Hakone Gora KARAKU (ORIX HOTELS & RESORTS)

The staff here was very inflexible. Too many rules that aren’t communicated ahead of time. We expected to be able to have dinner at the hotel and were told they couldn’t accommodate us. Do not plan to arrive before 3pm as your room won’t be ready and you can not use any of the facilities. We were forced to wander the little town in the pouring rain. It was a lot to get out to this resort for one day. We would skip it next time and go straight to Kyoto

Lovely place. Exquisitely comfortable

Hakone Gora Karaku was absolutely incredible! One of our favourite stays in Japan. The kaiseki dinner and breakfast were exceptional, the service was so nice, the room was stunning, and the onsen baths were such a relaxing treat. The staff were incredibly kind and hospitable, making the whole experience feel extra special for our family. The location is perfect, right near the train station and the Hakone loop, making everything so easy. A truly unforgettable stay we loved every moment.

Staff showed except

Perfect relaxing stay. Staff were exceptionally kind and accommodating. Naia at Mitsuki was very knowledgeable and made each meal a wonderful experience. The clothing and environment was immaculate but welcoming. We would definitely come back.

Wonderful hotel! Probably the best at Hakone all they gave four stars for amenities because we would’ve liked to have a gym in the hotel. Otherwise we couldn’t have picked a better place.

Clean room, friendly staff, great foods and lounge experience. Unfortunately our room clock and the facial steamer weren’t working properly. Also the kettle was difficult to use it. However very great experience with them! Definitely worth to visit again!

Room was gorgeous with the open air bath on a balcony overlooking Mount Fuji. The staff was extremely hospitable and professional.

Everything was thoroughly intentional

At check in,there was confusion about the room type booked.We chose the hotel specifically for its Japanese esthetics& was excited to stay in a Japanese style room.We booked 2rooms as we are a family of5 &requested in advance for sidebyside rooms.We received an email back confirming our request.However it was never disclosed that they decided to change our room type to western.Front desk initially apologized but said nothing could be done& blamed the mistake on our request for sidebyside. We stood firm,showed our booking confirmation&emails,telling them this was unacceptable. After spending20mins at check-in, they assigned us the room types that we booked to rectify THEIR mistake.Dinner was another major letdown. We booked Japanese grill which was highly anticipated as the property received Michelin ratings.To our surprise the staff service was subpar.Our teppanyaki chef was clearly sick(although wearing a face mask was consistently coughing,clearing his throat w/phlegm&sniffled throughout our entire 2hr course meal while preparing,cooking&serving our food.Which as anyone can imagine was extremely inappropriate&unprofessional (video proof available).Also, a server accidentally dropped a piece of food from the plate to table&used his bare fingers to place it back on dish.We stayed here 2yrs ago&loved it,which is why we returned with our family.We raised our concerns after dinner but noone followed up even at checkout.Very disappointing experience for a hotel of this caliber.

Overall, the hotel did not meet 5 star standards. The nicest part of the hotel was the private onsen on our balcony and the view. The rooms were dated and a bit unkept. The hotel staff were cold (bordering rude) and incredibly unhelpful when it came to helping us find places for dinner nearby.

When we attempted to check in at noon, the front desk said check in was at 3. That wasn’t a problem. The problem is that they were not welcoming and did not encourage us to walk around hotel. We were encouraged to leave the hotel. When we checked in, they didn’t explain the hotel concept, it’s amenities and sent us on a wild goose chase to our room. By the time we could figure out the hotel and the traditional concept, it was time to check out. We did not make a dinner reservation and was coldly told they were sold out. I would not go back. We stayed in a similar hotel in kyoto and only then realized how bad our experience here was. They missed the mark with us. Bumner

very nice room. great baths. great food

Amazing staff and beautiful rooms, outstanding food as well.

Everything. This is truly a 5-star hotel resort. The room was spotless, beautiful, organized, and cozy. The hotel offered excellent amenities through their lounges and in the rooms. The baths were so inviting!

Excellent service. Outstanding food. Elegant hotel in a beautiful location.

Spacious, clean rooms. Loved the outdoor bath and view from the balcony. Staff was very attentive and greeted us with a delicious mochi treat and tea while they readied our room. Also personally showed us the facility and took us to our room. The dinner and breakfast was also outstanding and delicious! The dinner meal was served in courses rather than all at once and the attention to detail was outstanding. Loved the resort and would definitely consider visiting again!

The breakfast was fixed menu no selection and very cheep portions, If you don't reserve mounts in advance don't expect to to have massage in SPA or diner in the hotel. overall one of the most expansive hotels in Japan and no value for money.

Staff were amazing! Always went above and beyond

Services