Inside The KAI Hakone Luxury Ryokan
A review of the new KAI Hakone, one of the best luxury ryokans in the Hakone area
Image source: Ollie Ronin
Introduction
Imagine having your own peaceful retreat after a long day of sightseeing. Imagine an incredible natural onsen with beautiful forest views to help you relax. Imagine indulging in innovative and traditional Japanese cuisine to help you recover. This is what it's like to stay at the newly renovated KAI Hakone, a luxury ryokan operated by the famous Hoshino Resorts.
Hoshino is the largest luxury resort brand in Japan, and their KAI properties have all been designed with one focus in mind — natural onsens. Unlike most well-known luxury brands, this family-owned business is over 100 years old and 100% Japanese owned. Their high standards and success led them to become the largest luxury hotel brand in Japan. As a result, they're the perfect choice if you're looking for a unique and authentic experience during your trip.
In this article, we'll provide an efficient summary of what to expect, and explore some of the most notable highlights to help you decide which accommodation to book for Hakone.
In This Article
1.
Key Highlights
Image source: Ollie Ronin
Location
Situated alongside the river in a quiet corner of Hakone, just a 7-minute taxi ride from the main Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Unique Architecture
The building is newly renovated, but retains nostalgic characteristics which add charming elements to the atmosphere and design. It's truly a stunning property.
Immersed in Nature
Not only are you surrounded by the forest and the mountains, but you'll find nature has been integrated throughout the hotel, from the bamboo that connects the various rooms, to the maple trees overlooking the onsen and teahouse.
Rooms
All rooms feature unique decor and contemporary elements inspired by traditional Japanese design. They are also very spacious, which is not common in Japan.
Onsen
Two natural onsen baths alternate each day, and come complete with a dry sauna and cold bath.
Gastonomy
The hotel's exclusive restaurant serves incredible Kaiseki cuisine in private dining booths.
Teahouse
The property features its own teahouse that serves boutique herbal teas, alcoholic drinks, and local snacks.
Cultural Experience
A unique feature is the marquetry studio, where guests can join a 45-minute workshop to learn about Hakone’s famous woodcraft and try making their own designs.
Local Partnerships
The hotel works closely with Hakone-based artists to display one-of-a-kind design elements, and also partners with local farmers to source fresh ingredients.
Price Range
$400 - $800 per night
You'll find the best prices by booking via Klook.
2.
The Location
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
KAI Hakone is situated only 7 minutes by taxi from the Hakone-Yumoto station. It's tucked away on the mountainside, overlooking a beautiful forest and river. It feels like a peaceful retreat away from the crowds, while still being conveniently located. You won't hear any traffic, or any people, just the sounds of nature in this pristine environment.
3.
The Design
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
I found myself constantly fascinated by the architecture and design of this property. The white brick walls contrast beautifully with the bamboo, moss, and the surrounding forest. Built in 1987 during Japan’s economic boom, the building’s architecture blends nostalgic character with contemporary elements, creating a unique and luxurious atmosphere. Walking between my room and the facilities was always a pleasure, with different lighting conditions adding new perspectives throughout the day.
4.
The Food
Image source: KAI Hakone
One of the highlights was the incredible food served at their exclusive restaurant. The full-course set menu takes you on a journey through Hakone's signature ingredients, with each dish expressing different flavours that always keep you pleasantly surprised. They also celebrate some of the finest options from across Japan, including Wagyu beef all the way from Hokkaido.
A lovely selection of drinks are offered to pair with the food, one of my favourites was their Yuzu Amazake, a creative style of Amazake, which is a rice-based drink traditionally served to travellers to restore their energy. Another favourite was their roasted soybean tiramisu. I'm a huge fan of tiramisu, and their recreation was an amazing way to experience the famous Italian dessert - still retaining the classic flavour while adding elements I'd never tasted before.
They even offer a dedicated vegetarian menu, which I sampled on my second night and found to be equal to, and in many ways surpass, their standard menu.
5.
The Onsen
Image source: Ollie Ronin
The onsens here are particularly beautiful, featuring two separate baths which are changed daily. The temperature is set at 40-41°C, and the natural hot spring water leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth, without any smell of sulphur. The open-air baths look out over the lush forest and the slow-moving river, with Japanese maple trees complementing the view. This view can be particularly stunning when the autumn leaves reach their peak, around mid-November. Each area features a nice and hot dry sauna, plus a refreshing cold bath, both of which I personally loved.
6.
Rooms
Image source: KAI Hakone
Every room at the KAI Hakone faces the forest, river, and mountainside, with huge windows that make you feel connected to the natural environment. The upper floors provide wider views above the forest, while the lower floors offer a closer view of the maple trees. Every room is spacious, with lovely tatami flooring and comfortable beds. The rooms come with a ceramic teapot, plus green tea, coffee, and herbal teas, which are exclusively produced for the KAI brand.
7.
The Teahouse
Image source: KAI Hakone
Their teahouse was a really nice surprise, offering a cultural experience that educates you about the history of Hakone. In the afternoon, they provide refreshing green tea and delicious mochi dumplings. In the evening, they offer unique herbal teas and alcoholic drinks, perfect for winding down after dinner. The afternoon also features a presentation about Hakone's onsen history, providing interesting facts, insights, and stories.
8.
The Crafting Experience
Image source: Ollie Ronin
Hakone is famous for its marquetry, a traditional woodcraft that creates intricate geometric patterns by combining woods of various colours and textures. It's the origin of a style known as Yosegi Zaiku, which is renowned for its unique beauty. The local craftsmen create a variety of decorative pieces, including boxes, plates, photo frames, and many more.
KAI Hakone offer fun marquetry sessions that let you learn about the craft and practice marquetry for yourself. It's a thoroughly enjoyable experience that runs for about 45 minutes, and at the end, you take home a photo frame decorated with your marquetry patterns. They also have a shop selling a range of beautiful pieces which can be great for a unique gift or souvenir.
9.
Closing Comments & Further Reading
Image source: Ollie Ronin
Spending two nights here was an incredible experience that I would recommend to anyone. Everything exceeded my expectations - the room, the food, the staff, the facilities, and the design. They offer a late checkout of 12pm, which is amazing - you never feel rushed - and the lounge is a comfortable place to enjoy some tea and coffee if you want to arrive early. I would recommend spending at least 2 nights here to have a good balance between sightseeing and enjoying the facilities.
For me personally, I arrived in the afternoon, enjoyed some tea and mochi before dinner, then finished with the onsen in the evening. On my second day, I did the entire Hakone loop, and returned in time for another amazing dinner. And on my third day, after an incredible breakfast, I enjoyed the marquetry experience and then checked out at 12pm. It was the perfect 2-day itinerary, but of course, I wish I had stayed just one more night, it was hard to leave such a peaceful retreat.
You'll find the best prices by booking via Klook.
What about sightseeing in Hakone?
Hakone is an incredible area filled with a wide variety of things to see and do. You could spend many days here exploring all the different attractions. With so many options, planning your visit can be a bit confusing, so we created an efficient and comprehensive guide to visiting Hakone here: A Complete Guide to Hakone
