This time, my mother, who was exhausted from the summer vacation in August, quietly planned to be alone in September. She set a goal to visit Hakone Shrine and Kuzuryu Shrine and wanted to choose a nearby inn. I happened to come across Matsuzakaya Honten on Google Maps and decided to stay there.

Though it was a chance encounter, I immediately contacted them because I wanted to stay here.

The room was spacious enough for one person, with a luxurious feel from the Japanese-style room to the wide corridor with red carpet. I truly enjoyed the spaciousness.

The highlight was the hinoki (Japanese cypress) open-air onsen in the room, with onsen water flowing directly from the faucet—it was incredibly refreshing.

Upon arrival, I also enjoyed a private open-air onsen and took advantage of the large public onsen the next morning. The floating onsen particles provided a luxurious experience.

The kama-cooked rice served at dinner was so delicious that I couldn't finish it all, but they kindly made it into onigiri (rice balls) for me to enjoy in my room.

Most of the guests were foreign tourists, but they seemed to really appreciate the Japanese atmosphere of the ryokan. The staff’s ability to communicate in English was impressive.

I gave four stars because the breakfast portion was a bit too large for me, but for those who can eat a lot in the morning, it would be a delight.

Next time, I want to come with my whole family. Thank you!

Stayed room

Deluxe Room with Indoor Hot Spring Bath(Kumoi)

I had a wonderful time enjoying the onsen, savoring delicious meals, and experiencing the historical facility. I wanted to enjoy it more, but I simply didn't have enough time.

Stayed room

Premium Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath(Tokiwa)

Historic appearance, I will come again. Thank you for the wonderful time.

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Exective Family Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath(Gyokoso)

Thank you for celebrating my wife's birthday the other day! She was very happy to be celebrated like this at her age.

The hot springs are, of course, wonderful, but I also appreciate the unmatched hospitality and thoughtfulness from everyone, including those we didn’t meet in person.

When we visit again, I hope to get to know you better.

Looking forward to our next visit! Thank you, Matsuzakaya!

Stayed room

Superior Twin (Kakumeikan)

We stayed in the recently renovated separate villa, Senshin-tei. The two-room suite with its fresh, pleasant wood scent matched well with the historical pillars and beams, giving a sense of history. The garden visible from the wide veranda was exclusively for us staying at Senshin-tei. Although it was too early for autumn leaves, we could relax while enjoying the greenery. The bathroom area had a clean double sink, and there was an indoor cypress bath and an open-air onsen with natural onsen water flowing directly from the source. I enjoyed soaking alone in the onsen, relieving daily fatigue and savoring happiness. My daughters, who usually have unpleasant experiences with hair dryers when traveling, were pleased to find that Senshin-tei provided ReFa dryers. (Note: the public onsen has different ones) The refrigerator had champagne that we could drink freely, but we ended up enjoying various drinks prepared in the lobby and couldn't drink the champagne. What a pity! We also thoroughly enjoyed the reservable private open-air onsen. The meals were satisfying in both quality and quantity, and the leftover conger eel rice was made into onigiri for us to enjoy in our room. The service was thorough, and we appreciated the comfortable hospitality that was neither too intrusive nor too distant. This is an inn we'd like to visit again.

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Exective Family Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath(Senshintei)

Our stay was wonderful. Visiting with my wife and our 10 year old. The facilities were well-maintained, the staff was courteous, friendly and fun. My wife says it was the best part of our week long Japan trip after visiting Nara, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. The onsen are perfect for relaxing weary travelers’ minds and bodies. The food was immaculate and flavorful. We felt refreshed and ready to take on the world after our stay at Matsuzakaya

Stayed room

Premium Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath(Shiranso)

This was the perfect relaxing stay after a busy week! There was a summer event going on, so we enjoyed some shaved ice when we arrived. The room was spacious and amazing, and we took ample advantage of the private open-air bath in our room, which was the perfect size for a couple. We thoroughly enjoyed the variety of dishes at each meal, and the service was impeccable!

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Luxury Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath (Ashikariso)

It was our child's first stay and experience with an onsen. They seemed to have a great time playing at the children's festival, enjoying the juice, and having fun at the old-fashioned playground. Even now, whenever we see onsen travel commercials, they react with, "Hakone!" and "That was fun!" We also had a relaxing time. Thank you very much!

Stayed room

Superior Twin with Hot Spring Indoor Bath (Shiranso)

I love the quality of the hot spring here and consider it one of the top 3 in Japan. I received a newsletter about the renovation of the large public bath, so I brought my in-laws along. I was very impressed with the improvement in service compared to 4 years ago. The staff exhibited a level of friendliness and attention to detail similar to that of theme park employees. During meals, not only were the ingredients well explained, but staff also answered various questions pleasantly, making for a very satisfying trip. (The fact that alcohol was now free during meals, in addition to the all-you-can-drink at the lounge, was also a delightful surprise!)

However, it seemed that the large public onsen was a bit lukewarm, possibly due to the increase in inbound demand. Although this was quickly resolved after we notified the staff, it was a bit disappointing. I understand that adjusting the temperature of the onsen can be challenging due to its high temperature, but since the hot spring is the highlight of my visit, I hope you continue to strive for improvement.

We were excited to visit again during the colder months. Thank you very much.

Stayed room

Premium Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath(Shiranso)

Greetings,

I had a very pleasant and memorable stay at your hotel. We chose your hotel because we wanted to give our children a different cultural immersion, and I believe we made the right choice. I also sincerely appreciate your patience with our children's mess.

Almost everything at your hotel exceeded my expectations. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the hotel itself was extremely high-standard. It gave me the illusion of traveling back to the 1990s. The food and service were exceptional. Above all, the way the hotel is so delicately balanced with nature inspired me with new thoughts about life and living.

I could go on and on about all the good things about your hotel.
However, there are two things that I believe could be improved. If I were to consider revisiting your hotel as a family tradition, I would like to see these two things addressed.

First, I found that the pre-check-in process was not as people-oriented as the rest of my stay. I was concerned about the typhoon situation, but I had to explicitly ask to ensure that it was okay to travel. If you could provide more proactive care, it would make a huge difference.

Second, I had some issues with the payment process. It seemed difficult to use different payment methods. Most importantly, I am a bit uncomfortable with the fact that Kinnotake stores my payment information and charged my old card multiple times (even before my stay). Even though you eventually credited me back, I do not believe this is the correct way to handle client payments.

Despite these two issues, I really enjoyed my stay at your hotel and wish you continued success.

Sincerely,
Peter

Stayed room

Premium Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath(Shiranso)

We really love this beautifull honsen and ryokan. Everything was perfect! For us the best place where you can stay in japan.

Stayed room

Premium Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath (Ashibue)

I was able to relax both physically and mentally thanks to the top-notch hospitality. I would like to express my gratitude by mentioning a few aspects of the wonderful service. First, upon arrival, we were greeted on the road, and the staff came to assist with parking, which was very impressive. During check-in, we were offered tea and sweets, and within 10 minutes of arriving, I was convinced that this was the best accommodation. The ryokan maintains the charm of old Japan while being well-maintained where needed, with no complaints. The private open-air baths, with various types and room options, allowed us to enjoy different baths at our preferred times. The staff's interaction was perfect; their high skill in engaging without intruding on our privacy made for a very enjoyable experience, and they all seemed to be happily working. Unexpected summer events like shooting games and shaved ice added to our enjoyment of the season. Lastly, receiving a gift for our special occasion was incredibly generous and made us feel overwhelmed with the wonderful hospitality. Thank you for creating such a special time and space.

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Luxury Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath (Ashikariso)

Every detail during our time at the Honten felt very special and thoughtful: the staff was incredibly hospitable and sweet, the location was quaint surrounded by nature and history, the accommodations were very comfortable with multiple spaces to enjoy and the baths and Kaiden experience were superb. It was an authentic, relaxing and romantic experience- We loved our time at the Honten, thank you!

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Superior Twin with Hot Spring Indoor Bath (Shiranso)

I enjoyed my stay at the ryokan, from the welcoming check-in to the check-out with photos at the entrance. It was a great experience to try out the Japanese-style hospitality from ryokan room to the dining and onsen bath, both private and public.

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Standard Twin with Hot Spring Indoor Bath (Tamakazura)

I always enjoy a relaxing stay at this classic ryokan with its calm atmosphere. The sulfur-scented onsen are outstanding, and the private onsen in the room is also excellent. I look forward to using the 'Hanare' next time.

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Premium Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath (Ashibue)

I found this place, Matsuzakaya Honten, through an online search. From the moment I arrived, the warm welcome from the staff made it clear that this was a wonderful ryokan.

The staff member who explained the ryokan and the bath facilities seemed to be from overseas but made a sincere effort to ensure we enjoyed our stay.

The room was charming and provided a calming atmosphere.

Dinner was not only visually stunning but also delicious. The detailed explanations of each dish made me even more excited to eat. I was particularly touched when the staff noticed I had a nasal allergy and brought tissues without me mentioning it.

The private bath was clean and enjoyable.

The bed was perfectly firm, allowing for a restful night's sleep.

During breakfast, the temperature of the dining room was adjusted for our comfort, making the meal even more enjoyable.

The send-off was pleasant and left me wanting to return.

This ryokan is highly recommended for anyone visiting onsen in Hakone.

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Luxury Room with Hot Spring Open-Air Bath (Ashikariso)

Onsen was excellent, and the meals served morning and evening were delicious. The staff were very kind. It's a truly perfect ryokan. I plan to visit again next time.

Stayed room

Superior Twin (Kakumeikan)