What kind of luxury onsen resort hotel is Kinnotake Tonosawa?
In June during the hot and humid rainy season, we took an express train called Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station. The express trains have observation seats at the front and at the end of the trains, with a 180-degree view from the large windows, which are recommended on a fine day.
Arriving at Hakone-Yumoto Station and getting off the train, we found that unlike Tokyo, the weather in this area was as refreshing as early summer. The resort hotel from here can be reached by shuttle bus, but at this time there were many tourists lined up at the bus stop, so we decided to take a cab from here to the resort hotel.
After a short cab ride, we saw a suspension bridge over the valley. Just as we were crossing this suspension bridge, we saw a bright red Hakone Tozan Railway passing in the distance. According to the cab driver, this is a very rare sight. After crossing the suspension bridge, the resort hotel where we would be staying for the night came into view. When we got out of the cab, the staff was waiting for us at the gate. The modern building, the well-maintained garden, and the serene ambience surrounded by the forest made my expectations very high from this point on.
As we entered the building, we were often taken aback by the sophisticated design of the wood and stone furniture, interior decorations, and the beautiful forest spreading out through the large windows. We were led to a table on the terrace in the lobby and checked in while listening to the sound of bamboo leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. The staff then prepared tea and cheese soufflé, and we enjoyed the view for a while. Tokyo in June is often humid, but Hakone’s high elevation makes the air refreshing and comfortable.
After relaxing here for about 30 minutes, the staff escorted us to our room. This time we stayed in a room on the first floor with a view of the artificial pond. Upon entering the room, I found it to be very spacious and more user-friendly than I expected, as there were no room dividers. There is no TV set to enjoy the sounds of nature and the atmosphere, but if you ask, they will install one for free. On the balcony, there was a comfortable sofa and an outdoor private hot spring bath made of granite, with a view of the water basin and bamboo grove in front of us.
I loved this balcony so much that I decided to take a dip in the private hot spring and relax. The water table in front of me glistened in the sunlight, birds chirped in the background, and bamboo grass swayed gracefully in the breeze. The temperature of the private hot spring water felt hot in June when I used it, so you need to check the temperature before taking a bath and adjust the temperature with tap water from the faucet.
Then we made appointments for a spa treatment before dinner. Around 4:30 PM, the staff picked us up from our room. We drove 30 seconds to the spa treatment shop, which was located in a traditional Japanese house. It was within walking distance, though. This place was originally a private home that had been renovated and turned into a spa treatment store. It had a tasteful appearance. I felt that even an old traditional house can have a charming ambience if renovated with enough money.
Back at the resort hotel, it was almost time for dinner, so we went to the dining area. It was not a private room, but it was spacious, and partitions, plants, and high-backed chairs provided a blindfold so that we could eat in peace and quiet without noticing too much about other guests. Dinner was an refined kaiseki meal, all delicately seasoned and beautifully presented, and we were very satisfied. The portions may be ordinary. A wide variety of alcoholic beverages were available, from sake to wine. For breakfast, you can choose Western or Japanese food.
After dinner, we heard that fireflies can be seen along the valley where there is a suspension bridge, so we went there. There is a terrace set up by the river about a minute’s walk from the hotel building. Going down the stairs by the suspension bridge, we were able to get down close to the river and see countless fireflies. Listening to the sound of the river flowing, we were moved by the mystical sight.
We then returned to the resort hotel and had herbal tea in the lobby. Here, sparkling wine, beer, black tea, green tea, herbal tea, and coffee were always available free of charge. It’s open from 7:00-12:00, 15:00-22:00. The lobby had a different, more romantic ambience than in the daytime, and the illuminated forest seen through the large windows made for a lovely evening.
If I dare to raise a drawback, this is the resort hotel for adults, so it is not suitable for families with children. Age requirement of at least 12 years old applies. Everywhere on the property is quiet and serene, perfect for couples who want to celebrate their anniversary. It is the boutique resort hotel with a total of 23 rooms, rather than a relaxed onsen ryokan. If you want to enjoy a traditional Japanese onsen ryokan in Hakone, this is not the place for you.
Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on HP
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Is the location easy to access?
If you are going from Tokyo Station, take the Shinkansen bullet train to JR Odawara Station. From there, transfer to Hakone Tozan Railway or Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Alternatively, take Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Then you may want to get a shuttle bus called Orange Bus from Hakone-Yumoto station. The small buses are easily recognizable because of their orange and white bodies. Get on a bus of C course from the front of Hakone Tourist Information Center, and then get off at Kinnotake Tonosawa. It takes less than 10min. When you get on a bus, you need to tell a bus driver where you are staying. The bus fare is JPY100 per adult, and complimentary for children in primary school and younger. Refer to the timetable.
FYI, it takes just 5min by taxi from Hakone-Yumoto Station. The taxi fare is approx. JPY1,000.
Then, if you are staying here on a weekend, you may want to check in early. This is because the area around Hakone-Yumoto station is very crowded on weekends. Walking may be faster than driving during traffic jams, but walking from the station to the property is not recommended. It takes more than 20 minutes on foot. The road is a long slope, with narrow sidewalks and heavy traffic.
Then, if you are taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to JR Odawara Station, you need to pay attention to your luggage. Please check here for details. When boarding the Shinkansen, luggage whose total of three sides exceeds 160 cm requires advance reservation of a seat with an oversized luggage space. Baby strollers, musical instruments, bicycles, surfboards, etc. are excluded. Items may be brought in as long as they are placed in a special bag and can stand up.
Passengers bringing oversized baggage without an advance reservation will be charged a carry-on fee of 1,000 JPY. In such cases, the baggage needs to be placed in an area designated by the crew. Also, large luggage is not allowed in unreserved seats on the Shinkansen. Then, children under 6 years old usually do not need a ticket, but if a preschooler uses the Shinkansen, a reserved seat ticket for preschoolers is required to be purchased.
On Odakyu Romancecars, the size of luggage is limited to a total of no more than 250 centimeters on three sides and no longer than 2 meters in length. The weight is limited to 30 kg, and up to two pieces may be carried on board as long as they do not interfere with the operation of the train or inconvenience other passengers. Exercise equipment such as ski boards, snowboards, bicycles, etc. may be brought in as long as they are placed in a special bag and can stand up. Strollers are folded and placed in front of the seats. Then normally, children under 6 years of age do not need a ticket, but when using a seat on an Odakyu Romancecar, a child’s express ticket and a ticket for children are required. However, if you hold a child on your lap, a limited express ticket and a boarding pass are not required. Please refer to the info.
Where is the best accommodation for anniversary in Hakone?
If you are looking for a nice place for a special occasion, this property is one of the best. If you request in advance, they can arrange a cake and bouquet of flowers for an additional fee.
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Rooms I would recommend?
If you are going to stay here, I would recommend a room on 1F in front of an artificial pond. That’s beautiful, mystical, and charming. The bamboo forest was illuminated at night. We were overwhelmed by the beauty of the views while soaking in the private bath. Alternatively, if the weather permits, a room on the 4th floor called club floor is also a good choice. It overlooks the open Hakone mountains and forests. All rooms are equipped with outdoor private hot spring bahts.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, yukatas, bathrobes, a green tea set, a coffee machine with capsules, a complimentary minibar including beer, wine, champagne, etc. There are some colorful yukatas for women in the lobby which you can choose when you check in. Then an iPad is placed in each room. Also, staff can prepare a humidifier, a TV, and a DVD player, etc., if you request. Free Wifi reception was sometimes slow in our room. Room service is not available. There is no convenience store nearby. You might want to buy your necessities before coming here.
How about In-house Facilities?
There are indoor communal hot spring baths on the grounds. Open from 15:00-9:30 the following morning. It seemed that there were few guests at the communal baths. *If you have tattoos, you may not be permitted to use the communal bathing areas.
Then Kinnotake Tonosawa is almost universal design. If you bring people with weak legs, you may want to inform the staff in advance as they can arrange a room near the lift. A wheelchair is available for borrowing.
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How about meals?
All meals were served in the dining area on 3F. After dinner, don’t forget to visit the bar. The ambiance is very cozy. Dinner time is from 18:00-21:00. If you have dinner in the resort hotel, you need to check in by 19:00. Breakfast time is from 7:30-10:00.
Please note that inform the staff when you book a room with meals if you have any food allergies. They probably wouldn’t be able to prepare alternative food if you request it on that day.
Then, as far as I know, there are probably no good restaurants for dinner within a 5 minute walk. You may want to book a room including meals.
My impressions
If you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, the resort hotel would be perfect.
Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about Kinnotake Tonosawa from the below space. Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on HP
Info about Kinnotake Tonosawa
| Style | Luxury Resort Hotel |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 70,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact E-mail |
info.tonosawa@golden-bamboo.jp |
| Internet Connection | Free wifi in the hotel |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available |
| Location | Kinnotake Tonosawa’s MAP |
| Access | 5min by shuttle bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station |
| Address and TEL | 191 Tōnosawa, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0315 Tel +81 460-85-9800 |
| Official Homepage | Kinnotake Tonosawa’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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