I stayed here with a group of friends (all Americans) in June. It's a very big, nice though dated property in a great location. It has a bit of a cruise ship/Grand Budapest hotel vibe. Pros: it's a great value in an area where the price for a hotel or Ryokan room can go quite high. The views of the gorge from rooms are beautiful. The dinner food was very good for a large hotel. The staff went out of their way to accommodate some dietary requests despite their limited English and our limited Japanese. There's a tattoo-tolerant Onsen next door. Neutral: the public bath feels a bit like an american 1980s health club, no Japanese Onsen charm here. Patience is required to get to and from Hakone-Yumoto as there are limited taxis and the shuttle service (¥200) is sometimes full and doesn't run late. There is a public bus stop at the top of the hotel driveway. The walk into Hakone-Yumoto is pleasant provided you don't have luggage. Breakfast buffet was just ok. Cons: rooms are extremely dated and while there is some retro charm, carpets and wood surfaces are in shabby condition. Western beds were very old/ firm/uncomfortable even by Japanese standards. There was mold in cracks in the showers in several of our rooms. Despite the guestrooms being non-smoking, one of our rooms had cigarette smoke flow in from time to time, possibly from a smoking room on a different floor.

Beautiful hotel with soft and beautiful traditional floor mats, beautiful room with private onsen and the sound of the water flowing from the mountain. Best service, the best manager Mr. Motoyoshi was so helpful and wonderful. He helped me translate in the ramen shop and personally dressed me in the traditional robe. I was the only foreigner in the hotel, and Mr. Motoyoshi took care of me perfectly! A+ service!

Excellent service, excellent food, excellent rooms. Absolutely worth a stay. The open air style bath spaces are a great experience. Dinner is wonderful. Rooms are wide and cozy. Have come here multiple times with family and always am satisfied.

Beautiful room. About a 20 minute walk from the Train and Bus station. Showers were great but the rooms were unbearably hot. Be aware that restaurants are reservation only and most restaurants in the area close early. If you don't make a reservation for food, they will not serve you and you will be out of luck, unless you go to the basement for Ramen, which will do if you"re hungry There is also a beautiful outdoor onsen about 6 minutes away by foot that is tattoo friendly. The hotel had Ba Sing Se vibes. The hotel has greater options if youre not tattooed. If you have a decent amount of tattoos, you will have a more difficult time

This hotel may look nice online, but it is really not set up for international guests. Everything feels designed only for Japanese visitors, and foreigners are treated like outsiders. Staff were unwilling to explain things properly in English, and instead of hospitality, we were made to feel like we were a problem. For the high price they charge, the service should be professional and inclusive. Instead, we left with the impression that this hotel simply does not know how to handle tourists. If you are a foreign traveler looking for a welcoming experience in Hakone, I strongly suggest staying somewhere else.