Odakyu Hotel de Yama

We stayed in the largest Room.Even the bath in the Room had a view of Lake Ashi.For dinner, our second son wanted Western food, so we chose French cuisine.It was delicious!!He especially liked the bread.The women’s bath was amazing too, with an open-air bath and a mist sauna!!We happened to stay on a day when there were fireworks.We went to watch from a spot where you can see them from the observation deck and the bridge below. They looked absolutely beautiful!In the evening, the lounge becomes a free lounge where you can enjoy drinks and snacks!At check-in, we also booked in-Room massages for all four of us!!I fell asleep halfway through.For breakfast, we chose Japanese cuisine.The grilled fish was horse mackerel and it was delicious!!It’s a Hotel I’d love to stay at again when visiting Hakone.

I’ve been to Hakone a few times, but I’d always wondered what was so special about it. This time, I realized that going to Lake Ashi and staying at this Hotel is what “Hakone” really means. It was truly wonderful. The view from the Room was spectacular! You can take in the garden, Lake Ashi, and the mountains all at once (it was seriously cloudy this time so we couldn’t see Mt. Fuji), and I enjoyed a luxurious, relaxing time watching the sightseeing boats glide by.The Room was spacious and beautiful. It’s a classic Hotel, but it seems like the interior and bathrooms have been updated—everything was very clean. The bed and sheets were amazing! If I had to mention one minor issue, the windows were a bit dirty—but expecting them to be cleaned every day would be unrealistic. Being up in the mountains with lots of trees also means insects will show up sometimes, so it can’t be helped.The Onsen was incredible too! First of all, it was spotless—everywhere—and you could really tell how thoroughly everything is cleaned. The view from the open-air bath (mountains and river) was lovely and felt amazing. Just thinking back on it now makes me sigh happily.The inside of the building was also clean and well maintained—it felt like time moved more slowly there. All of the complimentary services (ice cream, evening snacks and soft drinks) were great (the chocolate was delicious), and even the drinks in the Room were excellent—there’s nothing else to say but “as expected.”This time I stayed on a great-value weekday Plan, and honestly I felt almost guilty—like, is this price really okay? Access to sightseeing spots is convenient too, and buses stop right in front of the Hotel! They really think of everything.For meals I chose a Plan where food is delivered to your Room, but part of me still wanted to eat at the restaurant even as a solo guest! Next time I’d love to dine at their wonderful restaurant. Having meals brought up by staff did feel special though—and it was fun above all else. The portion size being on the smaller side also suited me well (but next time I want to try the restaurant!). If you enjoy alcohol, having a drink in the lounge also sounds nice.The other guests were calm and respectful as well, which made my stay very comfortable. A little luxury like this once in a while is great—I definitely want to come back. Above all else it was so quiet; it felt like time had stopped. Absolutely perfect.