Tokyu Vacations Hakone Gora

This is about 20 years late, but better late than never. The hotel may have had another name back then, but I remember enjoying the place, especially the Onsen. As usual in Japan, the staff were very polite. I also remember chatting in my limited Japanese with the ladies who made up my Futon each night. I hope I can return on my next trip to Japan.

Our group of five fit comfortably in this spacious, apartment-style hotel with multiple rooms. The receptionist was really friendly and used a translator machine to chat with us in Malay, which felt both interesting and heartfelt. We booked largely because of the natural onsen inside the hotel, and in -1 degree weather it was a great choice. I’d definitely recommend it for families or bigger groups.

Everything was clean, and it’s a good place to switch off for a while. Getting around was the hassle: there are hills everywhere, so I’d only suggest staying here if you have a car. A small konbini nearby closes at 4, and after that you’re looking at an 18-minute walk up and down the hills for anything you need.

The room was roomy and having two toilets was handy, but the beds weren’t comfortable. The onsen also felt disappointingly small. The hotel is a long way out and there isn’t a meaningful view; driving there on a winter night felt dangerous because there are no streetlights.