Ryokan Gyokutei

The grounds were serene, and each room area felt private. We were a family of four, two adults and two teenagers, staying one night between Tokyo and Kyoto, and Gyokutei delivered the traditional ryokan experience we wanted. The accommodation felt authentic and comfortable rather than luxurious. It wasn’t cheap, but the meals and overall experience made it worth the price. Dinner and breakfast were amazing, presented beautifully and brought to us thoughtfully, one course at a time. The assigned hostess was very hands on, coming in and out to serve meals, clear up, and lay out the futons. That might feel uncomfortable if you’re not used to it, but we were fine waiting in one of the bedroom areas. The accommodation has several rooms separated by partitions. We also enjoyed both the private onsen in our room and the public ones. Service from check in through check out was impeccable. A tip for getting there: it’s about a 10-minute walk from hakone yumato station, but uphill. Google Maps takes you to a fork with a steep stone wall in the middle. Turn LEFT at the wall, not right. The entrance to the rokyan grounds is on your right as you walk uphill. This was the highlight of our Japan trip.

We visited in early May, when everything around was green and the scenery was beautiful. The Onsen hotel was fabulous, and although it takes some walking from Hakone train station, it was totally worth it. Our traditional Japanese-style room was especially spacious, with a lovely garden view from the window. They brought high-quality, delicious food right to the room. Staff were polite and friendly, and we enjoyed having both an in-room private bath and a public bath, with water from a natural hot spring. One of the best places on our Japan trip, and we’ll definitely visit again.

The meals were the standout for our family, the best food we had on our Japan trip, though what we were served leaned heavily toward seafood. If you have particular food preferences, tell the hosts ahead of time. We visited Gyokutei in April with our children, ages 3 and 6, and loved how authentic and beautiful the room and garden felt. While we waited at reception, the hosts kindly showed us around the garden. They also noticed how we had adjusted the futons after our first night and set them up to match our preference the next evening. Our stay at Gyokutei Ryokan was the highlight of the trip. We'd happily recommend it.

We were there for just one night on our honeymoon, and I came away feeling it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. The hosts were so kind and attentive to every little detail. I’ve already told everyone I know about this little piece of paradise. Thank you so much.