Gora Hanaougi

Easily the best place we've ever stayed at, and we've traveled a LOT.

Our stay at Gora Hanaougi was absolute perfection. After five busy days in Tokyo, this was the perfect way to unwind and experience the traditional side of Japan. Every detail was thoughtfully considered — from the warm welcome to the beautifully prepared meals that felt like a true culinary journey. There was so much incredible food, and it was such a special opportunity to try everything! We were even able to enjoy a relaxing in-room massage before dinner, which made the evening feel even more luxurious. The room was stunning, the view was breathtaking, and the private onsen was pure bliss. The staff’s attention to detail and kindness made us feel so cared for throughout our stay. Truly a five-star experience — peaceful, authentic, and unforgettable.

Amazing view and location with its own elevator to the ropeway and cable car station. Over the top service. Book the private Onsean and definitely do the dinner for an authentic traditional Japanese meal.

Amazing facilities, staff, and food. Would definitely stay here again

Amazing overall experience

Fantastic Onsen with big bedrooms and low number of bedrooms. Great levels of service and attention to details. One must like Japanese cuisine otherwise it becomes rather difficult. The hotel is at the end of the Hakone Ropeway which makes it convenient to reach. However it is in ‘the middle of nowhere’ so not the easiest of places to travel to with luggage.

Amazing service! We’ve never experienced anything like it. The food was delicious. A+

The impeccable service, the warmth and kindness, the helpfulness, the incredible food, the serenity, the comfort of the room… What else is there to say? I would absolutely stay again and recommend to anyone. So glad we booked two nights, should have done a third. Thank you to the entire staff.

Loved this as our choice of Ryokan. The property and public baths were beautiful and well maintained, with a very relaxed feel. Our room was large and overall comfortable; just keep in mind the bed is not traditional western. We had a private bath in our room as well and the water was just as hot as the ones from the public bath. The food and service were exceptional. They offer a shuttle pick up service from the train station that came in handy as it was raining. Highly recommend

Excellent service and nice room

From service to the amenities, this onsen was fabulous. They take great pride in what they offer. The room itself was spacious with relaxing view. Private onsen on the balcony is big enough for 2 people. We opted for the full board stay. The meals were detailed with traditional kaiseki preparations. Dinner and breakfast were a grand spread from hot to cold dishes. Everything was prepared with intricate details. There’s a spoon for every dish! Have a stay and enjoy the amenities.

We really enjoyed our stay at Gora haraougi. Great hospitality service and Japanese style onsen ryokan experience. Strongly recommended!

Our stay was an incredible one night experience that we would highly recommend to anyone. The room was so beautiful and the views of the mountains were spectacular. The food was very traditional and a great experience too. All the staff were friendly and extremely accommodating. If you are able to spend more than one night here, you would be doing yourself a favor. Having your own personal onsen on the balcony was a very nice added bonus.

Uber and taxi are few and far between so if you want to take a car to a station book in advance or you will have to take multiple trains. The property is exactly as advertised. Gorgeous rooms. The staff was very nice and the service was 5 star. Authentic japanese experience.

We made a mistake and booked room for 2 people instead of 4. Room was fantastic and could accommodate 5. When we arrived and confirmed we made a mistake, we were surprised that the same room for 4 was exactly double the price. Understanding it included breakfast and dinner, we knew it would not be just marginally more expensive, but double was a real surprise. So at that price, we rented a second room. I do not blame the hotel for that. But be aware. Otherwise it is paradisiaque!

Amazing stay

First class, top-shelf property with an amazing staff.

Outstanding location. Staff were extremely hospitable and kind. I knew I would love the view and the onsen experience but the staff’s attentiveness and service blew me away. An incredible experience and omg the food was exceptional

A wonderful Ryokan experience — exceptional kaiseki meals, warm and attentive staff, and a wonderful relaxing onsen. Truly memorable stay!

This extraordinarily beautiful place gave my teenage daughter and myself a wonderful introduction to the artistry and variety ofJapanese fine dining. What an exceptional indulgence. The luxury of a private onsen and spa treatments made our stay the ultimate holiday, and we left from this mountain hideaway truly feeling on top of the world

Let me reiterate by saying it’s really unfortunate that I can’t give this establishment a 5 star review all around because the staff, service, food, message treatments, view, general etiquette were all 5 star caliber, especially the staff. However, room cleanliness is a big deal and our room was not only dated, it was dirty and just not taken care of, which is shocking in Japan where everyone takes so much pride in making sure everything is clean and set up. Splatters on walls, dusty corners and air conditioning vents, mold smell, mold in the shower and around doors/windows, dirty uncleaned private onsen on our balcony, I can go on…I know it was a hot time and there was moisture in the air but when we complained, they came in and bleached the shower walls and then everything smelled like bleach. Major upgrades needed and a better cleaning staff. On the bright side, Breakfasts and dinners were Michelin star caliber, staff was on top of it and extremely attentive but for $650/night, I was hoping for a clean nice room with a clean onsen pool to actually want to go into.

Great overall but they don’t help make restaurant reservation (the restaurant operator only speaks Japanese and I don’t). Also they wouldn’t help make a shuttle reservation for transport to the train station, perhaps it’s too complicated requiring personal info that they don’t have. Other hotels in different countries can help with reservations. Other than that it’s one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at.

Absolutely amazing experience. It is way more than a hotel it’s a complete immersion in the Japanese traditions. We loved every single minute of it and would recommend to everyone. If you can, you must try it!

Amazing service. Beautiful space. Completely satisfied

Wow is the best thing I can describe this property. From the moment you walk in to the time you leave. Best stay I had ever had in my life. The staff were great and very friendly. The rooms were very clean and prestine. Food were perfection. I would definitely return back to this property and will highly recommend it to familyband friends.

Amazing property and experience. 10/10 would recommend.

This hotel is simply amazing. Great service, super clean and gorgeous. I loved the hotel and the location.

Everything about this stay was perfect. From the moment we were picked up at Gora station until the moment we were dropped off the service was exceptional and every smallest detail was considered. The food was superb, the venue was gorgeous and the room and private Onsen were out of this world. We couldn't have asked for a better time and hope that we get the opportunity to stay again in the future.

Beautiful stay. Thank you!

10/10 stay, everyone working here was so friendly and attentive. The view was incredible and the room was perfect. Couldn’t have asked for a better stay. The onsen was also incredibly relaxing, and the dinner and breakfast was a great experience.

Incredible. Everything

We were treated with great hospitality in this onsen hotel. It started from great shuttle service pick up from Gora station and the welcome tea. Our room has an amazing view of the mountain around us. The private onsen has a perfect temperature and well maintained. Their breakfast and dinner are very nicely made and always delicious. The staff are very responsive and always so courteous. We really enjoyed our time there.

Beautiful and peaceful stay. The private elevator from the ropeway station (located on far side of parking lot) was a unique way to travel to this resort. The dining was top notch - very traditional. We would stay her again in a heartbeat.

This is where you want to be if you want to experience top tier hospitality. It is the best place I have stayed at in Japan. First of all, the amenities are miles ahead of other places. A lot of hotels offer free amenities but I often don’t use them because their quality is quite bad. But this ryokan truly separates itself from the other places. The amenities are great in quality and variety. This is truly a place you can come with just a change of clothing and nothing else. There are 3 public bathes for male and 3 for female. But they are often quite empty because there are only around 20 rooms in this ryokan and each room includes their own private bath with amazing view. The rooms are traditional, spacious, and comfortable. The meals are carefully arranged for both taste and nutrition. They have a private elevator to and from Sounzan station. They also have a shuttle bus to and from Gota station. Everything about this place is great. It is one of those places where I give a max rating and it make me think hard before giving other places a similar rating. Simply tremendous place, beautiful people, and amazing atmosphere.

Our stay at Gora Hanougi was fantastic! The surroundings and accommodations were idyllic. We only wished we had more time to stay. The staff provided excellent service and the food was outstanding. It is a traditional ryokan but luxurious. Dinner and breakfast is included in your stay. This was our last stop on our honeymoon in Japan, and it was perfect!

Everything was great

Exceptional. Superb Kaiseki meal in private dining area plus impressive breakfast. Service exceptional. Beautiful Japanese style rooms. If you go to you are going hakone highly recommended stay.

What an amazing experience. The staff are the kindest, and the private, open air baths are gorgeous.

Excellent choice for Onsen in GORA Staff are wonderful and property is well kept It’s on top of the hill and not walking distance to town

I couldn’t recommend a stay here highly enough. An unforgettable experience with wonderful service, hospitality and a memorable dining experience. You’ll wake up in tranquility surrounded by nature.

This is a beautiful upscale ryokan. A gem. Did a lot of research and so happy to find this place. Service is impeccable. Food delicious. Rooms comfortable. Private onsen is the best as well as the view. Location to Hakone Ropeway couldn’t be any better. Take the cool elevator up from hotel and you are there. Massage is Shiatsu so if you used to regular massages you should pass. Overall, a great stay.

My husband and I had the most relaxing night at Gora Hanaougi. The staff were the most attentive and kind. The kaiseki dinner and the Japanese style breakfast were both outstanding, full of local ingredients. The onsen was obviously the highlight of the stay. The private onsen in our room was quite the experience. The room had open air onsen, so we could get fresh air, but it’s covered so even during the torrential rainfall, we could enjoy the hot bath while listening to the rain. All in all, the only regret that we have is that we could only stay for one night, and not more, as we were on a tight schedule in Japan. Thank you to all the staff at Gora Hanaougi for making our stay an exceptional experience.

10/10 all around. The food, staff, and property. I would definitely be returning.

Gora Hanaougi far exceeded our expectations with the outstanding physical layout

What a special place! The service, public bath, and rooms were amazing! Love the proximity to the Hakone ropeway. Thanks for a great stay!

This was an experience I have never had. Wonderful people and place to stay.

The property is gorgeous and well maintained. The staff are attentive and friendly. The onsen is really top quality and sparsely used. The half board food is quite an experience. But geez getting here from Tokyo is a haul.

This was the highlight of my trip. Nice relaxing atmosphere. Helpful friendly staff. Delicious dinner and breakfast. Amazing views of nature and of course the private open air bath. Everything was great. At checkout the staff helped me to find my way back to Odawara station as all the taxis were booked. Thanks to everyone.

The experience from start to finish was amazing. All the meals were wonderful and having your own onsen in your room is a luxury. This was the best stay during my time in Japan.

I highly recommend this beautiful property with wonderful staff and service. Super convenient as this property is only a few minutes' walk from the Sounzan cable car station. Tip - Consider taking a taxi on day of departure instead of local bus as it gets extremely crowded (some folks were declined entry due to full capacity). Should you choose to take the bus, make sure you allot extra travel time as our bus ran 25 minutes late and hit a lot of traffic.

Gora Hanougi was the highlight of our trip. The ryokan was beautiful and luxurious and having an in room onsen was a bonus. Both dinner and breakfast were some of our best meals in Japan.

We loved our stay at Gora Hanaougi! The perfect two days with an amazing and accommodating staff, delicious and unique breakfast and dinners, and lots of options to explore Hakone (including an elevator to the ropeway!). One of the best experiences we’ve ever had!

The staff were excellent. They were attentive, showed us around the property, explained what to expect during our stay, and were incredibly helpful with our luggage delivery. The dinner and breakfast were fantastic and the separated dining rooms gave a high-class touch. Our room was spacious, clean, and had access to our wonderful private hot spring bath. The hotel is near the Tozan ropeway, which goes directly to the Tozan train that gives access to the Hakone-Yumoto Station. I would absolutely stay here again.

the most attentive staff, a beautiful room, private onsen - so many ammenities, a must have experience

High quality experience on every level

This place was amazing! I'd go back if only for the smells inside! I've stayed at Yama No Chaya in the Hakone region as well, and Gora Hanougi was better in every way. The location is more remote, but that also comes with no road noises. There's also a nice elevator just for the hotel in the parking lot of Sounzan Station that makes it really easy to get to, though they also have a nice van to take you to/from Gora Station as well.

Very beautiful room, delicious Japanese food, kind serving people with hospitality, and one of best onsens.

The experience was amazing, from the food to the amenities to the service. The staff especially were very kind and helpful in all matters.

The hospitality, warmth and service at Gora Hanaougi were a dream. Thank you to Luna and all the staff members who made our stay in Hakone truly memorable. We loved having the private onsen in our room and enjoyed early morning soaks with the sunrise. Our traditional outfits were also adorable! I wish the they were for sale!

Relaxing stay. Amazing service. Tasty dining service with incredible delivery

Everyone was so pleasant and attended to our needs. Dinner and breakfast was excellent. Loved soaking in the onset. I recommend Gora Hanaougi to tourists looking.for Japanese flavor and hands on all the delicious dinning.

This was a perfect stay in a beautiful ryokan. We stayed in the suite, which had amazing views and was so comfortable. The service was some of the best we have had and the food was so fresh.

A hotel with breathtaking views and food. Staff are fantastic, hospitable and accommodating. We pre-arranged shuttle collection and food requirements in English and everything went seamlessly. Thank-you Gora Hanaougi

Relaxing trip with great food. Excellent hospitality.

Tranquil, peaceful, setting. Exceptional service and attention to detail. Fantastic breakfast and dinner.

Absolutely beautiful and serene. As oasis and incredible service

This Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) was an incredible experience. Some of the best service I’ve ever encountered and the private onsen was a luxurious experience. The food was excellent with a dozen dishes or more at each meal although it’s worth noting that these are traditional Japanese meals so very fish and pickle forward and lots of food that some Americans and westernersmight not be used to. One of the most luxurious experiences I’ve ever had.

A truly special and unique spot in Hakone, the staff was very attentive and polite! We loved our stay and wish we can go back soon.

We had a wonderful time and the stay was excellent. The onsens were wonderful. For western appetites the food was adventurous but to be expected.

Loved amenities, food and services. Willing to visit again

バス停からすぐでした。

It was our first time coming to Hakone and staying at the hotel with a private onsen in a room. Staff were nice and polite. Both dinner and breakfast were excellent. I would love to come back here again! My favorite was a private outdoor onsen. It made our first trip to Hakone very special and memorable. Arigato gozaimashita!

This was probably the most amazing experience I have ever had! The highlight of my partner and I’s trip to Japan. The staff went above and beyond amazing, the food was the best I have probably ever eaten, and the private onsen and room were perfect. I cannot recommend this unique and perfect experience enough. I wish we booked another night and when we come back to Japan, I will prioritize staying again. Literally a perfect experience with amazing staff - thank you so much!

From the moment we stepped on property we were warmly welcomed. We knew we were in for an amazing stay. This was the perfect way to relax and enjoy Hakone.

We were so pleased and happy to stay here. The attention to detail was excellent. Their staff was amazing and made the whole experience memorable.

Gora Hanaougi is a fantastic retreat away from the stress of everyday life. While I only stayed a night; being able to rest and relax in their hotsprings allowed me to truly escape and unwind. Their kitchen is also top-tier; I enjoyed both meals I had whole staying. I highly recommend this place 👌👌👌

Our stay at Gora Hanaougi was incredible; unforgettable. The room and view was beautiful and serene and our hostess was so kind and courteous; she was very sweet. My only regret is only booking 1 night there! Absolutely would recommend.

This was one of, if not THE, most amazing hotel experiences I have ever had. The service was EXCELLENT. We received a lot of individualized attention (I.e., we were assigned a hotel staff member who took care of us the entire stay, the staff greeted us and escorted us to breakfast and dinner every meal). Overall, the staff was SO hospitable, kind, friendly, and accommodating. We were sad to go. We are a couple on our honeymoon in Japan. So we decided to splurge on the nicest hotel suite. Worth. Every. Penny. The room was gorgeous. The private onsen and balcony were amazing. The yukata, toe socks, bathrobes, PJs, tea and cakes, and complimentary minibar were much appreciated. The room was so convenient and well designed—it made me wish we had a tatami room in our home. My only note (and this is not a criticism of the hotel), I would perhaps do meals a la carte. There was a bit too much food for me personally and I did not want to be rude by not finishing. Also, as an American, I am not accustomed to Japanese breakfast foods, so it was a bit of an…adjustment. I can also be a bit picky with seafood, so I may have preferred ordering a la carte. But these are all personal preferences. Just thought I would share. We would come again and again. You will not regret staying here—it is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime hotel experience!

From the moment we arrived at Gora Hanougi to the time we were shown to our room, we felt very well taken care of. Their staff show great care in their customer service and hospitality to ensure you feel welcomed for your stay. The kaiseki meals provided are beautifully plated and expertly prepared to fill your tummy with the most yummy Japanese selection of dishes. It made for a magical one night stay for us!

Coming to Gora Hanougi was a highlight of our visit to Japan. We had a room with a private onsen overlooking a forested mountain valley. Tranquil and restorative. The traditional dinner and breakfast were exceptional and served with attention to detail and grace. Though Fuji San was shrouded in clouds during our visit, I would recommend Gora Hanoungi to travelers to Hakone looking to experience a traditional Japanese Inn (included futons)

The staff were extremely accommodating and very considerate with my family (including one toddler).

It's perfect. My husband and I got a wonderful honeymoon experience. Very very good hospitality. The location is perfect that there is a private escalator connect to the tram station.

The staff was absolutely amazing. The onsen is lovely, the food is great, and the views are fantastic. This was our splurge of the trip and it was worth every penny.

The property was beautiful and the staff were lovely with great service. The private onsen was amazing. The food was probably a little challenging for our palate but we appreciate that it was traditional Japanese haute cuisine. My only gripe was that my daughter was refused without payment an additional Orange juice for breakfast even though she didn’t drink coffee or tea which were all offered inclusive to me as well as juice. When you’re paying this much for a night’s accommodation that seemed a bit rude to us. Overall lovely experience but very expensive for what you get.

Gora Hanaougi is the nicest place we have ever stayed. We felt valued and appreciated as guests from the very start all the way to our departure. A wonderful facility, super attentive staff, and amazing food made for a memorable two night stay.

We had an amazing time here. It's something we're not going to forget. The staff really roll out the red carpet for you the entire time, and their dedication and efficiency is impressive. The room was lovely, with a suit of high-quality ammeneties. The dinner and breakfast courses were huge. Multi-stage set meal that were varied but incredibly delicious. I wouldn't recommend this if you are a fussy eater, as though there are some safe options, most of it is quite different for a western pallet. Your stay here will be relatively regimented, so if you wanted to explore everything Hakone has to offer, it may not be for you. That being said, the location is right next to the cablecar station, so after checkout you can easily get to the top of Hakone mountain and do some day exploration. My partner is a vegetarian, which they did warn us they couldn't accommodate. We managed to workaround it by swapping certain dishes and items (and my partner being more flexible with their vegetarianism), but this did require a lot of trying to identify what certain things were (they supplied a menu, but it wasn't always clear what was infront of you). This is my only critique, everything else was an incredible experience. One I would recommend if you have the extra money and want to make a stay in beautiful Hakone that much more special.

Fantastic attentive service from the moment we arrived. Dinner and breakfast were both outstanding.

We had an incredible stay. The food and atmosphere was incredible. The onsen was amazing. The staff were lovely, especially our host Yua who made our stay so special.

The is a fantastic hotel. The private bath was great, and the breakfast and dinner were amazing.

It Is a gorgeous property and the staff was amazing. We loved our room and all the service.

This is the best hotel I've ever stayed at. The check-in process was smooth and relaxed. A staff member offered us drinks and a snack, and while we enjoyed them, they handled our check-in and brought our luggage to the room. This was a pleasant contrast to other hotels where you have to wait in line to check in. Both dinner and breakfast were incredibly delicious. Since we stayed for two nights, we enjoyed two dinners and two breakfasts, and the high-quality meals offered different varieties each day. Our server, Monica, was very helpful throughout our stay. She asked about our plans for the day and arranged for the hotel shuttle to take us to our first sightseeing destination. The room was clean and tidy, with the fridge stocked with complimentary drinks. The onsen on the balcony was outdoor but private, allowing us to relax and take in the early morning beauty of Hakone. I would rate this hotel 10 stars.

What an amazing experience we just had. Two nights in a beautiful Japanese room with private onsen bath. The service was fantastic, Ayami-san in particular was so welcoming, kind and helpful. We felt like royalty. The staff all went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and provide delicious traditional breakfast and dinner. They even provided a free shuttle service to the station which was extremely helpful. We will definitely stay again if we get chance! (:

Was an incredible place. Exceptional service. The private onsen was great and the meals were amazing.

Very friendly staff. Beautiful and remote hotel.

Our stay at Gora Hanougi was wonderful - the staff went above and beyond to look after us and we had the most delicious and beautifully-presented evening meal and breakfast. The traditional Japanese beds were comfortable and it was amazing to have a private onsen in our room with a view of the mountains. Definitely a highlight of our trip to Japan and probably the nicest place we've ever stayed - wouldn't hesitate to recommend staying here!

Fantastic experience. Felt luxurious. The staff made us feel like royalty for 2 nights. The private onsen in our room was amazing. We also ordered some massages that probably were the best we ever had. The food is great. The dinner and breakfast are done in a great atmosphere in a private room. The food is delicious, but I will note that it can be considered “adventurous“ at times for western taste buds. But that’s OK because there’s enough variety if something is not to your liking. One important thing to note: It’s not a good place to go if you’re vegetarian- because they will not serve you. Go there only if you eat fish / seafood.

This hotel was built several years earlier than its nearby ten-year old sister hotel, Gora Hanaougi Madoka No Mori. While I was paying nearly identical room rates at both hotels, the size of my room at Gora Hanaougi was only about half of my room at the newer hotel. Also, unlike the sister hotel, the bathroom in my room here was not connected to the shower room nor the outdoor onsen balcony. However, our room had a great view of the hills. The staffs here were attentive, warm and helpful. Similar to its sister hotel, this hotel also provides free pickup and drop-off at local attractions and Gora Station on demand, which was great because the roads to and from the hotel are hilly. I view the high points of my stay at this hotel were its dinner and breakfast, which were truly exceptional in terms of creativity, presentation, ingredient selections, tastes, and services. Bravo!

Really enjoyed our stay. All the staff were lovely and the food was excellent. Great location with easy access to the ropeway.

Best hospitality I’ve ever received. Amazing dinner service and rooms. The dinner was one of the most memorable parts of my entire trip. I cannot recommend this hotel enough.