Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

The surroundings are absolutely stunning, and the onsen waters are lovely, but unfortunately, the overall experience fell far short of expectations for a property charging $750 per night. At this price point, I expected something truly exceptional. Instead, I would rate this as a four-star property at best. The standout feature was undoubtedly the excellent staff, who were warm, attentive, and genuinely wonderful. Sadly, the rest of the experience did not live up to the price tag. Despite requesting vegetarian options multiple times, the choices were very limited, and the sushi was subpar. The rooms are also dated and in desperate need of modern updates, particularly more USB ports and conveniently located electrical outlets. The private onsen, while lovely, was another disappointment. It is essentially a small bathtub on the balcony, and by American standards, it is quite cramped. It comfortably accommodates only one person at a time, meaning my husband and I had to take turns enjoying what I had imagined would be a relaxing, shared experience. I booked this stay expecting a memorable, luxurious experience worthy of the price. While the natural surroundings were beautiful and the staff exceptional, the dated accommodations, limited dining options, and underwhelming private onsen left me feeling that $750 a night was simply not worth it. I genuinely expected so much more and left feeling that a significant amount of money had been wasted.

Look this place is obviously stunning- however! As we were travelling around japan and google maps is what id say everyone uses, it was hard to find the hotel. There should be an email sent or something, as the business just drops you off at some random spot and it was dark so we had to walk around for an hour before seeing some stairs to the hotel. And when we mentioned this to the guest reception she just smiled and said ok ... lol any ways we had a nice time the buffet was good, if you dont like seafood it may not be worth it for you as breakfast and dinner were both 80% seafood.

Located well along the backdrop of hills and very convenient to reach from Gora Station on the Hakone Yamato line as they have a shuttle service every 20-30mins until evening. It is a luxury resort with a connected water park which is complementary to use and your kid will just love it. Be it the hot onsen bath right on your balcony or the gender segregated public onsen both had a unique experience to them. Also buffet dinner and breakfast is full fledged authentic and satisfying. To add a special touch during your stay, they also have a complementary ice cream vending machine at the hotel reception. Overall had a pleasant stay of 2 days with family along with a 5 year old kid and would definitely come back as well as recommend to my friends and family.

I booked this hotel expecting a genuine 5-star experience, but unfortunately it fell well short of that standard. The staff were consistently professional, welcoming, and friendly throughout our stay. They are undoubtedly the hotel’s greatest asset. However, the property itself feels dated and is clearly in need of refurbishment. The rooms are clean but very basic, with outdated furnishings and little of the comfort or elegance you would expect from a luxury hotel. The biggest disappointment was the buffet restaurant. It felt much more like a cafeteria than a 5-star dining experience: guests carry their own trays, there are no tablecloths, the atmosphere lacks any sense of refinement, and the food selection and quality were average at best. It was functional, but certainly not memorable. Overall, the hotel seems better suited to large tour groups and package holidays than to travelers looking for a true luxury experience. While the service deserves praise, the facilities and dining do not justify a 5-star rating.