Odakyu Hotel de Yama — wake up to Mt Fuji across the lake every single morning
If you could only describe your ideal Hakone morning in one image — pulling back the curtains and seeing Mt Fuji rising over a perfectly still lake — Odakyu Hotel de Yama is the place that comes closest to making that real. This lakeside resort on Lake Ashi means every room faces the water, with a 130,000 sqm garden where Fuji forms the permanent backdrop, a genuine open-air hot spring onsen ringed by trees, and a French restaurant perched over the water. Score 8.9, with review after review saying the same thing: "I didn't want to leave."
Odakyu Hotel de Yama stands at Motohakone on the grounds of what was once the Iwasaki family villa — the founders of Mitsubishi. Founded in 1948 and renovated in 2015, its position on the shore of Lake Ashi, just steps from Hakone Shrine, means that simply wandering the property gives you both temple atmosphere and open water at the same time. Most guests who come here say it plainly: they didn't arrive to do much sightseeing — they came to sit still and feel quietly happy about life.
"Guests consistently say the same things: the staff are warm to the point of feeling like family, and the onsen is so beautiful they couldn't bring themselves to get out — some say this was the best trip of their lives."
What genuinely sets this resort apart from other lakeside properties is that every single room faces Lake Ashi — there is no "unlucky" room assignment here. The Mt. Fuji View Deluxe Twin tier and above gives you the full composition: garden, lake and Fuji in a single frame. On a clear winter morning when fresh snow caps the peak and the lake sits still and grey-blue below, it is the kind of view that people describe as the highlight of a Japan trip — and that is not an exaggeration.
The 130,000 sqm garden running along the water's edge is the true centrepiece of the resort. It is large enough to spend a whole day walking — lakeside paths, wooden bridges, shaded benches and multiple Fuji viewpoints. As afternoon light shifts across the water, the garden changes character hour by hour. The spot not to miss is Salon de thé Rosage, a patisserie that extends out over the lake on a terrace, feeling almost like it floats on the water. Late afternoon when the light falls across the lake is the best time to go.
The open-air onsen fed by genuine hot springs is surrounded by tall trees and open to guests both during the day and at night. On rainy days or when mist comes in off the lake, the atmosphere takes on a different kind of quiet magic that clear days cannot match. For dinner, guests can choose between Vert Bois — a French restaurant using local Hakone produce — or Tsutsuji no Chaya, the Japanese seasonal dining option. Both receive consistent praise in reviews.
Worth knowing before you book: Odakyu Hotel de Yama has no direct train connection. You need to take the Tozan bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (around 40 minutes), or the hotel shuttle when available — check the timetable before you travel. If you are coming from Tokyo with heavy luggage, planning the logistics in advance makes the journey much smoother. The other honest caveat is Fuji shyness — on cloudy days or during the humid summer months, the mountain may not be visible. For the clearest conditions, December through February is the best window.
Taken altogether, Odakyu Hotel de Yama is a resort that delivers what Hakone is supposed to feel like — lake, garden, onsen and Fuji in a single setting that is genuinely hard to find elsewhere. Rooms start from ¥35,000/night for the Mt. Fuji View Deluxe Twin, which many guests describe as worth every yen — because the view that comes with it is, as they put it, "impossible to put a fair price on".
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Every room faces Lake Ashi · upper rooms frame Mt Fuji
- ✓ 130,000 sqm lakeside garden — walkable for a full day
- ✓ Genuine open-air hot spring onsen · Hakone Shrine next door
- ✓ Warm staff and Odakyu-brand service standards
- ! No direct train — Tozan bus ~40 min from Hakone-Yumoto Station required
- ! Mt Fuji invisible on cloudy days — weather is out of your hands
- ! Some rooms carry a classic rather than modern design aesthetic
- ✓ Founded 1948, renovated 2015 — historic villa grounds with real character
- ✓ Salon de thé Rosage extends over the lake — afternoon light is stunning
- ✓ French restaurant Vert Bois + Japanese Tsutsuji no Chaya — both well reviewed
- ✓ TripAdvisor #3 in Hakone · staff warmth singled out in review after review
- ! Prices above typical Hakone budget average — best for a special-occasion night
- ! Hotel shuttle runs on limited timetable — confirm in advance
- ! Breakfast not included in all room rates — check before booking
- 💡If you need a guaranteed Fuji view — the best window is December to February, before 8 am, on clear mornings → book the Mt. Fuji View Deluxe category and set an early alarm; summer humidity often hides the peak.
- 💡If you prefer not to travel by bus — there is no direct train to Motohakone → check the hotel shuttle timetable before you leave, or plan the ~40-min Tozan bus leg from Hakone-Yumoto into your schedule.
- 💡If you want a strongly modern interior design — some rooms here lean classic rather than contemporary → browse the actual room photos on OTA platforms first, or compare with Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora for a more modern feel.