This was the most beautiful property at which we stayed in our 2 weeks traveling around Japan and I only wish we had had at least 3 nights. Everything was gorgeous and the service was excellent. We had a room with our own onsen and it was a real treat! Walking around the property and the surrounding area, along with beautiful views of Mt. Fuji made this part of our trip extra special. Would love to stay again someday!

A shuttle from the train station would be a bonus because it is not the easiest place to get to, but, what is really needed are more clear directions on the website for getting to the property. There were a couple of different routing options available, but one was much simpler (not requiring a train transfer) for no additional expense; however, this wasn't clear on the information provided by the hotel.

Yoshimatsu exceeded my expectations in all categories. We got the room with the private onsen and Fuji view. And while the weather was not friendly for the Fuji view, everything else was perfect. The staff were exceptionally hospitable. The facilities clean and well designed. The food was great and more than enough for both dinner and breakfast. The landscaping alone was absolutely beautiful. I got to try all 3 onsens available to me, the private, the public bath, and the family bath, and all were great. I got to fulfill a dream of doing the full winter ryokan experience complete with the yukata and sandals they provided. While it was pricey, I would say it was worth the cost especially as a get-away.

Unrelated to Yoshimatsu, the location is mildly difficult to get to. This is not their fault and in no way reflects negatively on my experience. For anyone reading this, my recommendation is to get to Hakone-Yumoto Station. Then taxi the rest of the way. Our arrival was via Shinkansen to Odawara Station, hour long bus ride with a short hill to get to Yoshimatsu. Our departure was taxi to Hakone-Yumoto and Odakyu Romance train back to Shinjuku. Doing it again ideally you would take the romance train from Shinjuku-Hakone and taxi the rest of the way. If Shinkansen from elsewhere, Odawara > rail to Hakone-Yumoto

We had a wonderful time staying at this stunning ryokan. The rooms and the garden are beautiful, traditional, and curated in every detail. Our room had a terrace with a private onsen, which was extremely convenient and personal. As a couple, we also tried the private onsen in the gardens at 6am and caught gorgeous views of mount Fuji. Against what some reviews say, there is no need to book this private onsen - a lantern shows if it is in use by others or available. The kaiseki dinner and the breakfast were of very high-standard, unique, delicious, beautifully made and presented. The staff were extremely kind and attentive, no issues with English, just really great care which started right at the point of arrival with greeting and refreshements. We were travelling to Matsumoto the next day to our stay and the staff went out of their way to recommend us the best trains to take. We were really made to feel special, and hope to be back in the future.

The property was beautiful - a beautifully maintained traditional garden, wonderful onsen facilities and of course traditional rooms with tatami flooring and bedding. The food was delicious and great to try dishes we likely wouldn’t have tried otherwise. A unique and memorable traditional Japanese ryokan experience. However, what stood out the most was the staff. All of the staff were so kind and accomodating during my wife and I’s stay. It was almost as if they knew what we wanted to do before we did it! A perfect example of this was that we decided last minute at 9:50am that we wanted to catch the sightseeing cruise at 10am (in 10 minutes) on our checkout day - so the staff quickly organised a shuttle bus for us and sped us down the pier, and we made it! A truly unforgettable few days and we would absolutely recommend.

Nothing!

This place is incredible. We had never stayed in a ryokan before, but Yoshimatsu exceeded any expectations we had in terms of hospitality and comfort. It's located close to a number of transport links for the Hakone area (near a bus stop and the pirate ship cruise), so it's a good base to explore the area. It's set back from the main road and is a peaceful oasis. As soon as we arrived we were greeted warmly and served tea, then shown to our room and introduced to our host. The rooms are spacious and traditional, but with modern comforts. The tatami mats were very pleasant to walk on. The three main highlights are the food, the onsens and the staff. The multi course kasieki dinner was incredible - beautifully presented traditional dishes served in the comfort of your own room. They went above and beyond to accommodate my wife who was pregnant and doesn't eat meat. Breakfast is equally impressive and was so filling that we didn't need lunch during the day (just a few black eggs from the nearby volcano to keep us going). The onsens are beautifully presented and relaxing. There is a private onsen which you don't need to book, and is often available as guests are told there is a 30 minute time limit. The public onsens are in beautiful settings and on both occasions I used them I had the bath all to myself. The hot volcanic spring water is incredibly relaxing and left our skin feeling soft. Finally, the staff here are super kind and their attention to detail is impeccable. For example, as soon as we retuned from a day exoring the area, our slippers were laid out and green tea and a snack was brought to our room. Special mention should go to our room maid (embarrassingly, I can't remember her name) who was very charming and funny, and looked after us at dinner times with great warmth. I really can't recommend this place enough.

Nothing!

We had one of our best hotel stays of all times. We liked it so much, that we spontaneously stayed for one night longer than we initially planned. The rooms are gorgeous and the dinner + breakfast were some of the best ones we had during our long trip through Japan. However, what stands even further out is the incredible service. We felt extremely welcomed and the staff tried all they could to satisfy any need we had. We have never experienced such a lovely and heartfelt service and will for sure try to come again in the future. I cannot recommend it enough - definitely worth the price

We took the advice of another review and went to Hakone-Yumoto Station and then taxi the rest of the way, which was really helpful. The staff, especially our assistant, Dana, were very nice and accommodating! The room itself was quiet and perfect with the private onsen and made us feel like we were the only ones on the property. Perfect, relaxing stop between traveling between Kyoto and Tokyo for us. If you’re not booking a private onsen, there seemed to be enough public onsens for the other guests to share. They had nice amenities like public foot massagers too. Dinner was a delicious 15 course that seemed to be changing by the month.

Honestly, the breakfast could be improved. My husband and I are used to eating adventurous food, but the breakfast was a little too adventurous for that early.

We had the pleasure of staying at Hotel Yoshimatsu during our visit to Hakone, and it truly felt like a home away from home. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Their warmth and attentiveness made our stay incredibly comfortable. The room was immaculate and thoughtfully arranged, providing all the comforts we needed after long days of exploring the city. The attention to detail in the decor added a touch of elegance, making it a cozy retreat. We were also impressed by the hotel's peaceful ambiance. The traditional Japanese touches throughout the hotel added to the overall experience, making it feel authentically Kyoto. One of the highlights of our stay was the incredible dinner we enjoyed at the hotel. The meals were nothing short of exquisite, with each dish thoughtfully prepared using the finest ingredients. The presentation was beautiful, and the flavors were a perfect balance of traditional Japanese cuisine with a perfect tea ceremony. It was clear that the chefs take great pride in their craft, and it made for an unforgettable dining experience.

Nothing

The hospitality and food were nothing short of exceptional in every regard. We had a room with private onsen, which was just magical, especially at night. The food was locally sourced and beautifully prepared and presented. I can only highly recommend a stay in this wonderful place. The only regret we had was not asking if we could purchase the yukata we were given during our stay, as they were so comfortable.

There is nothing at all that we didn't like. The only thing to be aware of is that the mattresses are quite hard, but that was expected. The amount of food may be overwhelming for those not used to kaiseki, but for me it was heaven.

Very friendly, hospitable staff. Wonderful indoor and outdoor onsen. Delicious kaiseki dinner. Beautiful interior garden, with view of Mt. Fuji. Spacious, nicely decorated Japanese style rooms

While a bus is available to Hakone village, the location is not easily accessible by public transportation. I'd recommend taking a taxi from the closest train station (Hakone Yumoto on Odaykyu line), which cost about $45 one way.