Gora Hanaougi — the ryokan that consistently exceeds expectations
Guest after guest at Gora Hanaougi says the same thing: the service and food here go well beyond what you expect. The numbers back it up: #1 of 201 Hakone hotels on TripAdvisor, score 9.4. There are only 20 rooms, and every single one comes with a private open-air onsen and mountain views, along with kaiseki dinner and breakfast included in the rate. If you have ever imagined soaking in an outdoor hot spring in your own private garden while gazing at the Hakone mountains — just the two of you, no shared bath, no waiting — this is the place.
Gora Hanaougi stands at 1300-681 Gora, Hakone-machi, in the popular Gora area — just 1 minute on foot from Sounzan Station, the departure point for the cable car up to Owakudani. That location is more than mere convenience. It means that after breakfast you can step out and ride the cable car to Owakudani before the tour-group crowds arrive — no backtracking, no extra transfers. It is the kind of seamless start to the day that a well-chosen ryokan makes possible.
"The service and food were far beyond what we expected — it genuinely felt as though the staff were looking after us personally, not just checking us in and leaving us to it. Many guests say this is the best ryokan they have ever stayed at in Hakone."
What sets Gora Hanaougi apart from virtually every other ryokan in Hakone — and what draws the most consistent praise — is the private open-air onsen (rotenburo) in every single room. No queues. No shared bath. No need to book a time slot. You can soak at midnight or at five in the morning, looking out over a mountain backdrop, in the quiet of your own private garden. That experience is exactly what many travellers come to Hakone for, and here it is guaranteed in every room, not just a premium upgrade.
The kaiseki dinner included in the rate earns its own share of the reviews. The multi-course meal follows the seasons — dishes change with what is freshest — and guests regularly describe it as one of the most memorable meals of an entire Japan trip. Breakfast is also included, a Japanese-style spread served in the traditional way. When you factor in both meals plus a private onsen, the per-person nightly cost looks rather different to the headline figure.
With only 20 rooms, Gora Hanaougi is genuinely intimate in a way that a larger property simply cannot replicate. The staff-to-guest ratio means that attention is real and not performative — the kind of small touches in service that review after review mentions without prompting. The quiet, unhurried atmosphere is itself part of the offering; there is no hotel-lobby bustle, no corridor noise, just the pace of a traditional inn that knows exactly what its guests came for.
A few things to know before booking. Because there are only 20 rooms, Gora Hanaougi fills fast. Cherry blossom season (late March through April) and autumn foliage (November) are the most competitive windows, along with Japan's Golden Week and other long-holiday periods. If you have a specific date in mind, planning three to six months ahead is not overcautious — it is necessary. The starting rate of ¥85,000 per night for two guests, meals included, positions this firmly in the special-occasion bracket, rather than a casual stopover.
If Gora Kadan is fully booked or just over your budget, Gora Hanaougi is the alternative that many travellers say left them equally — sometimes more — impressed. The smaller scale creates a warmth and personal quality that a larger flagship property struggles to deliver. For the traveller who wants the full Hakone ryokan experience — private onsen, kaiseki, attentive service — at a price point that is meaningful but a step below the absolute top tier, this is one of the strongest options in the area.
In short, Gora Hanaougi is best suited to couples or solo travellers seeking an authentic Japanese ryokan stay — soaking in a private onsen, eating kaiseki, and genuinely slowing down in the Hakone mountains. If that is what you came to find, this ryokan delivers it completely.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ TripAdvisor #1 in Hakone — guests consistently praise service and food quality
- ✓ Private open-air onsen in every room with mountain views
- ✓ Only 20 rooms — genuinely quiet and private
- ✓ Kaiseki + Japanese breakfast included in the rate
- ! ¥85,000+ per night — best suited to travellers with a special-occasion budget
- ! Only 20 rooms — books out fast during peak periods, requires months of advance planning
- ! No gym, on-site shop, or facilities typical of a larger hotel
- ✓ Staff provide genuinely attentive, personal service — consistently noted in reviews
- ✓ Private open-air onsen in-room — use any time, no queuing
- ✓ Very private and quiet thanks to the small 20-room scale
- ✓ 1-min walk to Sounzan Station — cable car to Owakudani right from your doorstep
- ! Premium pricing — best for a deliberate splurge rather than a casual overnight
- ! Very limited availability — hard to book during cherry blossom, foliage and Golden Week
- ! Limited parking — travel via Hakone Romancecar or Tozan Line is recommended
- 💡If you are on a tight budget or trying a ryokan for the first time — ¥85,000+ per night for two may be a stretch → consider ryokans in Gora or Sengokuhara that start lower, or look at guesthouses such as Hakone Tent.
- 💡If you plan to visit during cherry blossom or autumn foliage — 20 rooms fill extremely fast → book at least 3–6 months ahead; don't leave it until a few weeks before.
- 💡If you are travelling as a large group needing multiple rooms — the property is very small → contact the ryokan directly to confirm availability for your group before booking.