m3ll1e

Hello,
I am planning to go to Hakone this winter. I am looking for a nice ryokan with a natural outdoor onsen and considering these 3 ryokans below. I really like Hoeiso but it does not seem to be a popular ryokan. Does anyone know or been at this ryokan before? I'd like to know about the food, room and experience there. I really appreciate it. Thanks!



Hoeiso
http://www.hoeiso.jp/

Kaisuro
http://www.kansuiro.co.jp/eng/

Yamagaso
http://www.senkei.net/eng/yamagaso.html

m3ll1e

Too bad noone replied to my posting in Jan. So I followed my guts and booked the Hoeiso Ryokan in Hakone for my Feb trip to Japan. When I booked it, I was a bit worried since it was quite secluded and not really famous among foreigners. What if they didn't speak any English? But once we got there, it was AWESOME. It wasn't that difficult to get there from the Hakone train station, just tell the bus driver of the Ryokan name. Passing hills and going uphill to the mountain, after 15 minutes, we got there. The owner/manager of the Ryokan was waiting for us (we told him what time we would get there) in front of the Ryokan, helped us carried our luggage and made sure we were taken care of. He and his wife didn't speak that much English but with my English-Japanese dictionary, we could actually get by. They tried to explain to us the landscape of the Ryokan and where the Onsens were located. The buildings were quite big with huge back garden leading up to the Onsen and river. Lots of trees and really really peaceful and beautiful. The service and food was excellent!!! For the price, it was quite a steal! The room was quite spacious as well. I didn't see any foreigners there and only saw less than 10 local patrons. The indoor onsen was nice but the outdoor onsen was beyond belief. Since there were no other tourists, we could book the outdoor onsen privately. Under the star, next to the river and overlooking the moon, trees and listening to the sound of river. It was clean and so serene. I will never forget this experience. I felt like going back in time where everything was so simple and peaceful. Definitely recommend this place to everyone!!!

jmsvss

Wow! Thanks for posting about your experience. I'd like to add this to our "list" for our June 08 trip.

How did you learn of it? have you stayed in many ryokan before(we have not - it could be our first)?

jmsvss

BTW - I just checked out your link and could not find any English link - any hints?

mrwunrfl

m3ll1e, thanks for the report. Looks like a nice place. When you caught the bus to the ryokan was the bus stop on a bridge?

Valen9

I'm also impressed by your report! If you're still watching this thread, can you tell us whether they served meals in your room, or was there a dining room? At the prices they list, I'm hoping for the full ryokan experience but I'd like to get a confirmation.

And if you'd care to tell us more about your trip, I'd love to hear it! I'll be travelling sometime in the first week of September.

BnS

I am also interested to know what the food was like, can you tell us about it please?
Is "pheasant" their specialty? Which meal package did you choose?

m3ll1e

Wow, sorry for no reply, everyone. I didn't know anyone actually replied here. Let me try to answer your questions then.

I found this ryokan from endless search on Google and Yahoo the link to their website is only in Japanese but I found this website (http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/) which is in English and you can book the ryokan there. It was pretty easy and safe.

No, I haven't stayed in any ryokans before this one. That was my first time but after looking at the pictures on the internet, I found the outdoor onsen at this ryokan is one of the best one and the price is also within budget. I actually recommended this to a Japanese couple who has lived in US for a number of years and they have stayed at various ryokans before and they loved this one.

After you exit the Hakone train station, take the only exit there and try to get to the bus that's parked on the cross street. There is a flight of stairs on the pavement that will lead you to the underground tunnel and you will emerge on the other side of the street where the bus is. Then ask the bus driver the name of this ryokan, they will tell you if this bus will go there but most likely it will. Then the bus will drop you exactly in front of the ryokan.

They serve the meals (dinner and breakfast) in your room. It was pretty much a full ryokan experience. Even when you arrive, they serve you hot tea, warm wet towels, some Japanese sweets in your room. Then you can change and walk around to enjoy the scenery or enjoy the onsen. The indoor onsens are in a separate building from the ryokan and are separated between women and men's. They have big changing room with amenities (towels, hair dryers, lotions etc) and inside the changing room is the big indoor onsen pool and at least 15 individual stalls, each with bucket, shampoo, soaps etc where you should clean yourself before going in the onsen. All is very clean and neat.

As for the food, it is pretty awesome. Course after course until you are full. I love how they make the tempura. The pheasant tastes pretty much like chicken. I didn't choose any meals, it comes with the room I guess.

I hope this helps. I have tons of pictures of the ryokan, onsen and the food in Flickr. Please email me to [email protected] if you are interested in more information and link to the pictures.

Thanks.