It’s very serene and tranquil as it is hidden in the middle of the hill. Just perfect for some urban escapee like us. The condition of the facility is very well maintained and the staffs’ quality of service and attentiveness is just marvellous. The omakase dinner and even their daily Japanese style breakfast had never fail to surprise us on the level of detail and how elaborate they could be.

Nothing really that was displeasing. Was only hoping to have a lake view somehow but this location is more on the mountain side of view which is equally fantastic

Lovely room with view of Mt Fuji Meals were delicious and beautifully presented Private onsen was lovely

Access is tricky. Taxi took 1hr to arrive for a short drive from Gora station and it wasn’t practical to walk in dark with luggage in forest roads! Staff at Zen could not assist when called. Some aspects of property need updating ie walls painted as lots of chipped paintwork in corridors.

The property is surrounded by beautiful mountains, with a great view of Mt. Fuji if weather permits. The staff are so welcoming, and the rooms were very clean with good amenities. The dinner and breakfast were delicious with lots of unique dishes.

Nothing

We had an amazing break at Hakone Zen. The main attraction is the private onsen in the room which was fantastic. Just the ease of being to dip in and out when felt like it made the stay really special.

We loved the view of Mt Fuji from the room and the outdoor onsen was wonderful, especially during the day with the forest above you. We loved the Kaiseki meals and the staff were very attentive, giving us a welcome drink, help getting taxis and calling for reservations and taking care of us at our meals. They definitely made sure we had enough to eat! There was a hairdryer and water/drinks in the fridge. And we also appreciated the shuttle to the bus stop. There are bus stops close by (ten min walk or so) and the Hakone Ropeway and the port station is fairly close too. Other than walking, taxi was the easiest way around for us because the main town and train stations are not close. However, we wanted an experience away from town for the end of our trip and loved that this Ryokan was more rural.

The property is a little bit dingy and old fashioned (and not in a traditional Japanese way) needing paint and so on but maybe that’s normal for this area. The room was very clean but there were some stains and it just seemed cluttered. While we were amazed by the decadent treatment we received, just make sure you’re cool with having your meals at a designated time each day and prepare to spend time eating. These are not quick meals and they take pride in serving you. Next time we might search for a place with Kaiseki as an option but that also has a restaurant so we could do Kaiseki a couple times instead of twice a day. Although it was nice to not have to think about food at all!

Perfect getaway from the city hustle and bustle. We were lucky to be able to see Mt Fuji in our room and enjoy the private onsen bath. The service and hospitality was excellent, each meal was like a feast and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The shuttle bus service provided made going to and from attractions easier considering the location.

Amazing location, very quiet, great comfy beds and meals served in our own nook, all explained by helpful staff, multi course dinner and breakfast with local specialties, and private onsen tub, unmissable

A little out of the way

Only 9 rooms total. Great onsen on terrace. Staff extremely hospitable.

Location is a bit remote