Hakone Gora Hotel Pipe no Kemuri Plus

We stayed here at the beginning of the Obon holiday during summer vacation. It’s close to the station and very convenient—recommended whether you’re traveling by car or train. For visiting Hakone-Yumoto Station or Owakudani, I think it’s best to use this place as a base and get around by public transportation. Parking near stations is expensive, and the parking lot at Owakudani gets extremely congested, which is a waste of time. It felt like there were many families staying here. The building is old overall, but there were no particular issues. If I had to mention something, the toilet/bath unit was small and dated. Also, the toothbrush was very soft and flimsy. Meals are served buffet-style with assigned time slots. It didn’t feel overly crowded; it was about what I expected. The food quality was average or better. For those who drink alcohol, there’s no problem at all—I was impressed by the draft beer dispenser that pours from below. The bath is a bit small, but the temperature was just right, and the shower pressure was strong. From the open-air bath, I could faintly see a train passing in front through the trees and plants. There was also a stick insect in the open-air bath—I saw one for the first time ever. I’d like to stay here again.

This was my second stay after a long time. The hot spring water was great. The open-air bath was very relaxing, though it may have felt a bit small. For the meals, I could eat as much of what I liked as I wanted and ended up overeating. Everything was delicious.