Hakone Elegance

The building is old and could use a professional renovation, and it feels a bit like a hostel in some ways. It’s also quite a walk up the hill, so take a taxi if you have a lot of luggage. That said, this place costs a lot less than other options in the area, and the rooms and beds are perfectly fine. The private onsens are really good. The outdoor one is so hot, around 80 degrees, you could cook in it, so you’ll need to run the cold hose for a while. The downstairs baths seemed just right. The owner is a really friendly guy who loves a chat. You can tell he cares about the place and puts his heart into keeping it going, despite the age of the building.

Meals were generous, and both breakfast and dinner tasted great. The staff were polite and helpful, and the lounge had lots of DVDs, games, and other things to borrow and take back to the room. Our room was cute and felt like a little mountain house. It wasn’t huge, but there was enough space. The outdoor bath was a bit old, though the view from it was great. The downsides were the cramped, inconvenient toilet in the room and a dessert that didn’t match the rest of the meal.

The place was too dirty, and the staff were really rude. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Just an ordinary hotel in a remote area.