I Looked Into Laforet Hakone Gora Yunosumika

In "Komorin's Imaginary Travels," I've been researching not only campgrounds, but also hotels for those days when I feel like ditching the camping plan for a hotel staycation instead, and taking a little detour.

This time, I looked into Laforet Hakone Gora Yunosumika in Hakone Gora. I came across the fact that many of its rooms apparently come with private open-air hot spring baths, and since I'm a "paper driver" (someone with a license who barely drives), I got curious about whether I could actually get there using public transportation and shuttle services.

What Kind of Place Is Laforet Hakone Gora Yunosumika?

Apparently this is a property run by Laforet Hotels & Resorts, located in the Gora area of Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture. Combining the Main Building with the new Aya Building, which reportedly opened in January 2024, the property has 66 rooms total (44 in the Main Building and 22 in the Aya Building).
Check-in is at 3:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM, and this seems to apply to all room types.

Reservations seem to basically be made online through the official website, but for some of the larger room types, it apparently says "reservations by phone only," so there seems to be a phone line available for booking as well (I'll leave out the number here, but you can find it on the official website).

As for the pricing and the specifics of dinner and breakfast, the official site's plan pages link directly out to an external reservation system, so I wasn't able to confirm the exact rates or menu details within the scope of my research. It looked like there were three plan categories available: a two-meal plan, a breakfast-only plan, and a plan that lets you stay with your dog.

Komorin

When I can't see the price right away, I tend to just close the tab before even comparing it to other hotels. But it seems like you can actually check the rates if you follow the official booking flow all the way through. It's probably worth being patient and clicking through to the reservation system.

Checking Out the Rooms With Private Open-Air Hot Spring Baths and the Communal Baths

In the Main Building, besides Japanese-Western and Japanese-style rooms without open-air baths, there are apparently Premium Rooms with private open-air hot spring baths, as well as rooms with an indoor hot spring bath (not open-air). On top of that, there are reportedly 4 dog-friendly rooms with private open-air hot spring baths, which allow up to two small dogs or one medium-sized dog.

Every room in the new Aya Building apparently comes with a private open-air hot spring bath and a terrace. Along with 18 standard rooms, there are also reportedly 4 Premium Dog-Friendly Rooms for guests traveling with dogs. It seems the dog-friendly rooms are designed with direct outside access, so you don't have to pass through shared indoor spaces, and dogs apparently aren't allowed in the lobby or restaurant.

There are also communal indoor and open-air baths plus saunas, apparently separated by gender. Hours are basically 6:00-10:00 AM and 12:00 PM to midnight (starting at 3:00 PM on Thursdays only), and it doesn't seem like the men's and women's sides are swapped. The water reportedly comes from the Owakudani spring source and is a sulfate spring, said to be good for nerve pain, muscle pain, and poor circulation. If you have a tattoo, you generally can't use the baths, but if it can be completely covered with a cover sticker of the specified size, you may be able to bathe after checking with the front desk. As for private baths for rent, I couldn't find any mention on the official website, so I wasn't able to confirm this in my research.

• Irori Lounge: apparently a shared space with a traditional hearth, designed so you can take off your shoes and relax like you're at home
• Souvenir Shop: located on the 2nd floor of the Main Building, apparently open from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM
• Private dining rooms: several seem to be available within the dining area, ranging from large rooms to smaller ones for just a few people

As for details on Wi-Fi, parking, and smoking areas, I couldn't find any mention on the facilities page of the official website, so I wasn't able to confirm this in my research. If this matters to you, it might be worth asking directly when you make your reservation.

Nearby Attractions and Food

According to the sightseeing page on the official website, about a 15-minute walk from the hotel is Hakone Craft House inside Gora Park, where you can apparently try glassblowing and pottery. Along the old highway, there's also reportedly a teahouse called Amazake Chaya, said to have been around since the Edo period.

If you drive a bit further, there's also the Kamaboko Museum (about 30 minutes), the lakeside bakery Bakery & Table Hakone (about 25 minutes), the long-established Watanabe Bakery, said to have been founded in 1891 (about 10 minutes), and the Okada Museum of Art, known for its collection centered on Japanese-style paintings (about 5 minutes). This lineup feels a bit out of reach for a "paper driver" like me, but I got the sense that some of these spots could still be reachable depending on how you use shuttle services or public transportation.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, the overall rating came back as "C."

With a C rating, there may be spots inside the building where the signal doesn't come through very well. Since this also seems like the kind of place where you'd spend a lot of time relaxing in a room with a private open-air hot spring bath, if you're planning on using data during your stay, it might be reassuring to check with the official tool beforehand.

Komorin

Honestly, a C rating is a bit of a concerning result. But if it's the kind of place where you hole up in your room and enjoy the hot spring, going offline for a while might not be so bad after all.