Hakone Suimeisou

The location made getting around easy, with restaurants nearby and the train station and bus stop very close. The view of the Haya River was peaceful, and the Japanese-style tatami room and private spring bath were lovely. Staff were courteous throughout. One small heads-up: the beds sit on a raised platform, and we stubbed our toes a couple of times at first. That was our own coordination, but other guests may want to watch their step. We were also a little unsure about privacy. The room’s front sliding door is translucent, and there aren’t signs to say whether staff may enter, so they knock or ring whenever they need to clean or check the room. It left us uncertain about when someone might come to the door. That could just be a cultural difference. If you book breakfast and dinner, the meals can’t be refunded if you skip them or don’t like the menu. The food is traditional Japanese, and some dishes, like salmon milt or sashimi, may feel adventurous. The property also has public hot springs. We really enjoyed the stay and found it memorable.

We all slept very well on both nights, and the staff were attentive and accommodating. We chose the place for the private family onsen, which worked comfortably for our young kids. The in-room meals were an interesting mix of flavors and textures. One of us ate almost everything, while the kids barely touched theirs. Booking meals, private onsen time, and shiatsu in advance caused some stress when trying to get back from our day trips. I had a wonderful shiatsu treatment. This is a relatively affordable ryokan-style stay for Westerners, but even though the guests were all Westerners, knowing a little Japanese felt almost essential for talking with staff. The train station is a short walk away, so it may suit people without a rental car. There’s a waterfall behind the hotel, though it doesn’t make as much sound as you might hope. The shopping district is charming, but we only saw Westerners there. When planning our Japan trip, authentic ryokans seemed too expensive. Looking back, we kind of wish we’d splurged, since this felt like a version of the ryokan experience made for Western guests.

We had a clean room that was big enough for two, with a view straight toward the river behind the hotel. It’s also very conveniently located near the train station and bus stop. The hotel looks very traditional, and the staff were super friendly. Yoko was our room attendant, and she was tremendously nice and heartwarming. There are onsen baths, including private bath time. Dinner and breakfast are Japanese food, beautifully arranged and served in your room. Breakfast is mostly seafood, so you should enjoy that. On the second day we asked for a different breakfast, and they also served a Western-style option. We’d definitely come back.

The tatami room gave our baby plenty of space to crawl around, and we could book the private open-air onsen twice and bring them along. That was one of the best parts of our trip. We stayed three nights and would happily come back. Melinda looked after our room and was kind, attentive, and spoke English. She also brought the baby items we needed: a crib, diaper pail, baby bathtub, and kids amenities set. Great location and service.