops for long hair. The whole arrangement is very careful. The view of the room is first-rate, and soaking in a daze in the open-air hot spring is a first-class enjoyment. Dinner and breakfast are in the restaurant on the second floor. Arrange a time with the waiter to go to the first floor and they will show you where to eat. Dining is in a semi-private room with tatami mats, and no other guests will be seen. The waiter for both meals is the same person, needless to say, polite, with a bright smile, very hard to explain the dishes in simple English. It is suitable for people who like to be quiet, slow, and [not to see people]!

The place was spotless, the environment was beautiful, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Even though English wasn't their strong suit, they used translation apps effectively to communicate. We weren't aware they offered a pick-up service, so we took a taxi there. However, they kindly provided a drop-off service to the station when we left. They also patiently explained which station had luggage lockers, as we were planning to move on to a different location the next day. If we hadn't already made other plans, staying two nights would have been ideal. The dining experience felt like a hotel's set course meal. While dinner was a little slow, the overall experience was excellent, and the dining staff were all wonderful. We also had pleasant encounters with local Japanese people in the public baths; they were very friendly. One even waited outside to recommend some ice cream to us! Overall, I had a fantastic impression of Hakone.

This is my first time to experience this kind of pure Japanese-style hotel. Although I only stayed there for one night in a hurry, the experience was very rich and colorful. The service staff was warm and considerate. Although we relied almost entirely on translation machines and body language, it did not affect our communication. The aunt who was responsible for taking care of us would patiently help us change our clothes, remind us to appreciate the cherry blossoms, and ask us where to go. It felt like my own relatives were taking care of the children who came to travel. This is probably the meaning of a family hotel. Dinner and breakfast were very delicious and sufficient! The girls really couldn't finish it! When I learned that someone of us had a birthday, I got a handwritten blessing card, which was very touching! Our friends agreed to stay more time to come here next time!

The room had a lovely Japanese aesthetic. The check-in experience was great, with a dedicated staff member escorting us to our room. The room also featured an open-air private onsen, which was wonderful! There are also three private onsens on the B1 level. The fridge was stocked with complimentary water and beer. Each floor had a small room with snacks and drinks available.

As a Korean family living in the United States, we stayed here as a family of four with our two young children (40 months and 21 months old), and overall, we had a truly memorable experience. We booked through Trip.com, and because there were no clearly stated child occupancy policies during booking, we reserved the room as 3 adults. This later created some confusion during check-in, which I will mention below, but aside from that, nearly everything about this hotel was exceptional. First, the positives: The breakfast was outstanding—worthy of its Michelin Guide 2025 recognition. Every meal was beautifully prepared, thoughtful, and delicious. We chose a traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, and for our family with young children, it was perfect. Being able to remove our shoes and comfortably live on the floor felt especially natural and relaxing as Asians, and parents with little children will understand how convenient and comfortable this setup is. The location is also excellent—within walking distance from Gora Station, where the mountain railway arrives. Even with two small children, the walk was very manageable. The onsen experience was wonderful, and the guest lounge available from morning until 10 PM was another highlight that made the stay feel luxurious and comfortable. The dining area itself deserves special praise. Enjoying breakfast and dinner while overlooking the beautiful inner garden pond was peaceful and elegant, and the restaurant service team was abundant, attentive, warm, and professional. It truly felt like top-class hospitality. Now, one disappointment: During check-in, one female staff member wearing a headscarf made several comments that felt unnecessarily cold and transactional. Because we booked as 3 adults, she repeatedly explained that our children could be accommodated because of that booking choice—as if we were receiving an exception—despite there being no clearly stated child policy during reservation. She also explained that only 3 adult yukata/lounge outfits had been prepared in the room because we booked for 3 adults, and said we could request children's clothing “if needed.” When I asked when we should request them, she simply repeated that we could ask when necessary. At that point, a more thoughtful hospitality approach would have been something simple like: “I see you have two young children—would you like us to prepare children’s outfits now?” That small difference would have reflected genuine care. At check-out, I again observed behavior that felt uncomfortable. A trainee staff member was assisting us, and when the trainee forgot to request identification, the same staff member visibly frowned and corrected the trainee in front of us. It felt unnecessarily tense and unprofessional in front of guests. What stood out was that every other staff member we encountered was warm, polite, smiling, and genuinely welcoming. They bowed, greeted us kindly, and made us feel respected. Only this one staff member felt noticeably different—cold enough that we were left wondering whether it was discomfort toward children, cultural bias, or simply a personal attitude issue. I travel frequently internationally for business in a senior executive role, and this was the first time I experienced service that felt this distinctly uncomfortable from a luxury hospitality employee. That said, I want to emphasize: everyone else at the hotel was wonderful, and the property itself is beautiful, peaceful, elegant, and family-friendly. We would gladly return—but I hope the warmth shown by the rest of the team becomes the standard reflected consistently by every member of staff.

Had a wonderful 2-night stay in Hakone! Having breakfast and dinner at the hotel saved us a lot of hassle. While you're at Owakudani, make sure to try the famous local specialty, the black eggs. There's a small stall tucked away in the back of the supermarket behind Owakudani that sells them – 4 hot eggs for 500 yen. They say eating them adds years to your life, haha!

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.

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 😂