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| Experiencing private open-air wooden Onsen bathtub is on the bucket lists of many couples traveling to Japan |
- To read about my blog article on Onsen for Shy travelers, visit: Japan Onsen for Shy Travelers - Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Swimsuit Hot Spring Bath and Private Onsen Ryokan
- To read about my day trip experience to Atami Onsen town, visit: Atami Onsen area - Hot Spring Day Trip from Tokyo
- To read about my recommendations of affordable, Reasonable, Convenient hotels in Tokyo, visit: Affordable Cheap Reasonable Hotels in Tokyo
- To read about my recommendations of reasonable, affordable, and convenient hotels in Kyoto, visit: Kyoto reasonable, affordable, and convenient Hotels
Our private open-air wooden Onsen tub is located on the private balcony of the Ryokan hotel room at Setsugetsuka. This is a very classic set up for private hot spring tub at traditional Onsen Ryokan in Japan. Charming fragrance from the Hinoki 檜 wooden tub relaxes the body and soul.
ACCESS FROM TOKYO AREA TO HAKONE SETSUGETSU RYOKAN HOTEL
*METHOD ONE
(takes about two hours total; costs around $42 USD)
1. Tokyo station to Odawara station 小田原 by Shinkansen bullet train
2. Odawara station to Hakone-Yumoto station 箱根湯本 by Odakyu limited express train 小田原線特急.
3. Hakone-Yumoto station to Gora station 強羅 by Hakone Tozan Train 箱根登山鉄道
4. Setsugetsu Onsen Ryokan Hotel is one minute on foot from Gora station
*METHOD TWO
(takes about 2.5 hours total; costs around $22 USD)
1. Shinjuku station 新宿 to Hakone-Yumoto station 箱根湯本 by Odakyu ROMANCECAR limited express train 箱根湯本小田急ロマンスカー
2. Hakone-Yumoto station to Gora station 強羅 by Hakone Tozan Train 箱根登山鉄道
3. Setsugetsu Onsen Ryokan Hotel is one minute on foot from Gora station
HAKONE SETSUGETSUKA PRIVATE ONSEN BATH RYOKAN EXPERIENCE
Arriving in the afternoon, checking in was a breeze. The staff were fluent enough in English to give us an overview of the Setsugetsuka Ryokan Hotel.
Soon after the checking in process, we discovered the welcome flower/vase and English welcome note in the lobby.
This particular Japanese-Western style room was set up with tatami floor, traditional Japanese furniture and comfortable spring beds instead of Japanese futons.
Wearing Yukata 浴衣 Japanese tradition outfit is a common cultural practice while staying at a traditional Onsen Ryokan hotel.
Aside from having private Onsen tub in the room, another perk of staying at Setsugetsuka Onsen Ryokan was that there were several open-air communal Onsen options for the less shy guests. Hotel staff at the outdoor corridor were guiding guests to communal Onsen Hot Spring spa facilities.
ONSEN RYOKAN KAISEKI DINNER
Fancy Kaiseki 懐石 料理 dinner at Onsen Ryokan hotel is always an important part of the full experience. Seasonal ingredients and delicate presentation are the essence of Onsen Ryokan Kaiseki meals.
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| This artistic looking menu makes it a good souvenir to take home with |
Full set of Kaiseki meals of our reservation included Sesame Tofu appetizer, Shabu Shabu, Sashimi plate, and clay pot rice etc. Dish presentation and taste were amazing works of art.
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| Sesame flavor Tofu in dashi jelly sauce |
Pieces of edible art work were presented on nice Japanese plates.
Fresh Sashimi is also quite common on Onsen Ryokan dinner menu.
Amazing clay pot tofu with special Miso flavor gravy sauce were this particularOnsen Ryokan's specialty cuisine.
Seasoned ground chicken meat mixture was prepared in Japanese traditional bamboo container. This plate remains raw until being dropped into the boiling dashi soup hot pot for cooking.
Last dish was the Japanese Kamameshi 釜飯 flavored metal pot rice, which cooks assorted ingredients and rice to complete the Onsen Ryokan Kaiseki dinner.
Jelly dessert also looked like something out of a glass art museum. There were pieces of exotic fruits in the jelly dessert.
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| Subtle balance of tart and sweetness with full fruity flavor was infused in this jelly dessert |
To entertain every hotel guest in the evening, Onsen Ryokan staff held traditional Japanese Matsuri 祭り festival style of games in the lobby
SURROUNDING AND NEIGHBORHOOD
One of the advantages of staying at Hakone Setsugetsuka Onsen Ryokan hotel, aside form the close proximity to Tokyo, is that this Onsen Ryokan is located close to the very convenient Gora train station 強羅駅, as well as a popular sightseeing cable cart station. This allows quick and easy access to the top of the sightseeing spot to view the majestic Mountain Fuji 富士山.
View from the Hakone Tozan cable car ride 箱根 登山 ケーブルカー made it look like another planet. Steam that heats up the Onsen Hot Spring water were coming out the ground
Glimpse of the majestic Mountain Fuji 富士山 is a popular reason for visitor to choose Hakone Onsen Ryokan over other Onsen town.
AFTER THOUGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Advantages of staying at Hakone Setsugetsuka private Onsen Ryokan are: easy access from Tokyo, polite staff, sense of privacy, delicious Kaiseki meals, and nearby the view point for the majestic Mountain Fuji. The only down side is probably the expensive price that came with the en suite private Onsen tub.
2. Private open-air Onsen in room is never meant to be reasonably priced. I recommend inspired travelers to compare price on different reliable hotel reservation websites such as Trivago or Hotelscombined or Tripadivsor for the best deal.
3. Always include the fancy Kaiseki dinner and breakfast during the Onsen Ryokan reservation. Many of the traditional Onsen Ryokan are located in remote areas of Japan where outside restaurants are hard to find nearby. Fancy dinner and breakfast complete the full once-a-life-time experience of traditional Onsen Ryokan accommodation stay.
4. Many Onsen Ryokan offers optional hourly private open-air Onsen facility rental free of charge or at minimal nominal cost. I recommend making reservation for the rental as soon as you are checking in at the Onsen lobby.
5. Other reasons for staying at Setsugetsuka Ryokan is the extra perks in food and beverages. This Hot Spring Hotel offers for guests late night soba/ramen dinner to feed the hungry guests before bed time. There were also free coffee, tea, and cold Yakult yogurt/probiotic drinks for replenishing the body fluid loss during the hot spring Onsen soak.
INFORMATION AND USEFUL LINKS
*Hakone Setsugetsuka Onsen Ryokan Hotel (Official Homepage in Japanese)
1300-34 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0408, Kanagawa Prefecture
TEL.0460-86-1333
*Gora Onsen Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka Hotelscombined price comparison
*Gora Onsen Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka Tripavisor price comparison
*箱根強羅温泉 季の湯 雪月花 (Official Homepage in Japanese)
〒250-0408
神奈川県足柄下郡箱根町強羅1300-34
TEL.0460-86-1333
Hakone Onsen Ryokan Hotel
*Hakone Onsen Ryokan Hotel Hotelscombined price comparison
*Hakone Onsen Ryokan Hotel Tripavisor price comparison
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ALSO KNOWN AS
Hakone en suite Onsen room, 箱根 風呂 付 客室
Onsen, geothermal hot spring, 温泉, 온센, stazione termale
Rotenburo, 露天 風呂
Tokinoyu, 季の湯
Setsugetsuka, 雪月花
Ryokan, 旅館
Gora, 強羅
Mountain Fuji, 富士山
Odawara, 小田原
Hakone Yumoto, 箱根湯本
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