Hakone Gor
Contemporary luxury ryokan. Heavy Japanese material palette — washi paper screens, kigoshi (latticed woodwork), granite, natural wood — but no fussiness. The signature Water Terrace (a reflective pool you walk across on stone slabs) is genuinely striking. Clean lines, calm spaces, seasonal detail everywhere.
Book the Gora Spa AIOI the moment you confirm your room — it fills up, particularly on weekends
Why It Matters
One Michelin Key, awarded 2024 and retained in 2025. All 70 rooms have private outdoor hot spring baths. The onsen water is a sodium chloride spring — the kind that holds warmth long after you get out. Add Gora Spa AIOI's distinctive Five Elements philosophy, two open-air communal baths with panoramic views, and teppanyaki alongside kaiseki at dinner, and you have a very complete picture for a first-class Hakone night.
Hakone Gora KARAKU opened in October 2020 as ORIX Hotels & Resorts' flagship luxury ryokan in Gora, built across four interconnected buildings with 70 rooms spread over East and West wings. Every single room comes with a private open-air hot spring bath on the balcony — that's not a premium upgrade, it's the floor. From the top floor, views stretch across the Hakone mountain range to Sagami Bay. The structure of a stay here is built into the place itself: arrive, soak, eat kaiseki, soak again.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
East Wing Deluxe Room with Open-air Bath (Japanese Style)
Tatami-floored rooms in the East Wing. Shoes off at the door, floor-level living, muted Japanese palette. The balcony open-air bath overlooks greenery and valley scenery. If you want the traditional ryokan feel — sleeping on futon, sitting low — this is the right call.
Futon · 44 sqmEast Wing Deluxe Room with Open-air Bath (Western Style)
Same East Wing position and private balcony onsen, but set up with a bed rather than futon. Described officially as 'a refined residence for adults' — simple, cozy, without the floor-level adjustment. Good entry point for guests new to ryokan stays who don't want to sleep on futon.
Western bed · 44 sqmEast Wing KARAKU Room with Open-air Bath
The best-view rooms in the house, positioned in the East Wing specifically for valley and Sagami Bay sightlines. The 'KARAKU Room' designation marks the property's premium tier — a forest-of-Gora experience designed for maximum stillness. Private open-air hot spring bath on the balcony. Traditional Japanese materials throughout.
56 sqmWest Wing Deluxe Room with Open-air Bath (Japanese Style)
West Wing tatami rooms with private open-air bath. The West Wing faces a different aspect from the East, and at five stories high, upper floors yield particularly open mountain views. Described as 'elegant Japanese atmosphere' with high-quality healing. Futon-based sleeping.
Futon · 44 sqmWest Wing Deluxe Room with Open-air Bath (Western Style)
The Western-style rooms in the West Wing with private balcony onsen. Modern approach throughout, designed to feel like 'living comfortably' rather than a formal stay. Bed-based, full balcony access.
Western bed · 44 sqmWest Wing Universal Room
Barrier-free accessible room in the West Wing, designed for wheelchair users. Still comes with a private open-air hot spring bath — the balcony onsen access is built into the barrier-free layout.
The Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A walk through a lush bamboo grove with a special bench for sitting and looking out over the mountain ridges of Hakone. Between the two guest room wings. Good at any hour but particularly quiet in the early morning.
KARAKU's signature feature: a terrace lined with still, clear water that guests walk across on stone slabs. The reflections shift completely from day to night, and the evening light show adds another layer. Located between the Main Building and Annex.
Seasonal experience in Hakone's traditional wood marquetry craft — one of the region's most recognised artisanal traditions. The property holds dedicated experience events, most recently a two-day spring programme announced in March 2026.
A private hour in a cypress-wood tub with bamboo garden views. The faint cypress fragrance plus the rustling bamboo makes this the most sensory of the three private baths. Nighttime illumination of the garden is a particular draw.
Rock bath using stones from Gora itself, surrounded by a large glass window that merges hot spring and garden into one view. Chic black and grey palette. The interior and exterior feel like one continuous space.
Microbubble bath where fine white bubbles wrap around the body like silk. Contemporary tile design evokes a Japanese garden with cobblestone and gravel. Directly accessible from the Gora Spa AIOI via internal staircase — convenient if booking spa treatments.
The on-site gallery-like store carries Hakone marquetry pieces, pottery, carefully selected teas, confections, and amenities. Open to guests regardless of spa use. Worth 20 minutes of exploration.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Barrier-free Universal Room available in the West Wing. Property designed with wheelchair access.
Room service available from the kitchen.
Included with most accommodation plans. Served at Main Dining Mutsuki 7:30–10:00. Carefully selected seasonal rice is the centrepiece, with colourful side dishes from local producers.
Granite, natural wood, and distinctive brickwork representing the Hayakawa River on one wall. Check-in done on sofas. Special welcome food and drinks served on arrival.
Free EV charging available on site.
Shuttle service available from Odawara Station. Must arrange in advance.
The property does not have a swimming pool. Onsen baths are the primary water feature.
Mist sauna in 'Sokai' open-air bath and dry sauna in 'Myojyo' open-air bath. Included with communal onsen access.
Two panoramic open-air baths on the top floor of the Main Building. 'Sokai' has mist sauna; 'Myojyo' has dry sauna. Both open 5:00–10:00 and 15:00–24:00. Gender-switched during the day. Tattoos not permitted.
BUILD YOUR HAKONE GORA KARAKU PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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