Hatsuhana

We have been to quite a few onsen ryokans in Japan, ranging from the very traditional ones to modern ones. This ultra-modern onsen ryokan is right up there with the best. Everything is done to perfection, especially the hardware. The stand-out feature is a slope car that transports one within the onsen block from the ground floor to the 4th floor. The public baths which are located on the ground floor and second floor are outstanding especially the ground floor onsen which has 4 different types of baths to offer. The guest room is of a generous size with relaxing furniture which also allows one to work on the laptop if the need arises. Food portions served at breakfast and dinner are large and strikes a good balance between vegetables and meat. Transport to Hakone town is also easy with a bus stop just outside the ryokan. The bonus is that the ryokan arranged a shuttle bus to take us to the ryokan and also sent us to the railway station upon check-out. The only slight shortcoming I identified was that the briefing provided by the staff at the time of check in is not comprehensive enough, as the staff completely omitted to mention that the public onsens are located in a different block served by a slope car which should take centre stage in their briefing!

Odakyu Hotel Hatsuhana is a luxurious onsen/ryokan that was recently renovated and it showed on its amenities and price tag. We were there in Feb 2023 for 2 nights which included breakfast and 2 kaiseki dinners. The highlights were the large private open-air onsens. It was even more spectacular when it snowed on our last day. Most travelers will take the Romance Car to Hakone, we took the JR to Odawara Station and rented a car to explore Hakone. The hotel entrance/lobby oozed opulence: luxurious sofas, fire place, bottomless champagne/wine/coffee. We booked the Comfort room for JPY86,300 per night, it was actually the cheapest room here, yikes. Furnishings were new and comfy: lounge chair, HD TV, super comfy queen beds, large bathroom with separate bathing area before you hop into your own private onsen on the balcony, with a view of the majestic green mountain to boot. There are multiple public baths which we relished, but there are also 4 large private baths that you can RSVP (no additional fee) for 45 min sessions. Akari was nice but our favorite was def the Kawato private bath. It was open-air, quite large, and you are few feet away from the trees and the forest. We went there twice, the 2nd time it snowed heavily and the experience was surreal. Because it's a private bath, you can take all the photos and videos to your heart's content. There are endless supply of beers and milk, you just grab it from the mini fridges, no extra charge. There was a cable car that takes guests from their rooms to different onsen and various floors, so cool. For the meals you can choose Western or Japanese Our Japanese BF was good, but the kaiseki dinners were fantastic: wagyu beef, shark fin soup, pasta, sushi, etc. Guests dine in their own private rooms. If you are still thirsty or hungry, the lobby offers 24 hr beer/wine/champagne/coffee, also afternoon snacks and desserts. During our 3-day stay we saw everything: rain, sun and then snow at the end. The snow made it hard to drive but it was spectacular for taking photos and videos

If you pass by the Yumoto station on your way to Hakone, then you must stop by that amazing restaurant and give a try to their incredibly tasty soba! The soba noodles are prepared in the pure traditional style, using fine ingredients and clean mountain water. The broth is delicate and flavorful and the interior absolutely charming. This is a must try for an unforgettable experience!