Hakone is a town populated by a little over 10,000 people and lies just an hour and a half on the train from Tokyo. Situated in the mountains and renowned for its scenery and outdoor hot springs, the this was the perfect place for us to take a break from the city and see a different side to Japan.
We stayed at the Takuminoyado Yoshimatsu Ryokan (Inn) where the scenery, amenities and hospitality were honestly the best that we experienced during our time in Japan. The following is a guide on what to expect during your stay here!
At A Glance
Property Features: Tatami-matted floors, futon beds, and both private and communal onsen baths)
Inclusions: green tea and snack upon arrival, multi-course dinner served to your room, multi-course breakfast
Location: Hakone, Japan
Where to book?: Booking.com
Where To Book Takuminoyado Yoshimatsu Ryokan
We found the cheapest price for this Ryokan on Booking.com. Here, the prices are typically $430-$460. Keep in mind that this price also includes an 8 course gourmet dinner served privately to your room as well as an incredible multi-course breakfast served to your room.
While this hotel can is definitely a splurge, we felt it was more than worth the price. The dinner alone was Michelin star level and would have been worth the price of the hotel if we were in the United States.
Tip: This Ryokan books up months in advance so be sure to book as soon as possible!
Getting To The Ryokan
We found that the easiest way to reach Hakone was by train into Odawara station where the bullet train took us from Tokyo station. Once at the station, we flagged a taxi outside to take us to a tea house near the Takuminoyado Yoshimatsu Ryokan before we began our stay there. The tea house is rich with history and has been around for hundreds of years so we figured it was worth stopping by for some traditional tea and mochi. The secluded location in the forest within the mountains added to the tranquil setting and was a nice change of pace.
Once we finished our refreshments, the employees at the tea house were kind enough to call Ryokan and have them send a car to pick us up! Shortly after, we were driven about 10 minutes up the road and arrived just in time for check in. If you happen to be driving then you will have free parking during your stay.
What To Expect Upon Arrival
Once we stepped out of the taxi, we were immediately greeted by a number of the staff at the front steps who helped us with our luggage and gave us a great welcome overall. Our first impressions of the place were very good as we stood before a beautiful building hidden amongst the vast forest.
We were quickly checked in at the front desk before being led into a room (known as Cha-shitsu) where we were offered some tea and Japanese cookies while we relaxed and enjoyed the view of the garden out the window.
Shortly afterwards, we made our way through the garden, past the Koi Pond, and towards the section of the building where we would be staying. We were given a brief tour showing us where to find the public On-Sen (bath house) as well as the private On-Sen. We then swapped our shoes for two pairs of slippers, one to be worn indoors and one to be worn outdoors.
Afterwards, we were shown to the room we would be staying in and we were pleasantly surprised at how big it was! It felt more like an apartment in the way it was split into several rooms to separate were we slept, ate, and bathed. The décor and layout of the room instantly felt authentically Japanese and we were already excited for the evening ahead. The staff then set up our beds and gave us each a Kimono (traditional Japanese dress) to wear before dinner was served. There was strong wifi available with our room too.
Dinner
The dinner that was served to us was an “8-course meal” (however, each course had several dishes) with each dish being brought to us in the dining area of our own room. We sat at the table in a spacious room with traditional tatami mats on the floor and, along with wearing the kimono’s, we felt we were getting a true Japanese welcome.
It was obvious early on that these chefs knew what they were doing as each delicious course was delivered on marvelous dishes to our table every 15 minutes. This allowed us plenty of time to appreciate the variety of different foods we were trying. The menu changes every month but, during our visit, we had the following courses;
- Tofu made from sesame which was soft and light making it a good dish to start the meal
- Japanese parsley and kombu seaweed, Fish and scallop meatball, Asparagus in bacon, Mashed squash
- Broth with Matsutake mushroom
- Fresh sashimi, Steamed rice with salmon
- Grilled yellowtail
- Casserole in apple, Wagyu beef
- Crab, Steamed rice, Miso soup
- Seasonal fruits
Each dish was expertly cooked in delicious, fresh seasonal ingredients and the service and ambiance were superb. In terms of both quality and value for money, we can safely say this was the best meal we had during our time in Japan!
The Onsen Experience
Many of the ryokans across Japan feature a natural hot spring called an onsen (hot water) and the Takuminoyado Yoshimatsu Ryokan is no exception. We opted for the private onsen after dinner and bathing in the soothing water was a great way to chill out and unwind.
There is a small changing area to leave your robe and other belongings and you will also find fresh towels here for afterwards. The onsen itself was in a small room with large windows and a pool about 10ft long and 5ft wide. Cleanliness is important to keep in mind when using onsens so it is recommended you shower before use and keep in mind that bathing suits are not permitted. Taking a dip in an onsen is another activity that we feel every trip to Japan should include and it was a great way to relax both body and mind. The public onsens are segregated by gender and are open until 10pm.
Morning
After a cozy night’s sleep, the following morning we had breakfast delivered to our room at 8:30am which consisted of omelet’s, fish, soup, and some fruit. After eating, we decided to check out the public onsens which were segregated by gender.
Each had its own changing room with plenty of space and lockers to store your clothes. The bath itself was more than twice the size of the private onsen and it opens up to the outside allowing for the fresh morning air and sunshine to rush in as we bathed. Afterwards, we strolled around the garden one last time while wearing our kimono’s and got some pictures taken next to the koi pond. We then returned to our room and got changed and finished packing before checking out. The staff were just as friendly when leaving as they were when we arrived which was well appreciated and once again, they had our transportation taken care of as we made our way to our next destination. This was a truly unique and memorable stay that we will always cherish as we reflect on our time in Japan!
