HAKONE · STJLAB
A quiet Hakone stay, with room to slow down.
My verdict: 85/100. I liked nol hakone myojindai for its cleanliness, quiet surroundings, warm thermal pool and well-kept shared spaces. It is a good fit if you want a contemporary resort where relaxing at the hotel is part of the trip.
Three of us stayed on a weekday around late September 2026. The room, bathing facilities, food and service all left a positive impression. If your idea of Hakone is a traditional ryokan with a Japanese kaiseki dinner, however, this hotel has a different character.
This was a self-funded stay, with no complimentary accommodation or meals from the hotel. I stayed in a member-allocated room at RESERVE Hakone Myojindai within the property. The room photos below document that stay; check the description of the room you book as a general guest. Exact travel dates are withheld for privacy. Practical information was checked on October 16, 2026.
Can you stay here without a membership?
Yes. General travelers can book nol hakone myojindai through the hotel’s public booking channels. You do not need to join Tokyu Harvest Club to book the public hotel inventory.
Our member-allocated room is the reason I am careful about room names: a room described as “Standard” in one booking channel should not be assumed to have exactly the layout shown in my photos. Match the room’s photographs, bedding and bath details before paying.
Visit the hotel’s official English website and reservation links.
Where it is, and getting there without a car
The hotel is in Hakone’s Miyagino area. We drove, and on our trip the journey took roughly 15 minutes from around Hakone-Yumoto and around five minutes from near Gora. Those are our travel times, not reliable estimates for busy weekends.
For travelers arriving by train, the hotel runs a reservation-based shuttle between Gora Station and the property. The official directions route you through the underpass to the right of Gora Station, then to the shuttle station on the left after you climb the steps.
The Japanese and English official pages currently list different numbers of shuttle departures. Check the official shuttle reservation system for your date rather than relying on a copied timetable. The described boarding route includes stairs. We used a car, so I cannot offer a firsthand review of the shuttle journey.
Public-booking prices: a useful starting point
For budgeting, these were the advertised starting prices on Ikyu when checked on October 16, 2026. All examples are for two adults sharing one Standard Twin room for one night, with tax included and before the site’s points-based instant discounts.
| Public-booking plan | Starting price for two adults | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast included, early booking | JPY 45,600 | Book at least 60 days ahead |
| Breakfast included, standard plan | JPY 46,550 | Check dates and availability |
| Dinner and breakfast included, standard plan | JPY 74,800 | Check the included dinner course |
These are examples of advertised minimum prices, not average rates or a quote for your dates. Weekends, holidays, room type and meal plans can change the total. The public hotel’s FAQ also lists a bathing tax of JPY 150 per person per night for guests aged 12 and over; check whether your booking total includes it.
Sources: Ikyu hotel and breakfast-plan listings (Japanese); Standard Twin dinner-and-breakfast plan (Japanese). Some booking packages list a different dinner course from the Vita meal I reviewed. Compare inclusions, not just the headline price. For booking in English, start with the official English site.
Our room: two beds, a tatami area and enough space for three
Our room combined two beds with a tatami sitting area. The third person used a futon on the tatami. Even with three adults’ luggage, it did not feel excessively cramped, and the separate sitting area was useful.
I would describe the beds as perfectly acceptable rather than a highlight. I am not especially sensitive to small differences between mattresses, but I had no particular trouble sleeping.
The room had a round bathtub and shower. We mainly used the communal onsen, but the in-room bathroom was also clean. Do not interpret this photograph as a private open-air hot-spring bath: other room categories have their own specifications.
Toothbrushes, hairbrushes, body towels and other everyday amenities were provided. Power outlets and USB connections by the beds made charging straightforward.
Sekkisei cleansing and skincare products were also available near the entrance during our stay. I appreciated that small extra, even though I am no skincare expert.
A traditional-looking exterior, and a modern interior
The exterior felt like a long-established resort hotel. Inside, warm lighting, wood and coordinated furniture created a much more contemporary impression. Above all, the property felt very clean: the room, lounge, baths and pool were all well maintained when we visited.
Our weekday stay was quiet. Staff were polite, and I had no significant service complaints. There were also non-Japanese staff members, which made me feel that using the hotel in English would probably be manageable. I did not personally test an English-only stay, so that is an impression rather than a guarantee of every staff member’s language ability.
One inconvenience was the route between our room and reception, which involved changing elevators. It was not a major problem, but it was less straightforward than I expected.
The lounge, onsen and pool made staying in worthwhile
We could help ourselves to water, sparkling water, coffee and a wide selection of teas in the lounge. The lightweight plastic tumbler supplied to guests was useful for carrying a drink around the property.
Wine and sake from the dispensers were separate paid options. On our visit, wine cost JPY 600 a glass. That suited a relaxed drink after dinner; the availability and price are details from our stay.
Our welcome treat was Minimal chocolate. I had half-expected a more traditional Japanese sweet, but the chocolate suited the hotel’s contemporary character.
The communal onsen was clean and pleasant, and the warm indoor thermal pool was somewhere to relax rather than train for a swimming race. Towels at the bath and pool entrances made repeated visits particularly easy. For current hours and tattoo rules, check the official English spa information.
Dinner is Western-style; I did not try breakfast
We ate the seasonal Vita course at crescita. I enjoyed the food and service, particularly the sauce served with the bread and salad. It was a Western-style course dinner rather than Japanese kaiseki. There were local ingredients, but the overall experience felt like modern hotel dining.
See the Vita dinner review with our own food photos and meal bill for the dishes and booking details.
We did not have breakfast, so I cannot assess its taste or variety. The official restaurant page describes a vegetable-focused buffet. Check whether breakfast is included in the public plan you select.
Who I would recommend it to
- Couples, friends or families who want a clean, quiet base with time to enjoy the hotel.
- Travelers who like modern interiors and Western-style dining.
- Anyone who wants a warm pool, lounge and garden as well as an onsen.
I would think more carefully if a traditional ryokan atmosphere, Japanese course dining or lively evening entertainment were your main priorities. I also found the designated smoking space small. These are matters of fit rather than reasons to dismiss the hotel.
The garden and terrace were lovely places for an unhurried break. If you plan to arrive late and leave at dawn, you may miss much of what made this stay enjoyable for us.
My overall verdict: 85/100
I would happily consider staying again. The essentials—room, cleanliness, bathing facilities, dinner and service—were strong. My reservations were the slightly awkward route through the building, limited lively entertainment and the relatively understated traditional Japanese atmosphere.
For a Hakone trip built around relaxing in a modern hotel, nol hakone myojindai worked well. Choose your room and meal plan carefully, and leave enough time to use the facilities.
Before booking: confirm your room layout, meal inclusions, shuttle reservation and cancellation terms. The official public-hotel FAQ (Japanese) lists check-in from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00; your plan’s terms take priority.
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