5-Star Hotels in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

We were looking for onsen with private bath on the balcony and probably hit the sweet spot. Unfortunately we had only 1 night stay, but it was fantastic. Onsen is located at the top station Gora, where you can get from Odawara. That’s around 2 hours from Tokyo all together, around 3 hours from Kyoto. Last 2 sections of the way are going through a picturesque steep railway. Views are great! Be sure to rush to the front or back seats (doesn’t matter which) to secure a spot for nice photographs. Private bath is fantastic, rooms are clean and spacious with a touch of ryokan style (tatami etc). That’s a perfect place to sit and relax doesn’t matter it’s sunshine or pooring rain outside. The food was fantastic (according to my wife), however the options are limited if you’re not eating fish or sea products due to allergy or other reasons. For Karaku team - I would suggest adding a signature wagyu set for those who would like something else. Selection of wine and alcohol drinks is superb. Free snacks and coffee are available till 8 p.m. as well with a view terrace. For those who like some regular conbini stuff - Lawson is around 10 mins walk with Miyazaki style trains passing by👌🏻 All in all, we wish we had stayed at least 2 nights as there are lots of activities around.  Thanks to Karaku staff for a warm welcome and tailored experience!

The room was quite spacious, and being right by the sea, I could enjoy ocean views from the window. The location is super convenient – it's only about 300-400 meters from the Big Ferris Wheel, 700-800 meters from the Red Brick Warehouse, 200 meters from the Convention Center, and 300-400 meters from the Portside Shopping Area. Chinatown is roughly 1.3 km away, and Noge Yokocho is about 1.2 km. Absolutely fantastic location!

The rooms blend modern Japanese comfort with thoughtful amenities. A standout perk: some rooms come with a massage chair, perfect for unwinding after a day exploring Hakone. The private open-air onsen in every room is a true luxury natural hot spring water on your own balcony, available anytime. The experience is relaxing, intimate, and effortless. Views are generally stunning, framing Hakone’s mountains and treelines. However, be aware: some rooms face the hotel’s large parking lot, where constant car noise and movement can ruin the scenery. Staff service is attentive, friendly, and pleasant.

This hotel is self-service, but it's absolutely fantastic. First off, the location and the view from the window are unbeatable. It features authentic Hakone hot spring water directly to your room, and you can definitely smell the sulfur. You can also BBQ on the terrace while enjoying a foot bath and a drink. It's perfect for a longer stay during your vacation.

The hotel's location is super convenient, close to Minato Mirai and Sakuragicho. There are tons of restaurants in Landmark and Queen's Square, plus my favorite supermarket, Seijo Ishii. Traveling with kids, we opted for a room with a microwave and washing machine, which was incredibly handy. The hotel even provided special toiletries for our child every day, a really thoughtful touch. The hotel itself is new, with a modern design, and the staff are all very enthusiastic. You can even see Mount Fuji from our room! We'll definitely choose Mitsui Garden again next time we're in Yokohama!

The room was very spacious, though the decor was a bit dated. However, the facilities weren't too old. It was very clean, but since the entire room was carpeted, there was a slight odor, which was tolerable. The balcony was tiny and not very useful, but the view outside was fantastic. The bathroom was a highlight – very, very large with excellent natural light from a big glass window. The hotel's location is superb; several popular attractions are within walking distance. Downstairs there's an amusement park, which makes it perfect if you're traveling with children. It's just one subway stop from Yokohama Station, a major transportation hub. You can also reach the subway station via an underground passage, which is very convenient. The Haneda Airport limousine bus stops directly in front of the hotel, so you don't have to walk an inch, and the staff even helps with luggage, which was a very nice touch. Overall, I highly recommend staying at this hotel when visiting Yokohama.

My main reason for choosing Hotel Indigo was the expectation that a foreign hotel would offer more diverse food options than traditional Japanese cuisine, and that the rooms would be more modern. Both expectations were met, which was great. However, the hotel's location is quite remote, making it difficult to walk to Gora Station. Thankfully, the hotel provides a shuttle service to the station from 10 AM to 6 PM. If you plan to take the shuttle to Odawara, remember to book it in advance at the front desk. There's also an unsightly warehouse-like structure next to the hotel, which is a bit of a letdown considering how secluded the location already is – it really spoils the view. Around 90% of the guests here seem to be Western tourists, likely in groups, as the breakfast area was almost full before 8 AM. For dinner, we decided to eat near Gora Station and had some excellent unagi (eel) rice. A taxi back to the hotel cost us 700 yen. For first-time visitors to Hakone, I'd recommend staying in Hakone-Yumoto instead, as it's livelier, offers more dining choices, and has more convenient transportation. Also, the hotel's public bath is mixed-gender, requiring you to bring your own swimwear or borrow special attire from the front desk, which I found a bit inconvenient, so I didn't end up using it.

When checking in, the hotel will explain the tourist route of Hakone. It's a no-brainer to check in and just follow the map provided by the hotel. The service exceeded my expectations. I felt like a princess returning home during my stay. I thought this was the standard Japanese service. But later I stayed in other hotels and found that the service of Gora Kadan is far better than other hotels of the same price. The room is a bit old and the shower is also very old, but it is cleaned quite well.

This is my first time to experience this kind of pure Japanese-style hotel. Although I only stayed there for one night in a hurry, the experience was very rich and colorful. The service staff was warm and considerate. Although we relied almost entirely on translation machines and body language, it did not affect our communication. The aunt who was responsible for taking care of us would patiently help us change our clothes, remind us to appreciate the cherry blossoms, and ask us where to go. It felt like my own relatives were taking care of the children who came to travel. This is probably the meaning of a family hotel. Dinner and breakfast were very delicious and sufficient! The girls really couldn't finish it! When I learned that someone of us had a birthday, I got a handwritten blessing card, which was very touching! Our friends agreed to stay more time to come here next time!