Hakone Tokino Shizuku

The private onsen was the best part, and the place was so quiet. Our first ryokan stay was memorable, and we enjoyed every moment. The service was perfect, and room service was a pleasure. The food was okay, but it didn’t match the other parts of the stay. I’d have liked a few choices instead of being limited to just one type of dish.

The meals were much more involved than we expected when we booked breakfast and dinner through booking.com. We imagined a hotel buffet, but dinner was an amazing ten-course experience, with waiters bringing each dish and explaining it. It takes about an hour. Breakfast was out of this world too, and not basic at all. That helps explain why the stay was on the expensive side. If you don’t like seafood, tell them in advance, and keep in mind kids may not enjoy every dish. They also have a free shuttle to and from train stations. You can message them through the booking.com app chat when you’re at a nearby station and they’ll take you or pick you up. For arrivals and checkout, they collect and drop you off, ask where you’re headed next, then help arrange things so you get there on time. The place is amazing and the staff are wonderful. They work hard to make guests happy and have put effort into learning English. It was perfect for us and kid friendly, though it feels more like an adult experience.

The food and service were outstanding, and my room was spacious and well equipped, with a large balcony and private onsen. But there was visible mold on the ceiling and walls, along with stains from squashed mosquitoes, so the room didn’t seem well maintained. Mosquitoes kept bothering me at night and made it hard to relax or sleep. The WiFi didn’t work for us either. Despite the excellent meals and service, I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

Waking up to the mountain view and bathing in the private onsen were highlights. We were there in September, and the view and location were amazing. Our room was large and felt luxurious, and the staff were so friendly. Ryuuki handled dinner and helped us plan what to explore in Hakone. Highly recommend.