Hakonenomori Okada Hotel

The food was amazing. I loved both dinner and breakfast. The onsen was very nice too, and readers will like the manga room. It's a good resort for getting away from the busy Tokyo atmosphere, though it's a little difficult to reach.

The shuttle left at 10:10 am as listed, but it didn't go straight to Hakone Station. It dropped me at a hotel three doors down, where I had to wait in a huge line for another bus 25 minutes later. Also, the hill is no joke. I hauled my 30kg suitcase and backpack up and was beat, even though I'm very fit. Definitely get a taxi if you have a bigger bag. The facilities and spa areas were clean. I liked the dry sauna and cold pool, and the stars at night were lovely. The massage chairs were a treat, though the area they're in is closed during off hours. The food improved a lot on the second night, so I'm not sure what was going on the first night.

We loved the mountain view, the open-air bath, and the very hospitable staff. The place has an old-school Japanese feel. If you're after a luxury modern hotel, this probably isn't it. But if you want a local experience that feels like the old days, this is the place. I'd give it 6 out of 5!

The public bath was really relaxing, and the rooms were decent. It's a nice little resort, but the western-style beds were so hard that I didn't sleep well, and I didn't like having the same breakfast menu every day. The hotel sits at the top of a very steep road. If walking is difficult for you or strenuous exercise is a problem, this may not be the hotel for you. Then again, the whole area is mountainous, so that's how it is.