KAI Hakone is down off the Old Tokaido road in the valley of the Sugumogawa, with each unit offering a river view. On offer in our dining room is fresh Pacific seafood from nearby Odawara, combined with ingredients from the local Ashigara area. In the late 19th century, Hakone was one of the first resorts patronized by American and European residents of Japan, and in dining at KAI Hakone we recreate this early combination of Japanese and Western influences, tweaked here and there to suit modern tastes.
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Chosen Kai Hakone to celebrate my son’s 21st birthday. We rent a car from Narita airport to Kai Hakone. To navigate, a telephone number can do but it doesn’t work for this hotel. Don’t know why? The entire was around 2.5 hour at about 10,000 yen toll fee in total. Ordered a Japanese birthday cake with a box of flowers 3 days in advance. It was well arranged and the cake was consisted of 3 different flavors, special and delicious. Rooms are spacious and clean except: there is mirror in the bathroom which is kind of inconvenient to do make up. The toilet area is a bit smelly and no hotel WiFi reception. This hotel is not far from Owakudani - a volcanic scenic place highly recommended. It takes about 30 min by car. Overall speaking, it was worth going for relaxation, celebration and family gathering.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hoshino_Resorts, お客様担当マネージャー at Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone
Responded 22 Jan 2020
Dear 472charlenew, Thank you for sharing a review of Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone! We are pleased that you were able to enjoy a relaxing and celebration-filled stay with us. We appreciate your sincere comments regarding rooms and facilities, which have been duly noted. In all of our hotels, we offer different activities every season. We would be delighted to see you again at Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone soon! Sincerely, Guest Relations Manager
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It was really nice and comfortable to stay. If you want to stay at a clean and Japanese-style inn, you can definitely choose this one. You can eat wonderful kaiseki cuisine and take a bath in a hot spring where you can enjoy a picturesque view. It is an inn where you can be healed by the murmur of the Sukumo River.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
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Great ryokan in Hakone - although some people may be put off by its slightly further location away from the main town center, I had no problems with it as I purposely chose this for its location as it’s next to the river and you do get very therapeutic and soothing stay atmosphere when you stay here.
Also, I didn’t drive, so I relied only on public transport to get here from Hakone - the taxi from the train station to this hotel was not expensive, and there are bus stops outside (but you do have to check the timetable as they are not that frequent), that will bring you to Hakone or Lake Ashi easily.
I stayed in a Japanese decor room with one bed, and it was a spacious room with tatami sitting area as well as a sofa. My room had a small balcony that faces the river and I was able to open the sliding doors to take in the beautiful river sounds and sights. The bedding was extremely comfortable, and the bathroom even had a Japanese Cyprus wooden soaking tub. I used the bathroom tub as I spent most of my time in the onsen, there too, and rotate daily so that you get to experience both.
Breakfast and dinner are included in my room plan and the food was Japanese Kaisaki and delightful.
Overall, I found a hotel to be peaceful, quiet and relaxing, but if you really want to do a lot of sightseeing and do not spend a lot of time in the hotel, then this is probably not the right place for you .
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a western room for three (two parents and our daughter - toddler age). We were due to stay for three nights but left a day early.
I’ll start with the positives:
Quite possibly the best two nights sleep I’ve had in years. Comfortable beds in a very peaceful and place. Beautiful onsen and one of the original seven in Hakone. The room was much larger than advertised and we had plenty of space.
Unfortunately, none of that outweighs the negatives:
The location, whilst beautiful, is very far outside of Hakone. Whilst we knew this in advance of booking we had no idea how difficult booking taxis / getting around would be and this should be made clear to guests when they check in. The day we left, we attempted to book a taxi the evening before and then again the next morning; however we were told it wasn’t possible. After waiting in reception for 50 minutes, and being presented with the bus timetable three times, we were eventually able to book our own on an app. The reception team were incredulous when we found our own solution. For a hotel in the middle of nowhere, they simply must have more options to get guests around other than offering a bus timetable, which is not practical when you have a toddler and several bags (not least because the hotel’s driveway is incredibly steep). Have a minibus which someone on shift can drive and charge guests for it… something other than nothing.
The meals are authentic but they really should offer basic, western options e.g. a continental breakfast instead of a traditional Japanese one. Our daughter ate nothing as it just wasn’t palatable for her.
For the price, the items in the fridge should be complimentary.
The staff, whilst friendly, are very over the top. It took us 45 minutes to check in because we had to go through far too many details. Such as when we would have breakfast / dinner each day. We weren’t able to go to the room on our own, we had to be shown and take the lift and wait for someone to follow. We’d had a stressful train journey and just wanted to settle ourselves…
The location, as mentioned, is lovely. But there really should be more outdoor space given you’re in the hills. It’s very disappointing that you couldn’t walk anywhere around the hotel.
There is some serious updating that needs to happen in some of the overlooked communal areas e.g. the lifts. They smell and clearly haven’t been renovated.
Overall, our experience at Kai Hakone was beyond disappointing. We saw the hotel in a magazine and feel like it must have been a paid for inclusion as nothing lived up to expectations and we were so looking forward to the few days there.
If you want to go, spend one night to experience the onsen and the view but 100% rent a car (which is another headache in Japan - look this up in advance). I wish we’d stayed somewhere else in Hakone; despite having the best sleep of my life, the times I was awake I was frustrated, disappointed and fed up.
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Date of stay: April 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Rent a car and take food if you’re not unconvinced on the traditional Japanese options / have...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Staying here is a once in a lifetime cultural experience! This is not for you if you are looking for a traditional western hotel but come with an open mind and have the most relaxing stay of your life. The rooms were large and peaceful in traditional Japanese style. The bed was supremely comfortable and we slept with the porch door open so we could hear the river running below us. We love our kaiseki meal for dinner and the breakfast was delicious and plentiful. There is no room service here so if you are a late night snacker bring something. The absolute highlight of the stay was the onsen. It was so peaceful and beautiful. The hotel was full but both times I visited I was lucky to be the only person for at least part of my soak. We stayed here the last night of our Japan trip and it was a perfect relaxing end to our trip! We absolutely loved our visit and cannot wait to visit more onsen ryokans.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Come for one or two nights to relax and recharge
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our first time in a Japanese rokayan and I think KAI is one of the high-end ones. The experience was great and something very unique for us which we really enjoyed. Overall, using their onsen, getting their in-room massage, and simply just being here was very relaxing. The quality of their onsen spa is also very good. The room size is big and very comfortable. Their breakfast and dinner is traditional Japanese and it’s served very well. I would highly recommend if you have any special dietary restrictions, it’s better to inform the hotel well in advance, otherwise they might not be able to provide you the meal. Also, if you want to take a taxi to anywhere in the town, better to book it from before.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Awesome views of the surrounding mountains. I like classical architecture. Lovely friendly staff, clean and beautiful rooms with a beautiful View. Traditional dinners and breakfasts was perfect! The Onsen is beautiful and there are 2 available sites for different experiences. A bus stop right outside the hotel to make it so easy to discover the area. Overall very well maintained hotel, we definitely enjoyed our stay.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
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Service
Room Tip:Japanese-style Suite with River View
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Response from Hoshino_Resorts, お客様担当マネージャー at Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone
Responded 27 Feb 2020
Dear Peduckk, Thank you for your kind review with pictures of Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone! It is excellent news to hear that you had a positive stay and that you especially enjoyed the local Japanese cuisine as well as the architecture of our hotel! Our services strive to provide an experience that is both authentically Japanese and comfortably modern. We have a variety of unique accommodations, and would love the chance to welcome you back to one of them soon! Sincerely, Guest Relations Manager
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A nice stay in a great setting. We moved to Kai Hakone after a mistake with their sister hotel nearby…
I have to stay the hotel itself is certainly dated in comparison to its sister, Kai Sengokurha. The room Itself was fine, clean and traditional Japanese. Although it had a very distinct wooden smell which was tough to get used to!
A lovely view from the hotel and a great in room massage!
The onsen is STUNNING. Way better than the one at Kai Senkogkura and the best one we have found in Japan. It truly is in an incredibly peaceful setting and I was very impressed!
The food was also better that its sister and the staff couldn’t do any more for you!
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An interesting experience. The rooms were traditional, with a a fantastic view. However the food was poor, particularly the breakfast. Usually we can find something to enjoy in a Japanese menu- this time we struggled. Certainly over priced. The onsen was lovely, with the view outside. There are separate male and female baths, where you do have to bathe naked. Overall poor value. We then moved onto the Hyatt, where there was a much wider selection of food. You can choose either a French menu or a Japanese menu. The location is also better as it is directly on the tourist circuit. The view from this hotel is probably even better and they offer a free pick up from the train station.
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Date of stay: April 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed here with my family (wife and two teenagers) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. After reading mixed reviews by Japanese travelers about this resort, I came here with an open mind, and this was my first stay at a Hoshino resort.
Hoshino resort group is very popular, but comes with a high price tag, and this Hakone resort is no exception. It has only 31 rooms to service (plus one room where you can receive premium massage treatment!), so the staff supposed to have the time to pamper you by giving you attentive service. However, I felt some staff’s efforts did not bear fruit at times due to apparent inexperience.
This resort is located in more or less in the middle of nowhere, and the building looked tired and I felt it requires a face-lift. You either need a car or happy to get to and from this place by taxi, as they do not offer any shuttle service even from its nearest train station. If your objective is to have a quiet and “seclusive” time with your partner, this may be a place for you. They will feed you Japanese breakfast and dinner, and only other notable activities you could do here is to enjoy the Onsen (hot spring) and indulge yourself in a premium massage treatment.
The onsen area is semi-Roten i.e. in a semi-open air with no indoor bath, so you can really experience the cold winter! There is also sauna, and thankfully this is indoor. If you cannot face the cold, you can still enjoy the onsen in the bathtub of your room.
Two big disappointments from this stay were: 1) Quality of Japanese set dinner and breakfast For the price we are paying, these must be the highlights of the stay but regrettably I cannot find any complimentary word for the chef. They do not offer meals outside breakfast and dinner times. 2) What Christmas? It seemed like any other days of the year with no Christmas tree in sight and no special things organized to celebrate this festive season. As far as I am aware, the owner of the group, Mr. Hoshino, is not a Muslim. I do wonder what kind of New Year party they are going to have here, if there is going to be any!
I will try another Hoshino resort to give the famous group another chance, but if you are still fascinated to stay here, I suggest: 1) Get one of the top floor rooms, as they have higher ceilings to give the rooms an open feeling (and the heating in my room was OK) and better views; 2) Get one of the rooms closest to the reception/dining building, as you have to walk outside to get to your rooms. Perhaps not an issue during warmer times, but you feel grateful for it during the cold winter. The onsen area is also nearer to the reception/dining building
I rest my case.
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Date of stay: December 2014
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No Private Onsen, The bathrooms are large and mine featured a spacious,deep wooden tub. i'm not sure if all the rooms have this.
It was great for a soak.
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