Hakone Setsugetsuka

The location made things easy, right beside Gora station, so we didn’t have to walk along those winding mountain roads without shoulders after dark. There are restaurants close by too, and our included breakfast was big and delicious with a garden view. I loved the balcony hot bath and outdoor shower, since my husband wasn’t comfortable going down to even the private onsens. I’d accidentally cancelled my Rakuten Stay booking and switched to Tokinoyu, then forgot and showed up at Rakuten. It’s unmanned, and without an access code I couldn’t even get inside. After a small panic, I realized my mistake and was so glad I’d changed hotels. Having actual staff around was great. The first floor had a relaxed, lively feel, with people in yukatas enjoying complimentary cafe drinks, and there was a microwave and free popsicles too. The hotel has a retro feel that reminded me of an 80s spa weekend for Tokyo urbanites. Our room was really comfortable and very spacious for Japan. Only gripe: I wish there were more than one pillow per person. My husband likes two, and I wasn’t giving mine up.

We loved the onsens, especially the women’s outdoor bath, tucked among the trees. We used a private one at night and the public one the next morning. There were also lots of nice extras, like popsicles, probiotic drinks, coffee, tea, and late-night free ramen, though we fell asleep before trying that. The hotel shop had a good range of souvenirs, and we found several things to take home. We stayed one night at the end of November 2025 and would happily return, hopefully for longer. The room had everything we needed, including pajamas, yukata, wicker baskets for the onsen, a mini fridge, and water. There was also a private outdoor bathtub and a small patio. The hotel was a great price compared with other Hakone options. Its location in the middle of Gora made public transport and the Hakone loop easy, with shops, museums, and restaurants nearby. We skipped the dinner option this time, so I can’t comment on the food, but there were several restaurants within walking distance that we wanted to try.

The spa massage was a real highlight. “Mami?” gave me one of the best massages I’ve ever had, in a clean, zen-like space. Just right before or after a soak in the onsen. Getting there was easy: I started in Tokyo, went to Gotemba Premium Outlets, and then took a bus that stopped right in front of the hotel. The place has an incredible nostalgic feel, and I really enjoyed my stay. The kaiseki dinners were lovely. My favorite was the beef shabu shabu and sushi dinner. I never got up early enough for breakfast, but that was fine, since there are lots of cute cafés and restaurants nearby.

You step off at gora station and this is the first place you see. The hotel is beautifully decorated in Japanese traditional style, and the staff were so welcoming that we felt at home even though we weren’t speaking the local language. They also offer free drinks, snacks, and late-night soba, which felt very thoughtful. The onsen was a treat after long walks in cold January weather. There are several ways to enjoy it, in your room, in the public onsen, or in a private onsen room, and the hot water really brought us back to life. The view was incredible too. Food was all right, though it might not suit everyone. We took it as part of trying the cuisine outside the city. A 12 out of 10 for us, a must try in hakone!