Hakone, JapanYumoto
Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone
Modernist woodcraft ryokan
Yumoto Hakone, Japan
Renovated
2025
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Local WellnessOutside the door
The house
Hoshino ResortsModernist woodcraft ryokan
The inn reinterprets the rest stops of the historic Tokaido Road, pairing riverside courtyard tea with regional woodcraft.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Sunken living rooms, dark stone relaxation spaces, and geometric marquetry wall art.
What they say
Also in Wallpaper* and AFAR.
From Sawa Chaya, the simple outdoor tea room, to the gently cocooning rooms with framed views of forest and stream, it’s built for contemplation.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Forest wraps around this quiet stretch of the Old Tokaido, an eight-minute drive from Hakone-Yumoto station.
1 of 4
The rooms
Rooms look out over the forested river gorge, pairing low platform beds with minimalist sofas and geometric marquetry.
The onsen
Soak slowly.
Hinoki cypress baths open directly to the Sukumo River gorge, fed by natural saline thermal springs.
At the table
Slatted timber booths host seasonal kaiseki dinners, and counter seats look straight out into the forest canopy.
All 34 rooms and suites overlook the forest. Two are in Western style, but the rest are a modernized ryokan style, with beds on low platforms with futon mattresses rather than directly on the floor.
How it began
Sakakura Associates designed the riverside pavilions in 1987, modeling them after the detached quarters of classic inns.
Hakone
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.