Independent Gora hotels

"Family friendly and staff was amazing"

"The food, service, and onsen were terrific. The view from the room was incredible. A very relaxing stay "

"This was a beautiful location. The room was nice and cozy, I loved the private onsen time, and the staff was so friendly and sweet. They provided lots of amenities and even let us try Japanese candy. I definitely recommend this place and wish I had more time to stay longer. "

"Truly the best hotel experience I’ve ever had. I grew up in Idaho and never imagined I’d get to stay somewhere like this. This was our big splurge night of the trip, and it was worth every single penny. From the second we arrived, the service was incredible! Warm, kind, and genuinely thoughtful. Nothing felt forced or overly formal. Every interaction felt personal. The room was absolutely beautiful. Modern but deeply rooted in Japanese aesthetics. Natural wood, stone textures, soft lighting, clean lines. It felt calm the second we walked in. Everything had intention behind it, and the space just made you exhale. And the setting…unreal. The mountains were moody and misty in the distance. You could see and hear the river below from the balcony, and snow was falling. Sitting in the private onsen while warm water surrounded us and snow drifted down in the cold mountain air is something I’ll never forget. The sound of the river, the winter mountains, the quiet, it was pure peace. We booked this hotel for the private balcony onsen, and I basically lived in it. We ordered room service for dinner and had Western breakfast the next morning, both were delicious and generous. When Miyuki brought our breakfast, she surprised us with special paper cranes she had folded. That small gesture meant so much and perfectly captured the care and hospitality here. This stay honestly felt surreal. It wasn’t just a hotel, it was an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life. "

"Everything was thoroughly intentional"

"At the end of a two-week trip to Japan, Hakone Yutowa was a true highlight. We booked one of the condominium suites, which was large even by American hotel standards. The room had its own mineral hot spring bath that faced east and captured a gorgeous sunrise, as well as a spacious sitting room and comfortable beds. The hotel staff were gracious and accommodating, allowing us to leave our bags with them for a few hours after we had checked out. The meals were good, served buffet style; we ate both dinner and breakfast at the hotel. Yukata are provided for guests to wear at meals and around the hotel grounds. The public bath was also fantastic. In the men’s bath, there were two pools, one slightly cooler than the other, as well as a sauna. Although we were not traveling with children, it’s clear that they welcome families here. There are little nooks scattered throughout the property where you will find comic books, toys, places to read and relax, and complimentary snacks and beverages. All in all, it was a really relaxing place to stay. We used the Hakone Free Pass to see the sights, and we definitely recommend the Open-Air Museum, which is one of a kind and features an incredible collection of sculptures by artists from all over the world. "

"Gorgeous hotel, impeccable service, wonderful location. The bedrock bath and foot bath bar were major highlights of our stay!"

"Everything was perfect was checkin to check out. Fabulous property! Would definitely return. Rooms are clean and well layout. Thank you. "

"The room is perfect and the staff are very detailed in service. Definately a five star stay. Food is included and is delicious. The onsen is inviting and peaceful. Beautiful facility. "