Gora Hanaougi Madoka no Mori

We visited this Accommodation for the first time in March after it received the strongest “Absolutely!” recommendation among several options, and it was the first time in a while that we felt completely satisfied in every respect.From the courteous and accurate communication during the Reservation process, to the atmosphere, use of space, staff professionalism, and cuisine—everything met our expectations. With an Accommodation of this caliber, I wasn’t particularly worried about the food, and I had already seen photos of the interior on the website so I assumed there would be no surprises. In the end, however, what matters most is “people.” With group stays, requests often cause inconvenience and there are usually one or two small oversights on the day—but here everything was perfect.This time we came as individuals. We returned both to confirm our impressions and to be moved all over again. The entrance—still fresh in my memory as a favorite—is spacious and quiet. It harmoniously blends cutting-edge design with traditional charm despite being complete opposites. Personally, it may be my favorite part.Our Room this time was more compact than last time but more than sufficient for one night. The open-air bath is also spacious and easy to use even though it has privacy screening. The private dining room felt almost too large for just two people. The timing of each course and the staff’s warm smiles made for a truly comfortable—and delicious—meal.Overall, what stayed with me is how rare this Facility is: an excellent balance of new and old, genuine warmth from people, and employees who approach their work with sincerity—all coming together in perfect harmony. Newer Accommodations with a full resort feel are wonderful in their own way as well; however, as an Onsen Accommodation, this is a place I can confidently recommend as a distinctly Japanese stay where timeless tradition is beautifully integrated.Thank you once again for taking such great care of us. We are truly grateful for a relaxing stay that healed both body and mind. Thank you very much.

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 truly delicious. The only things that bothered me were that the bottom of the open-air bath (it felt more like an outdoor bath than a typical open-air one) was a bit slippery and unsettling, and that the sofa positioned facing the balcony felt forced into place and wasn’t really functional.Meals were served in a proper private dining room, and it was nice to see a young trainee doing her best. The in-Room bath and the view from it were also very pleasant. I will visit again, but first I’ll be heading to Hanaougi.