Accommodation
Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora
This is what we’d call a ryokan-inspired hotel. It is not a ryokan…it’s too large and all the rooms have Western beds, the restaurant serves international cuisine as well as Japanese fare, it has a front desk, a bar and spa. What makes it special is that each room comes with its own private onsen.
Overview
A setting like this, along the banks of the Haya River, seems like the perfect setting for a traditional ryokan. But the Hotel Indigo Hakone
Gora isn’t interested in being a traditional ryokan. Make no mistake — in the abstract, many of the ingredients are in place, from the soothing waters of the spring-fed onsen baths to the perfectly framed forest views. But this is a modern, boutique-influenced hotel through and through, and it’s visible not only in the design, which makes
liberal use of modern furniture, graphic art, and non-traditional colors, but in the sheer eclecticism of its international influences.
The rooms are decorated with elements that read as rather ryokan-like, and each one, crucially, comes with its own spring-fed onsen bath. But they’re Western in their layout, with elevated furniture rather than tatami mats, and the artwork, though it depicts local scenes, is unmistakably contemporary.
The hotel restaurant serves up a mouthwatering mix of locally sourced ingredients and international cuisine. Serving up high-class dishes including Ashigara Wagyu sirloin and 30-day dry-aged bone-in ribeye,
as well as the freshest catch of the day, fire-roasted vegetables and even a delicious smoked Japanese cheesecake, the kitchen also bakes its own sourdough bread and pastries, all available to guests and day visitors alike. You can also sit back and sip on Gora-inspired cocktails and drinks infused with natural spring water at the bar’s 360° counter. And don’t miss out on the chance to sample the hotel’s very own exclusive craft pale ale.
The hotel’s public baths, too, take a traditional form and give it a modern update, with eye-catching interiors, including a vast screen displaying ever-changing visual art, and a international-style spa
treatments. The ultimate pampering begins at The Spa by HARNN, utilizing the area’s natural resources together with Japanese and Thai healing methods, For those looking to work up a sweat, head to the hotel’s Fitness Center, which boasts modern equipment and is open 24 hours a day (a rarity in Hakone). Enjoy a display of digital art that’s designed to give rhythm to your workout by changing colours in an eight-set cycle of 20 seconds’ exercise and 10 seconds’ break.
Location
The hotel is located down by the river in the small Hakone town / village of Gora. Ideal for exploration of the region.
Room Types
A king or twin bed configuration with private onsen bath. 37-38m².
A king bed configuration with a private onsen bath. 49m².
