Hakone Highland Hotel

My husband and I enjoyed our stay here in November with a few caveats. The rooms were large and clean and very comfortable. There was also a lovely onsen to use which was very relaxing. Staff generally were very helpful and the location was close to a few nice small restaurants.

Most staff (except one gentleman we met) speak very little English which can make things a bit difficult. The breakfast while nice is occasionally a little small (eg 3 slices of pear counting as a portion of fruit)and what tasted like powdered scrambled eggs one day. Finally due to the landslide the T bus doesn’t currently go to the hotel so you need to get a combination of 2 different buses. I felt the hotel could have made us aware of this before we arrived, though they were helpful in booking us taxis.

Staff were outstanding and service was excellent. Meals are very expensive but the standard is very high - think of meal time as a theatrical performance and not just a time to eat. If you do that and allow the time you will love it.

No gym.

A high-end resort, this hotel was very nice. We only stayed one night in a room that had a private onsen, and the room was the biggest we’ve had during our trip to Japan. It felt very much like a suite. The facilities in the room are excellent. The hotel has a French-cuisine restaurant. While pricey, the food was excellent, with great service. Breakfast is either Western of Japanese style. Instead of the usual buffet you choose which style and the staff brings you the chosen type of breakfast at your table. While the amount of food included in the breakfast isn’t immense, it’s enough to start the day strong. All this does come with a cost though, so if you are planning to just crash somewhere late at night and move on in the morning, this might not be the best option. But if you’re not tight on your budget and you can take the time to enjoy the room and its facilities, this is definitely a place to recommend for a relaxing stay and to spoil yourself while visiting Hakone.