Hakone Fura

This was my second stay. I visited with my parents, the three of us.The bath is on the small side, but the Onsen water quality is excellent—personally, I think it’s far better than most Onsen.Meals were the highlight for me, and the cuisine here is outstanding, on par with kaiseki in Tokyo.With plenty of seasonal ingredients, everything tastes wonderful and you can truly enjoy each dish.It was a very relaxing one-night, two-day stay.

My first stay at Fuura in two years, and I stayed again in “Tsutsuji” next to the large public bath. Voices from the hallway carried into the Room, but since there are only a few Rooms, it was manageable with a little patience. At dinner, I can’t finish everything if I drink alcohol, so lately I stick to tea—and they kindly refilled it often with a teapot. That’s Fuura for you. This time, thanks to a Plan offered on IKYU Day that was incredibly affordable compared with my usual Plan, I chose an indulgent Plan for the first time in decades. It said “half a kinmedai,” but it was a whole fish! Lightly seasoned without being overly sweet, and they immediately offered, “Shall we bring you a little white rice?”—such a welcome touch. The meat was tender and practically melted; the meal is truly senior-friendly, and that’s what won me over completely. Breakfast also comes with plenty of sides—refills are basically inevitable, so be careful. The Onsen doesn’t have an open-air bath, but it’s wonderfully soothing; after dinner I had it privately all to myself. As for amenities, it’s best not to expect too much and bring your own if needed. This is what true luxury—doing nothing—feels like. When should I go next?