Excellent location. Rooftop terrace very good. I am too old to get up from futon and also would liked a chair in bedroom. Gora is best place if you have only limited time in Hakone and the property is only a very short walk to transport.
We arrived just after 2pm to leave our luggage, but instead were warmly welcomed and given our room key.
The Gaku hotel is maybe 10 minutesâ walk from the train station through the underground passageway. One public onsen is also about 10 minutes away on foot.
Despite the very convenient location, the neighborhood is near-silent, very serene with a major park just up the hill. We heard no noise at all from our second-floor room.
Our tatami was clean and airy, with air conditioning and extra bedding in the closet.
The bathing facilities were separate but ample for all guests to use, uncrowded and unrushed. There was a communal kitchen and fridge, as well as vending machine, area to play pool.
The same friendly Mr Ryogo Komuro who checked us carried my bag up the stairs from the street to the second floor room and later provided very detailed travel info for the limited time (2 days) we had available to enjoy the Hakone Loop with our Hakone Free Pass.
Highly recommend this hotel, if you can do without the traditional ryokan experience with in-room meals and onsen!
At booking, I had made a mistake in dates and asked for a small change but was refused, thus losing a nightâs payment of about ÂŁ70. When l stayed at the property, l was alone most of the time, so l know that the change of dates l had asked for could have easily been accommodated. When in Japan, it was extremely difficult to reach the property on the phone. I had to seek assistance from Expedia on every step. At the property itself, no maintenance whatsoever â garbage was not picked up a single time during my week-long stay. With the exception of a staff member called Yogi who tried to be nice,, the rest was disappointing. Expedia should not be promoting this place.