5-Star Hotels in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

"The moment our car pulled up, a staff member rushed out to help with our luggage, smiling all the while. They guided us through check-in, even offering a warm towel and welcome tea – talk about a fantastic first impression! Just outside the lobby, there's a lush, green mountain view. Lounging on the beanbag chairs there, just chilling out, was incredibly therapeutic 🌿. The room itself was a typical Japanese style, spacious and spotless. The balcony even had an open-air private onsen tub, so if you didn't feel like going to the public baths, you could soak in your own hot spring while enjoying the view – maximum privacy. The hotel also provided yukata robes, and wearing them around the premises really added to the whole experience 👘. The onsen facilities were definitely the highlight! The public baths on the fifth and sixth floors alternate daily for men and women. The open-air onsen on the sixth floor had an absolutely stunning view – mountains by day, starry skies by night. Soaking in the hot spring with a towel on my head, just zoning out, felt exactly like something out of an anime. The toiletries were POLA, with everything from makeup remover to toner and lotion provided. My skin felt so smooth after the bath, I just went straight back to my room and passed out ♨️✨. For dinner, we chose the teppanyaki. The chef cooked each dish right in front of us, meticulously explaining every course in English. The ingredients were fresh, the seasoning precise – you could really taste the care put into it. Breakfast was a buffet, and having unlimited sashimi rice bowls was pure bliss. Seafood donburi lovers, rejoice! 🍣 On checkout day, a staff member stood at the entrance, bowing goodbye and waving until our car was far out of sight. That feeling of being genuinely cared for truly makes you want to come back again and again."

"My main reason for choosing Hotel Indigo was the expectation that a foreign hotel would offer more diverse food options than traditional Japanese cuisine, and that the rooms would be more modern. Both expectations were met, which was great. However, the hotel's location is quite remote, making it difficult to walk to Gora Station. Thankfully, the hotel provides a shuttle service to the station from 10 AM to 6 PM. If you plan to take the shuttle to Odawara, remember to book it in advance at the front desk. There's also an unsightly warehouse-like structure next to the hotel, which is a bit of a letdown considering how secluded the location already is – it really spoils the view. Around 90% of the guests here seem to be Western tourists, likely in groups, as the breakfast area was almost full before 8 AM. For dinner, we decided to eat near Gora Station and had some excellent unagi (eel) rice. A taxi back to the hotel cost us 700 yen. For first-time visitors to Hakone, I'd recommend staying in Hakone-Yumoto instead, as it's livelier, offers more dining choices, and has more convenient transportation. Also, the hotel's public bath is mixed-gender, requiring you to bring your own swimwear or borrow special attire from the front desk, which I found a bit inconvenient, so I didn't end up using it."

"Hotel New Grand is fabulous! We have stayed here before and love it each time. It’s elegant old world with a doorman who greets you, comfortable sized rooms, a concierge and staff that offer friendly help for anything you need. The location is at a beautiful waterfront promenade near the cruise ships and behind it is an interesting Chinatown. There is a subway entrance in two blocks. It’s very reasonably priced. Highly recommended!"

"The room had a lovely Japanese aesthetic. The check-in experience was great, with a dedicated staff member escorting us to our room. The room also featured an open-air private onsen, which was wonderful! There are also three private onsens on the B1 level. The fridge was stocked with complimentary water and beer. Each floor had a small room with snacks and drinks available."

"I stayed here during Golden Week. I was truly surprised by the excellent location, just a few seconds' walk from Bashamichi Station. However, since the hotel occupies floors 46 and up, and there's also an observation deck accessible to the public, the elevator queues can be quite long in the evenings, with often not enough space on a single elevator. All rooms come equipped with a microwave, dishwasher, dishes, refrigerator, and washing machine, so I bought groceries from the adjacent supermarket and cooked my own meals. Actually, it was great to be able to enjoy my favorite foods at my own pace. I stayed in an OMO House room, which had two regular beds and two sofa beds. The bedding for the sofa beds is kept in the bedroom, so you have to set them up yourself. In the room I stayed in, there was only one set of sofa bed bedding, so I had to call the front desk and have them bring another. There's no phone in the room to call the front desk; you have to go to the elevator lobby. I don't know if this is a cost-cutting measure or a deliberate strategy to discourage calls, but I think it really detracts from guest convenience. Overall, I found it to be a clean facility with an excellent location, and a good place to stay."