初花(Hatsuhana)

Arriving at Hatsuhana means diving into a world of luxurious relaxation. We had a nice suite with a private onsen on our terrace. Nevertheless we tried one of the spacier private onsen which was spectacular. Booking in advance is recommended. A maximum of privacy is guaranteed in private dining and breakfast rooms. We could not try any treatments because they were already fully booked. Communication is a little difficult because only a few staff members speak English.

Odakyu Hotel Hatsuhana is a luxurious onsen/ryokan that was recently renovated and it showed on its amenities and price tag. We were there in Feb 2023 for 2 nights which included breakfast and 2 kaiseki dinners. The highlights were the large private open-air onsens. It was even more spectacular when it snowed on our last day. Most travelers will take the Romance Car to Hakone, we took the JR to Odawara Station and rented a car to explore Hakone. The hotel entrance/lobby oozed opulence: luxurious sofas, fire place, bottomless champagne/wine/coffee. We booked the Comfort room for JPY86,300 per night, it was actually the cheapest room here, yikes. Furnishings were new and comfy: lounge chair, HD TV, super comfy queen beds, large bathroom with separate bathing area before you hop into your own private onsen on the balcony, with a view of the majestic green mountain to boot. There are multiple public baths which we relished, but there are also 4 large private baths that you can RSVP (no additional fee) for 45 min sessions. Akari was nice but our favorite was def the Kawato private bath. It was open-air, quite large, and you are few feet away from the trees and the forest. We went there twice, the 2nd time it snowed heavily and the experience was surreal. Because it's a private bath, you can take all the photos and videos to your heart's content. There are endless supply of beers and milk, you just grab it from the mini fridges, no extra charge. There was a cable car that takes guests from their rooms to different onsen and various floors, so cool. For the meals you can choose Western or Japanese Our Japanese BF was good, but the kaiseki dinners were fantastic: wagyu beef, shark fin soup, pasta, sushi, etc. Guests dine in their own private rooms. If you are still thirsty or hungry, the lobby offers 24 hr beer/wine/champagne/coffee, also afternoon snacks and desserts. During our 3-day stay we saw everything: rain, sun and then snow at the end. The snow made it hard to drive but it was spectacular for taking photos and videos

全室に露天風呂があるのに、大浴場があり、さらに貸切風呂。湯回りだけで1日が過ぎるくらい温泉付きには良いお宿。循環式だが元の泉質が良いのか、十分過ぎるほどのお湯だ。 部屋は新しいこともあり清潔だ。アメニティがosajiで今時のホテルだなぁと感心する。食事については今時のキレキレな料理ではなく、味付けが優しく穏やか。 スタッフは大変素晴らしい。 この質がずっと維持されることをとても期待する。

リニューアルオープンしたはつはなに期待を持って10月23日宿泊しました。以前は夕食がお部屋食でしたが、残念ながらお食事所に代わりのんびり食事を楽しむ事は出来ませんでした。食器にこだわりがあるのかテーブルにサイズが合わないのでお客が工夫しないとのりきれません。食材は以前より質がおちて1泊6万6千円の価値はありません。また朝食の紅茶、コーヒーはぬるくてがっかりしました。

If you pass by the Yumoto station on your way to Hakone, then you must stop by that amazing restaurant and give a try to their incredibly tasty soba! The soba noodles are prepared in the pure traditional style, using fine ingredients and clean mountain water. The broth is delicate and flavorful and the interior absolutely charming. This is a must try for an unforgettable experience!