nol hakone myojindai

We booked the restaurant a day ahead, just as the booking information repeatedly said to do. Please read those details carefully before complaining about reservations or the location. Our one night at NOL Hakone Resort was fantastic from start to finish. The room was roomy, spotless, and had everything we needed. The onsen is small, but cozy and peaceful, and has an outdoor terrace that’s great for relaxing. Every staff member we met was friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful. The food was flavorful, excellent, and beautifully presented. We don’t understand the negative reviews. It was a wonderful, memorable stay, and we’ll return.

The room was so spacious and comfortable, in a standard Japanese-Western style, with a cute big round stone bathtub. I had a nice mountain view, and loved sipping coffee or tea in the morning by the window. Breakfast had a healthy selection, and there’s a private onsen with a small, cozy outdoor area. They also gave us a cute little plastic tumbler to welcome us. I really loved the stay. Walking to the hotel is a hike, so take the shuttle van if needed. It was nice and comfortable. Bring swimwear for the pool, though. No T-shirts or shorts are allowed, and without proper swim attire you can’t enter.

The room and private onsen were very nice, but I wouldn’t recommend this place if you want a quiet break with your partner. Kids were shouting late into the night and again from 7 a.m. It was horrible, and I was shocked that no one said anything. The pool was just a loud kids’ playground too. Several families didn’t keep an eye on their children’s behaviour, so I think this happens often. The employees were pretty cold, though that wasn’t a big deal. We were glad we’d booked only one night, and wouldn’t go back.

We left within an hour and headed to Tokyo rather than spend the night unhappy, even though we knew we might lose what we’d paid. We were trying to make the best of our first trip to Japan. A polite, honest email to management got no reply. Michelin responded quickly and is reviewing the property’s listing after we strongly encouraged them to do so. From arrival, the experience was poor. The front desk was unhelpful and hard to communicate with, and the hotel’s only restaurant wasn’t available between breakfast and dinner. We were directed to a “canteen” with only chips, cookies, and self-serve wine dispensed by token, hardly what I expected from a Michelin-endorsed property. The hotel is far from the city centre, making it difficult to get a proper meal elsewhere. Our room was shockingly run down, with stained sheets and carpets, marks all over the walls, and little resemblance to the online photos. This is three stars at best, and its appearance on the Michelin list is deeply misleading. I would not recommend staying here.