Hakone Retreat villa 1/f

We stayed in one of the private villas in mid-October. It was mostly cloudy with a little rain, which made a lovely backdrop for the wooden cabin and its outdoor private bath. It wasn’t cold, and the cabin stayed warm. The service and amenities were impeccable, and each day we got fresh robes, towels, and pajamas. We liked the bath and face products, too. At the Japanese restaurant, dinner is served in a private room, which was a special experience for us. Breakfast there was a favorite. The French restaurant was also good, with buffet breakfast and a set-menu dinner. A truly luxurious stay, one I’ll be dreaming about for years.

After seven days in Tokyo, we wanted to slow down, and Hakone retreat Villa1/f was just right. The villa was cozy, with a peaceful private Hotspring, and the staff were amazing. Both restaurants served outstanding dinners, with really tasty food and great service. We celebrated my birthday at this magical place. The Cafe was nice, too.

The room itself was spacious, but it fell far short of what we expected. Photos online suggested floor-to-ceiling windows and lots of natural light. In our villa, there were only small slats in the side roof, and by 4pm it was almost dark. Staff briefly showed us how to use things, but there wasn’t clear information about the windows, air conditioning, or bath. The outdoor private onsen, a main reason we booked, was barely warm, so we couldn’t use it. It was dark and uncomfortable, with no view, and felt more like a fish pond than an onsen. Dinner was bland and disappointing; we barely ate any of it. One mattress had springs we could feel, and a loud whirring sound kept going all night and couldn’t be switched off, despite asking staff for help. We found many staff interactions awkward and difficult, and the service didn’t feel like what we expected from a five-star hotel. They offered to move us, but by then we’d decided to check out early. We left very disappointed. We arrived on a rainy afternoon and were taken straight to check-in, which felt underwhelming for a five-star stay. Tea was put in front of us, but we weren’t given time to drink it before being shown to the villa.

The grounds are lovely to walk around, and the fireplace made the cabin feel cozy. The private onsen was incredible, and the cabins were peaceful. We preferred eating outside the restaurant. Service was great. The Go Taxi app helped us get around, though it became difficult after 9:30pm. A really nice couples retreat.