Yamagaso

Kimiko was a kind and gracious host. The place was wonderfully peaceful, and the rooms, though older, had lovely traditional charm and were very well kept. The onsen were relaxing, so make time to use them. The food looked amazing and was very filling, but its taste and quality didn’t compare well with meals elsewhere on our trip. We also felt rushed at checkout. It was at 11, but at 10:50 staff knocked and watched while we packed our last things. That felt uncomfortable and embarrassing.

The only bright spot was the staff member who brought tea to our room. She was friendly and tried her best. The rest of the stay was shocking. The room was dirty, with hair everywhere, and it was cold and dark. The in-room “onsen” and shower took so long to warm up that using them didn’t feel worthwhile. Breakfast was like cold egg and cold sausage. I paid ¥150,000 for 2 nights and left after the first. At that price, there are many better options. In my opinion, this was the worst hotel experience I’ve ever had. I’d suggest booking ANYWHERE else.

The river and nature views make the walk from the station pleasant, though this ryokan sits at the bottom of Hakone, so it’s better for a short stay of a night or two if you want to see the attractions. There’s also an early shuttle, which may mean checking out sooner than planned. We paid 101k yen for two people. It felt expensive, but the value seemed fair compared with other large ryokan, and I’d still recommend trying a traditional stay here once. The staff were kind, and the garden was lovely. At check-in, a staff member who spoke English showed us to our room, carried our bags, and walked us around the garden. We got green tea and a cookie on arrival. Shoes stay outside, and they provide socks for the tatami, a Yukata, nightwear, and sandals. A Nakai looked after us, laid out the futon, and served dinner and breakfast. She was very kind. She spoke only Japanese, which could be difficult if you don’t, but she tried to help. There’s an information booklet with bath etiquette and other guidance. The meals were generous. Dinner came in three courses, starting with a light cold fish dish, then shabu shabu, followed by fruit. Tea and umeshu were served with the meal. Breakfast was a large traditional spread with fish, rice, hotpot, and more. The booklet lists other drinks too, and the Fuji cola was nice and light. They can accommodate you if raw egg makes you uncomfortable.

The room was spacious, spotless, and decorated in a way that gave me that feeling of being inside a Japanese movie. I loved how peaceful the garden was. The ladies who served us were lovely, and they became one of the best parts of our stay. Such a beautiful hotel.