Shirayu no Yado Yamadaya

Location: 1320-907 Gora, Hakone, Kanagawa, 250-0408, Hakone, JP

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Property Type: Ryokans

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM

Check-out: 10:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Full-service spa
• Free WiFi
• Luggage storage
• Karaoke
• Wheelchair accessible
• Gift shops or newsstand
• Free newspapers in lobby
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Full-service spa
• Smoke-free property
• Free train station pickup
• Parking (limited spaces)
• Free self parking
• Free long-term parking
• Covered parking
• Kaiseki meal
• Genkan (entryway)
• Handrails in stairways

Rooms Available

• [Limited to 2 Rooms] Top Floor Room, Scenic View

  3 Twin Futons

  194-sq-foot room, located on the top floor, mountain views

  
  

  Layout - Tokonoma (alcove) and fusuma (room partition)

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, electric kettle, and room service

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Shower/tub combination, slippers, and free toiletries

  Practical - Safe and window screens

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and climate-controlled heating and air conditioning

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Safety deposit box
  • Refrigerator
  • Slippers
  • Electric kettle
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Room service
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Window screens
  • Tokonoma (alcove)
  • Fusuma (room partition)
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available
  • Location - top floor

• Japanese Style Room, Great view, No Restaurants nearby, Check-in until 6PM

  6 Twin Futons

  Overlooking the mountains

  
  

  Layout - Tokonoma (alcove) and fusuma (room partition)

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, electric kettle, and room service

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Slippers, free toiletries, and towels

  Practical - Safe and window screens

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and climate-controlled heating and air conditioning

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 6 (6 Adults)

  • Safety deposit box
  • Refrigerator
  • Slippers
  • Electric kettle
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Room service
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Window screens
  • Tokonoma (alcove)
  • Fusuma (room partition)
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

• Japanese Style Twin Room, Great view, No Restaurants nearby, Check-in until 6PM

  2 Twin Futons

  Overlooking the mountains

  
  

  Layout - Tokonoma (alcove) and fusuma (room partition)

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, electric kettle, and room service

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Shared bathroom, slippers, free toiletries, and towels

  Practical - Safe and window screens

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and climate-controlled heating and air conditioning

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Safety deposit box
  • Refrigerator
  • Slippers
  • Electric kettle
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Room service
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Window screens
  • Tokonoma (alcove)
  • Fusuma (room partition)
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

• [Limited to One Room] Top Floor Room with a Private Hot Spring, Scenic View

  6 Twin Futons

  344-sq-foot room with mountain views

  
  

  Layout - Tokonoma (alcove) and fusuma (room partition)

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, electric kettle, and room service

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Spring water bathtub and slippers

  Practical - Safe and window screens

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and climate-controlled heating and air conditioning

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 6 (6 Adults)

  • Safety deposit box
  • Refrigerator
  • Private bathroom
  • Slippers
  • Electric kettle
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Room service
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Free WiFi
  • Spring water bathtub
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Window screens
  • Tokonoma (alcove)
  • Fusuma (room partition)
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

Guest Reviews

• Hunter (10/5): - Highly recommend for the authentic Ryokan experience. It has an authenticity to it that the fancier places don't. Staff and service were amazing. Onsen were great with some fantastic views. Definitely a must if staying overnight in Hakone area.
• Mykhailo (10/5): - Japanesse style hotel with perfect dinner
• Stephanie (10/5): - We had the loveliest night here, and the service was fantastic. We found the main lady who looked after us to be wonderful, fun, friendly and very caring. The inn may be a bit older but it was cosy and comfortable. It could use perhaps a little renovation, but won't stop us from staying again when we return!
• Holly (10/5): - Lovely property and exceptional service. Highly recommend you visit!
• KOHEI (6/5): - バスがカビだらけ、駐車しずらい
• Shai (8/5): - Overall this was a good stay This was our first time in a Ryokan so we were not sure what to expect. The staff was very nice and welcoming, and catered to our every need. The room was in traditional style where you sleep on futons, and have breakfast and dinner served to your room by the nice lady that is with you through your whole stay. Bathroom has a japanese toilet, and there is no shower in the room, instead you shower in the Onsen. What we did is use the Onsen, then have the evening shower, and eat dinner. The food served is traditional, and for some can be challenging, but in my opinion most of what we had was tasty. You can also talk to the hotel if you have certain requirements or prefer something different and a bit more western. The futons were OK, and there were extra pillows in the closet. The onsen is nice and relaxing. The location is also very good because it's right next to the Hakone Ropeway station. The hotel is quite old and not renovated, but in my opinion, it adds to the "magic" of experiencing a traditional stay. However, it can be cleaner. Overall a good stay, and we thank the hotel staff and the nice lady who was with us.
• Anna (8/5): Just OK - This Ryokan is up in the hills, far from anything except the Hakone cable car and ropeway. It is very authentic I am sure but very dated. The food was off in my opinion but I am not a fan of raw, fishy things that I don't know what they are. They try and explain but still a mystery on some of the items. You eat in your room on the floor which for a westerner was not comfortable however I realize it is their custom.
• Simon (10/5): - Proper Ryokan Inn experience with all the meals and hot tubs.
• Matt (10/5): - Staff are wonderful; quaint and traditional.
• San (8/5): - Cute place to stay
• ?? (8/5): - 従業員の方は全員外国の方でしたが、丁寧な言葉遣いで頑張っておられました。食事も食べ切れないほどの量でなく、十分でしたが、若い方には少し物足りないかもしれません。 お風呂のマットがいつもビシャビシャだったのが残念でした。
• じゅんいち (8/5): - 建物が古いから生活音が気になる方は注意
• Luigi (10/5): - Classic Japanese rooms, well heated and food is amazing!
• KimberlyY4416 (6/5): Wonderful staff but the building needs some TLC - I wish I could give this ryokan 5 stars for the lovely, hardworking and accommodating staff but the building itself is in dire need of renovation. There was mould in the corner of the room where my friend and I stayed, as well as in the bathroom adjacent to the private onsen. The onsen changing area is a little threadbare and the indoor bath itself is small. It’s a shame because the location offers so much potential with the views of the surrounding mountains and forest. On the other hand, I quite liked the meals which are served in your room and the daily snacks and tea we were provided. It was definitely a good idea for the ryokan to serve meals in the guest rooms because my friend and I were staying on the fifth floor. Walking back and forth from a dining room would have been very tiring indeed.
• SEONGTAE (10/5): 위치좋고, 가격좋고, 분위기 좋고요. - 너무 친절하고 위치도 좋아서 잘 이용했습니다.
• Uamhair (6/5): My Most Conflicted Review Yet - This is probably the toughest review I've opted to write. On one hand the staff were extremely welcoming, friendly and willing to go the extra mile and I feel guilty not being able to give a 5* review for that. Whilst the ryokan is older in nature, and we knew this in advance, it has a certain old school traditional charm. However... we struggled to enjoy the otherwise highly spacious and tidy room due to the heavy presence of black mold in a handful of places, particularly the toilet area where we were surrounded by it on two sides when you sat down. The stench from the toilet/sink area invaded the main room and on the first night (of our two night stay) I was genuinely looking up alternative accomodation after the stench hit critical point. I eventually sussed out a solution for the second night involving a noisy dehumidifier, open window and some earplugs, but it completely ruined what we hoped would be a relaxing stay. We genuinely weren't looking forward to returning to the room, but we had to before 9pm when the front door gets locked. I should however note that I found the 24hr spacious shared onsen area clean enough and particularly enjoyed the outdoor single-person tubs which were very relaxing with nice views. I ended up going into that at 5am for escapism. My 3* overall score is an average of 5* for the service and 1* star for the 'cleanliness'. The latter word is difficult to interpret as the room was very tidy and clean in that sense, just spoilt by mould and an associated(?) smell. Sadly it's leaked out into the hallways, giving the entire hotel interior a musty smell that's evident as soon as you leave the front door area. I felt really bad ticking 'No' in the 'would you stay here again?' section of their feedback form, but I'd have felt worse for lying. There's so much potential here with a bit of basic renovation though (even just replace the panelling and flooring in the toilet area), and although I feel they're trying to tackle some of the problems by adding dehumidifiers to the room, it's like sticking a plaster over a deep wound. Although this site is relatively cheap for the area, and what I describe may well reflect that, I expected a better overall experience for what was still a pricey establishment. I'd personally file this review in my 'harsh but fair' category.
• Verified traveler (2/5): Eh - Room was very dirty, spider webs all over at the top. Private bath is tiny. Dinner was ok but breakfast was ehhh. It was very dissapointing. Have been excited to go to a ryokan for years and dont think ill give another one a go
• SHINOBU (2/5): - ３回目の宿泊でしたが スタッフが外国人だったから 聞きたいことがあっても聴けない
• Esther (8/5): Budget ryokan with excellent service - The service was exceptional as were the dinners and breakfasts. The insensitive were are well equipped and relaxing after a day of exploring. The property is a short walk from the rope way. The only reason I didn’t give this property a five star is that is is old and in need of renovations ( peeling linoleum and water (?) stains in the toilet area.
• ben (2/5): - do yourself a favor, and stay elsewhere. we had such high hopes for this leg of our trip. unfortunately, i have nothing good to report about this property. to put it softly, it was disgusting, especially by Japanese standards, and way overpriced for the condition of the facilities. the property needed a complete renovation 30 years ago, which we tried to look past. the private onsen was anything but inviting as it was surrounded by black mold (so much so that we didn't want our bare skin touching any surface), so we didn't even bother during our reserved and paid for time slot. we had two nights booked, and would have left the same day we checked in, but it was too late to book another hotel that night. we suffered through the night, and left the following morning before breakfast was served. doubtful we'll see any sort of refund for our subpar experience, so i can only hope this review steers others elsewhere. we've received no response from the property owner nor travelocity, which is also disappointing.
• Issac (8/5): - 酒店晚上九點後不准出入有些不放便
• Melina (8/5): Horrible, que nadie se aloje aquí - El lugar más sucio en el que me he alojado. Descuidado y lleno de polvo y moho por todas partes. El onsen no estaba limpio, el agua tenía polvo y la piedra estaba muy sucia. La habitación olía a tabaco y el futón tan fino que ha sido como dormir en el suelo. El precio que pagamos la noche me parece excesivo
• HUIWEN (10/5): - 旅館很有年代感了，廁所燈光昏暗，可以掩飾老舊造成的一些斑駁，員工很日式旅館的禮貌，餐飲就是基本的日式料理
• CHING HOI (10/5): - Have car to take us to check-in
• ?? (6/5): - 食事とスタッフさんのサービスがとても良かった。建物が古くて、雑音が大きかった！
• マユ (8/5): - 早雲山駅の近くで、とても便利でした スタッフの方も丁寧な方が多いです。
• ?? (6/5): - スタッフの対応はとても良く、特に外国人スタッフの対応がとても良かったです。でも、建物が古くて階段が急なので、高齢者には無理だと思いました。
• Ciharu (8/5): - 事前にクチコミを確認して行きましたが、概ねその通りで設備に古さや汚さはあるものの、料理は珍しい物は無いですが美味しく、お風呂も湯の花がまうほど、お肌ツルツルになるような良い湯でした。 体感では3階のお風呂は少し温めで4階は丁度良かったです。 駐車場は狭かったりもしますが、従業員は皆さん一生懸命で感じは良いです。 飲み物を持ち込みましたが、備え付けの冷蔵庫には有料の飲み物で一杯でスペースがないのが残念でした。 値段も手頃で立地も良いので分かって決めるなら良いと思います。
• TOMOE (6/5): - 昭和レトロと古い宿で清掃が行き届いていない、料理は和食だけどしょっばい&辛い サービスの方は外国人のようだけれど親切丁寧一生懸命やっている感じ。 景色は、良好、 お値段にあった今回は良い旅になった
• みつよ (6/5): - 部屋に髪の毛が何本も落ちていた。
• Chong Pin (10/5): - Yamadaya is a mid range ryokan/inn walkable from Sounzan station (first ropeway station). Not a whole lot in terms of food and such but it’s good place for a rest and for quick access to the rope way to owakudani and the lake. There are 2 main hot bath area which converts from public to private baths at 7pm/7am. Facility wise some parts a bit more dated but the staff and service is really good. Food and value is great.
• Deborah (4/5): Don’t stay here - I would not recommend this hotel. There was mold on the walls and on the caulk in the bathroom. The room smelled musty and has a giant spider and beetle in it.
• Miyvki (10/5): - 白濁の湯は良かったです。夕食朝食も美味しかったです。
• Christoph (6/5): Needs some renovation - It could be cleaner for Japanese standards - food and service was great
• Verified traveler (10/5): 하코네의 가성비 료칸 - 소운잔역에서 가까운 거리에 있어요. 시설은 오래됐지만 붐비지 않아 좋아요. 식사도 괜찮고 온천도 좋았어요. 다만 주변에 아무것도 없어요.
• Verified traveler (8/5): Hakone stay - 5 minutes walk from Souzan station, place was quiet with 2 onsens. Onsen are rotated every 12 hours. Kaiseki styled Dinner and breakfast were provided as there is very limited food option in Hakone area and most public transport end at 5pm
• SIN YI (8/5): - 房間真的有點舊，也有點不太乾淨，如果你喜歡古色古鄉的味道那就不錯，由強羅駅坐登山䌫車到早雲山再行五分鐘便到，十分方便
• Ryan (8/5): - Hotel is very close to the ropeway and offers a shuttle bus to the main station which you really do need. Bedding arrangement is hard as a rock so be aware of that. The hotel itself is very dated and no especially clean. However I found that part of the old school charm. The included meals were absolutely outstanding traditional kaiseki style. Worth the price for that alone.
• ?? (10/5): - 料理は美味しいし、源泉掛け流しの白濁した温泉は最高でした。但し、昔ながらの木造の建物なので、4階の部屋まで徒歩で階段を上りましたが、かなり急なので年配の方は上の方の階の部屋に行くのは大変かも知れません。
• Jenson (10/5): - Exactly what I expected from a traditional Ryokan experience.
• Ingrid (10/5): - What an experience!!!!! Such a gracious and traditional place in Hakone. So thankful for making our experience so beautiful.
• Jamie (8/5): - We had a really nice stay. This is our first ryokan experience. We arrived around noon and they were able to store our luggage so we can go tour the area with our Hakone Free pass. When we return to check in our luggage was already in our room. The heat was cranked up so our room was nice and toasty and there's hot green tea ready for us with a little piece of packaged cake, a nice touch after being out on a cold and rainy day. Our room is good size for the 2 of us and it is clean, no strange smell. It's a bit dated but that's the charm. Our room is on the 3rd floor, it has a nice view of the mountains. The outdoor onsen tubs on both the 3rd and 4th floor are really nice. It's great to be sitting in the outdoor tubs and inhale the mountain fresh air. The indoor onsen rooms on both floor were old and needs maintenance and renovation but I was using the outside onsen so that didn't bother me. Both meals were perfect, it was beautifully set up and has good flavor and variety. The futon was a bit hard for me, I didn't sleep very well because of it, other than that, it was a very nice stay and I would come back again.
• gareth (8/5): Traditional Ryokan experience at a good price. - We really enjoyed our stay at this Ryokan. It was in a perfect location at the end of the cable car and ropeway for easy access. The service was great and if you're after a traditional Ryokan experience this offers that at a very reasonable price. The food both evening and morning was very traditional, whilst not necessarily to our tastes entirely it was beautifully presented and again a great experience. We stayed for 2 nights and found that to be enough. There was no hot water in the rooms for showers etc, so the only option was the communal naked Onsen for washing and bathing. It was a real experience and we would recommend giving it a go. The property itself is a little shabby in parts but for that price we were not complaining. We would highly recommend if you want the traditional Ryokan experience.
• Irvin (6/5): Would be much better if they cleaned better. - The location was great with it being a short walk from the cable car station and the staff were friendly plus helpful. The building was definitely on the older side which we expected, however the rooms and facilities seemed to be lacking in cleanliness. The room we stayed in had cobwebs on the dm ceiling and dust/dirt could be seen along the baseboard areas of the room. The onsen / bath area was ok but the actual soaking area really could use some detail cleaning as the window edges were quite dirty. The meals were good overall but I would’ve appreciated it if they gave us the same meals for our children too as we had paid quite a bit more to include my 2 kids. For dinner they were not given the sashimi and one other dish which were some of the main dishes in dinner. Not was there a substitute.
• Xiaofei (10/5): - The ryankan is about 3 minutes walking from Souenzan cable car station and it is convenient get to. They do free pick up from the cable car station as well if needed. Our family stayed in three rooms on the fourth floor. The ryankan is generally very clean. It being old, you do see a bit of spider webs here and there. But there is no concern for being clean. We sleep on tatamis and it is generally conformable. There are two public bath, one on third floor and one on the fourth floor. Both with an indoor hot spring and two outdoor bathtub. The two hot springs switches between men’s and women’s at 7 am and 7 pm. You can soak in onsen whenever you want to through the night. Dinner is at 6 pm. The food was good and tasty. While you enjoy the dinner, the room is converted to a bedroom. Breakfast is at 8 am and is equally 10 course and tasty. The room is converted to day time use when you have breakfast. The onsen is not very busy and occasionally have 2-3 other people. It is a good place to stay.
• Kozue (4/5): - This property was very old, which I don't mind, but walls, floors, and doors had old stains and mold. The windows were not clean. The hotel also smelled like mildew. The onsen area had stained & damp carpets in the changing room and mold all over the ceiling. The amenities like hair tonic & skin care was from the 80's. The bath was ok with 3 areas to soak (indoor & outdoor). Location was close to Sounzan station, but a short walk up the hill. What made my stay tolerable was the toilets looks newer and the tatami in the room was clean and futon sheets were crisp white and looked clean. Most of the staff was not Japanese, but they were very nice and friendly and hard working. The food was plentiful for dinner and breakfast and it was better than expected. Overall, I realized I should spend a little more so my family could really feel comfortable and enjoy the onsen experience. This place was just under $400 for a family of 4 during the weekday and I realized, I need to spend $800-$1000 (USD)at hakone so that this stay can feel like a vacation.
• Loan (6/5): - The staff was kind and pleasant. Both dinner and breakfast were delicious. We were grateful they offered transportation service to Gora station since it started raining. Unfortunately the place is in a desperate need of repairs. The ceiling was leaking in multiple places with buckets placed to catch the water. I slipped on a puddle with the uncomfortable slippers that were asked to be worn. My kids couldn’t even walk in theirs and couldn’t grip them to climb the stairs.
• Abbie (8/5): - The workers are very friendly and the food is great but the cleanliness is not very good.
• Santosh (8/5): - The location is pretty close to the starting point of Ropeway so easy to access on your own. The property does provide pick up service which is also nice. The outdoor Onsen ( hot bath) was really nice. Went early in morning and got it to myself kind of private usage experience. The best part was the dinner and breakfast offered as part of half board pricing when you book it. This to me was the best part of this property. The location is right on road so you cannot really have a area with open garden to walk etc. and having that would be really nice to relax in morning or evening watching the mountains.
• Mary (10/5): - There was an authentic old school vibe that created a wonderful experience for us. Staff was amazing and the convenient location to bus stop and, cable cars and gondola to visit the small towns along that route and Lake Aisha was perfect. It's how we saw Mt Fuji, a highlight of our two week trip to Japan
• Tina (10/5): - The food was absolutely amazing. All staff was exceptionally kind and helpful.
• Lik Yan (8/5): - Loved the service.
• Emily (10/5): - Kaiseki and Onsen were top notch. We stayed for 2 nights and were always looking forward to the next meal. The lady who was in charge of our food prep gave the best service. Just wow! We found the location kind of hard-er to get to (either by cablecar or ropeway only) so one time, we had to make sure that we were back before the last ride. Room size for 4 was great and futon was very comfortable.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - The service was excellent. It had the feel of a traditional ryokan with meals served in your room. There are no elevators so it might be difficult for guests with mobility issues.
• Janos (10/5): - Very attentive staff. Dinner and breakfast amazing.
• Mercy (10/5): - Very nice highly recommended
• Verified traveler (8/5): - This was our third time visiting Yamadaya Ryokan. It’s an older
• redladybir (10/5): Visited November 2016 - The year my mum and I visited, we had an unseasonally cold front come through early with a lot of snow, halting all trains up the mountain. We were stuck in Odawara along with the local population, long lines at the taxi and bus ramps. Very luckily for us, the lovely girls at the information booth was able to contact our accommodation and they specially sent down a car to come collect us. They had limited English but we managed to communicate. They were very welcoming and showed us to our room with a little enclosed sitting area looking out to the snow covered hills. The told us dinner would be ready soon, so we relaxed with a pot of tea and they brought in number upon number of traditional dishes for our feast. After dinner, they quickly cleared the dishes and set up our futons for the night. We were lucky and found we had the onsen to ourselves. It was just what we needed after such a busy day. Bonus - it started snowing as we sat in the outdoor tubs! Yes, the place has no elevators. Yes, it is dated and worn. Yes, they don't speak English. But it is run by some lovely people, it's clean, affordable and is a perfect local Japanese experience.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - It was great
• Natasha0206 (10/5): Amazing experience - I stayed here for one night with my mother. We checked in around 2:30 and didn't leave this place until check out next day at 10am. The man at the front desk was very nice. The girl assigned to our room was so sweet. I thought all the staff were great. The onsen tubs were the highlight. Fortunately when we were there there were almost no other people so we hung out in the outside tubs the whole time. There are 2 outside tubs for one person each or you can fit 2 in one of them and then there's an indoor bigger pool that you can soak in. We loved it with the views. The dinner was amazing and so was the breakfast. So many yummy treats to try. It was a lot of food and very beautifully presented. The beds were comfortable and we slept so good. The only thing I didn't like was that the room smelled a little bit like smoke. I guess they allow guests to smoke in the rooms, so for non smokers it's not the best. But otherwise everything was just perfect and we will definitely be back!
• chinyann (2/5): A total disappointment - I went there very late with my family on that day,and we went inside this hotel at first we think that it is quite traditional. After we checked out,we found out that there’s no lifts,only stairs,because all the staff were elderly,and they carry all our heavy luggages and climb up flights of stairs,when the staff reach up the room,they were exhausted and because we are visitors,so we may not know how to speak Japanese so when we said English to the staff,they didn’t know what were we saying so we tried to point the objects and tell them,they also didn’t know what are we saying. From this time we know there is a serious language barrier between us and the staffs. Next,we hurried to change our clothes into yukata,then when we go out of the small room,the dinner is prepared,I think it is too hurry and there’s no time for us to look at the facilities. The food was not what I expected,but some dishes were yummy. After dinner,we want to watch the television,but the television said it cannot support the channel so,we called up the front desk to ask someone to fix the television for us.A while later,a staff came up and fix the television. After a while of resting,we came down to try out the Japanese spa,the spa indoors were hot enough,but when we go outside to try it out,we saw only two bathtubs and when we sit inside,the water was cold. The next day,we hurried and ate our breakfast it was okay,then we left our room and go for the check out counter. We think we would not come to this hotel again and we won’t recommend our family and friends to come to this hotel.
• Beetroot99 (6/5): Lacks style, jaded, overpriced. - Whole place and rooms lack style eg in room big fridge in the corner, TV screen squeezed onto a small shelf. Jaded too. Outdoor section of onsen nice but can only fit 2 people. Latest we could have dinner was 18:30 someone came into entrance of our room to tell us dinner was ready. Felt a bit aggressive as I was trying to get dressed at the time. Food good but not as good as others we've visited. Booked directly, at ¥2000 per adult expected more.
• lienk (10/5): Highlight of trip - My husband and I stayed here with our best friends. It was definitely the highlight of our trip. The service was fantastic. I had read what to expect before we stayed and it was traditionally on point. From the moment we walked in and were greeted to being served tea in our rooms. We had a beautiful view of the mountains from our room. It even snowed when we got there. We relaxed in our Yukatas and soaked in the beautiful surroundings. I loved the experience of the elaborate dinner and breakfast. They did ask us to wait in this small area of our room as dinner/breakfast was being set up but I can understand that the meals themselves were a presentation and wonderful! They came to prepare our beds for us and came in the morning to wake us up, put the beds away and prepare a beautiful breakfast. The onsen was amazing. We enjoyed the indoor and outdoor hot springs a few times. There was a lot to see on our trip and this was the most relaxing day! I wish we could have spent another day here. It is a hidden gem and this family business will make you feel right at home!
• OzMattyVN (10/5): Reminds me of anime. - + They pick you up from Gora station! + Food was plentiful (a bit too much for little me) - delicious though + Onsen, creamy milky water, relaxing and revitalizing. Stayed here alone in a smaller room, comfortably able to have two people. Onsen experience's are best done for couples or 3-4 friends to get the best atmosphere both relaxing in the Onsen, and also in the rooms. Room was as traditional as i imagined. Relatively clean, as other review stated, some things may feel dated, but i think this adds to the feeling and atmosphere of this Ryokan. Staff were attentive, and exceptionally friendly. They helped me at any times i had a question and extremely happy! :) Had a great time here even if it was one night. Thank you!
• shinnshinnshinn (6/5): Great onsen, service average - Stayed here with my family. Great location few mins walk to cable station, pretty quiet. Onsen is great with milky natural hotspring water and the outdoor ones have a beautiful of the misty mountain that gave Sounzan its name "Early cloud mountain". The actual hotel is charmingly old. Most people staying are Japanese which always is a good sign. Food is great. The only complaint is that the staff here are not as warm and friendly as other ryokans. They are just going through motion doing their job while trying to engage you as little as possible. You don't have the impression they are going extra mile to help you, like you get elsewhere in Japan. They just try to get it done and get rid of you.
• SkyeM811 (10/5): The best experience - My husband & 2 kids (5&6) spent 2 nights here. We had a marvellous stay - the onsen was amazing, the food delicious , the staff just so gorgeous - especially Mineko , who was hilarious & extremely helpful :) A must do experience :) Would have loved to stay longer.
• aneles (6/5): Lovely staff, careworn - The price was pretty good for a ryokan in the area, and the food was really good. They took our requests for special food - pesco for my friend and vegetarian for me. I've stayed in a lot of ryokans and I was pleasantly surprised that they got it right - nothing swimming in dashi, no mistakes that I could tell, and even the dessert was made with agar rather than gelatin. The service was friendly and attentive - I loved the reception concierge, the room maid, and the futon fella. The baths are also really nice - one on the 4th floor and one on the 5th. They are both lovely, with great views from the 4th. There is no wi-fi in room, but there was wifi access in the lobby and a few chairs there where you could sit and check your email. The hotel is definitely a bit careworn. The tatami in our room was faded in parts, and there were patches of carpet in the halls that had seen better days. It's also clear that the hotel is not non-smoking, and the smell is really hard to get out of tatami despite the air cleaner in the room.
• rentatamba (8/5): Great experience on Japanese onsen and served meal - We were here on the first week of April, weather is still cold and the cherry trees were not in full blossom. Not much to see on the outside but the experience on the hotel was amazing. Both the Japanese onsen and traditionally served meal were incredible experience, even for my kids of 11 and 6.
• qixotic (10/5): Great ryokan for the price - 3 of us stayed here in a room on the 4th floor overlooking the valley. Although the building may be old (even one seat in our room had a sizable hole in the upholstery), it is definitely worthy of a stay! They have baths on two floors (3rd & 4th), each with an indoor bath featuring their very hot cloudy white water, and a covered outdoor bath (two on the 4th floor). They rotate which gender can use which floor's baths, so you can experience both in a single day. The indoor baths are hotter than outdoor, and the 4th floor indoor the hottest. They also have a small private ofuro on the 5th floor that can hold 2 people if you want at a steep price of over 3000 yen for 45 min. The people at the front desk speak enough English for tourists to enjoy the stay. Dinner and breakfast were large, filling, tasty affairs! Possibly the only quibble here is that the majority of items at dinner are room temp or cold. You can choose to have dinner at 6 or 630; staff will show up at least half an hour beforehand to prepare the room for dinner, which took us around an hour to eat. Enjoy a good dip in the baths before and after your meal! They'll show up again to clean things up and prepare your futons for bed after dinner. Breakfast was served between 730 and 8, so be prepared to have them knocking on your door early in the morning. From this location, we were able to do our own counterclockwise "loop" around Hakone spread out over a day and a half: Day 1 had us arrive at Hakone-Yumoto via Romancecar by 11:20am ==> bus to Amazake Chaya ==> bus to Motohakone ==> walk to the Hakone Shrine and back to the harbor ==> bus to Hakonemachi and the Hakone Checkpoint (Sekisho) ==> missed the last pirate boat to get to the north side of the lake, so took a bus to Gora Station (transfer at Kowakien) ==> cablecar up to Sounzan ==> walk to the ryokan, arriving before 5pm to check in! Day 2 we checked out at 10am ==> ropeway to Owakudani with lots of Mount Fuji photo ops and souvenir buying ==> keep going up to Togendai ==> pirate ship down to Hakone Machi ==> bus it back to Hakone-Yumoto just in time to catch our 2:18pm Romancecar back to Shinjuku. If I had to do this loop again, I'd spend a bit less time in Amazake Chaya and Owakudani, and book a later ticket back to Shinjuku. If you can get on the boat in time to the ryokan on the first day, it'd be easier to spend the 2nd day exploring stuff around Gora, and try taking the train back to Hakone-Yumoto. A few other notes: the toilet outside our room was very cold, as there is no heater outside the room, but I think the toilet seat itself can be heated. No elevator as others have pointed out. You can book a reasonably priced massage done in your room from outside people the inn works with. The inn faces north-ish, so while you get nice views overlooking the valley and mountains, you won't see Mt. Fuji from here.
• dagb2013 (10/5): We loved it! - During our stay in Japan we wanted to experience a reel japanese royokan, et traditional guesthouse with warm springs. Shirayunoyado Yamadaya was chosen for us by JTB (Japanese travelbureau). It was just what we wanted! The view from our room overlooking the valley was breahtaking, the japanese food interesting, the hospitality wonderful and the spa superb with its in- and outdoor pools and 24 hours bathing. Have in mind that it is nok a luxury hotel, it´s a soul experience. The hotel is located three minutes walk from the Hakone ropeway. Remember also to buy the Hakone Free Pass, it will give you access to transport and a lot other attractions.
• TorR_12 (8/5): What a surprise - Spent to days/nights at this cosy guesthouse/hotel in traditional style. Although it was not excellent standard it was such place your want to return to. Ryokan (hot spring bath) in the house, just a minute from apartment room in traditional style. Short war to ropeway for further experiences. And the food, brought to your room was just perfect. Friendly and welcoming staff. Wifi in the reception area.
• Yolly13 (10/5): An amazing stay! - My boyfriend and I stayed here last night and it was all we expected and more. The friendly service and fantastic food made this an amazing experience. Getting there is easy, train to Odawara, then the local train to Gora via Hakone yumoto. Just outside the station is an info booth, they will call the hotel to come pick you up. The onsens are really nice, i tried all three! We booked the private one for 8pm for about 30,000 yen. It's much smaller than the others but fun to do together. The others are male and female separate and to make sure you can use both, different times are set for use by one or the other. We also took the cable car which is only 3 min down the road. On a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji. This morning we walked down to the station (same place the cable car goes from) and took the little train to Gora and from there to Odawara 1090 Yen pp. Thank you again to everyone at Yamadaya, we will always remember our stay with you!
• llydzzi (10/5): Hakone's Hidden Gem! - Stayed a night here, in a japanese room with dinner and breakfast. Location is excellent. Away from the bustling and touristy Hakone-Yumoto but convenient enough to be within 10 min walking distance from Hakone Ropeway Sounzan Station. Mainly Japanese here, I guess we were the only foreigners. However, the staffs were all so friendly, welcomed us warmly and never fail to greet whenever they meet us. The front desk gentlemen spoke good English too! "Sounzan" means morning clouds hill. And as the name suggest, that was the view from our room! A sea of clouds among the hills! The view was really awesome! There are 2 huge baths in the ryokan, for the men and women, including cypress bath. And they will rotate the usage time so we get to enjoy both baths. Their onsen are great! Clean and the hot spring water was rich with minerals, temperature was right and wear off our tiredness immediately. Meals was served in our room. The food was so good, each dish was delicately presently and cooked to perfection. Hakone's smelt fish was also served during dinner. Peaceful surroundings, enjoying our meals with a good view after a relaxing onsen, it's really a gem tucked away in Hakone!

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