Review and pictures of an onsen (hot-spring) Ryokan located near Hakone-YUmoto station.
Aura Tachibana 574 Yumoto Hakone machi Ashigara shimo-gun Kanagawa Japan 250-0311
TEL:(81)460-85-5541 FAX:(81)460-85-6586 Welcome teas while waiting for check-in.
Some Japanese sweets in our room.
Japanses-style room. It is very spacious. The table and chairs will be moved aside and futon will be arranged while we were out of the room for dinner.
The so-called kaiseki dinner.
The futons were laid down for us while we were having dinner at the restaurant.
The rate included a traditional Japanese breakfast. There was drawing explaining the breakfast on every table.
View from our room in the morning. Not very impressive.
On the way to the private onsen on the roof.
Private onsen on the roof top, you may make the reservation while check-in, charge was JPY3,150 for 45 minutes. It was closed on that morning.
Actually the public onsens were good enough. There are big onsen indoor and a small onsen outdoor that is very cozy. I was alone there around 6pm, and truly enjoyed myself. I went there again in the morning around 7.30 am and there was already several people around. Not a problem too as I don't really bother about nudity infront of strangers (since I am not a celebrity, haha )
Overall, I must say that I am pretty disappointed with the stay. It cost us JPY31,800 (incl dinner & breakfast), the price is considered middle-range, and indeed, I do not feel any luxurious in it. While the toilet was spotless clean, the screen to the balcony was very dusty. Also, the service was not up to standard. We reserved the private onsen bath for the morning, and to our surprise, it was closed without notice. The location is also a problem to us. You have to walk very high uphill to reach the hotel, otherwise, you may have to take a taxi. The shuttle bus will only come and pick you up for check-in, no other purpose, and you have to find a public phone to call them which is another hassle.
