Gora Hanaougi Madoka no Mori

The term “hydrogen cooking” didn’t really resonate with me at first, but it was so good that I regret not having visited sooner despite coming to Hakone so often. The Room was calm and well appointed, and the meals were excellent. What concerned me was that the bottom of the open-air bath (it truly felt more like an outdoor bath than a typical open-air one) was a bit slippery, which felt slightly unpleasant. Also, the sofa positioned facing the balcony seemed forced in and wasn’t really functional.Meals were served in a proper private dining room, and it was nice to see a young trainee staff member working hard. The in-room bath and the view from it were very relaxing. I will visit again, but first I’ll be heading to Hanaougi.

I traveled with my elderly mother, and we were able to get around the Ryokan by wheelchair everywhere except the open-air bath. We usually give up on using the large public bath, so that was not an issue. The room with a private open-air bath was very convenient, and even at her age she could bathe on her own. The meals were extremely satisfying in both presentation and content. Each piece of tableware was beautifully crafted, which made it enjoyable. Modern facilities such as the elevator were covered with wood, preserving the feel of a traditional wooden Japanese Ryokan while still being comfortable. Early in the morning, we were surprised by how many birds we could hear. We also saw an Asian Blue-and-white Flycatcher and a Narcissus Flycatcher.\nWe would love to visit again.