Suiun
9,5/10 Exceptional - Based on 559 reviews
Suiun sits in Gora, Hakone, as an adult-focused ryokan blending traditional Japanese design with modern comfort. The property offers 37 rooms around a landscaped garden and mountain views, with interiors that mix tatami areas, wooden furniture and Western-style beds in select room types. Guests find in-room amenities including tea/coffee facilities, flat-screen TV and private bathing options in many layouts. The ryokan provides easy access to local attractions such as Gora Park and the Hakone Open-Air Museum, and a short walk or shuttle connects to nearby rail and bus stops.
Suiun's bathing program centers on hot-spring water and cypress-lined open-air tubs. The property maintains a public onsen with indoor and semi-open-air rock bath, a sauna, and several private onsen options; many rooms feature their own outdoor cypress ofuro on terraces for secluded soaking. Dining follows a multi-course approach with evening kaiseki or menus emphasizing seasonal Kanagawa produce; breakfasts are served in set Japanese or Western styles. Staff provide kimono/yukata dressing, evening hospitality touches and turndown snacks.
Rooms are non-smoking; the adult-only property offers daily housekeeping, free Wi‑Fi and complimentary parking, with 24-hour reception and luggage assistance. Check-in typically starts mid-afternoon and check-out is late morning; booking conditions, dinner timing and private-bath reservations vary by room type and should be confirmed with the property. For travelers seeking a ryokan with private onsen in Hakone or a ryokan with onsen in Kanagawa, Suiun combines in-room cypress tubs, reserveable private baths and a calm garden setting suited to couples and solo adults.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Suiun
Positive Reviews
Exceptionally attentive and friendly staff
Many reviewers highlight warm, respectful and highly attentive service throughout the stay, including helpful front‑desk assistance and staff involved in special touches (welcome tea/mochi, tea ceremony, snacks).
Outstanding onsen experience (private and public)
Guests praise the availability and quality of both private and communal onsen — clean, well‑organized and frequently available — including private open‑air baths attached to rooms that enhance relaxation and views.
Delicious, high‑quality meals (kaiseki dinner)
Multiple reviews describe the kaiseki dinners and breakfasts as exceptional, beautifully presented and flavorful — an important highlight of the ryokan experience, often called memorable or artistic.
Traditional, serene atmosphere and tasteful decor
The ryokan’s authentic Japanese style, refined traditional decoration and calm, zen ambiance are repeatedly appreciated; reviewers describe the setting as charming, serene and immersive.
Spacious, comfortable rooms and helpful extras
Rooms are described as large and comfortable with tatami areas and roomy futons. Guests also value extras such as yukatas, complimentary drinks/snacks, shuttle or baggage transport services and scenic mountain views.
Negative Reviews
Steep access from the station / difficult with luggage
Several guests note a steep hill or challenging approach from the station that makes arrival with heavy suitcases difficult — though some mention shuttle/baggage transport as helpful when available.
High price (but many say justified)
A number of reviewers comment that rates are expensive; several add that the quality of service and experience justifies the price, but cost remains a drawback for some.
Menus can be repetitive, heavy and not easily adapted
Some guests found the fixed kaiseki menus too copious, repetitive across nights, and not flexible for special dietary needs — limited options or no à‑la‑carte alternatives were noted.
Breakfast not to everyone’s taste / some dishes feel old‑fashioned
A few reviewers reported that certain breakfast items were unappealing or presented in an outdated style (example: fruit in gelatin) and that portions could be too large.
Occasional guest noise and limited English communication
Isolated remarks mention poorly behaved other guests affecting the peacefulness, and that staff English can be very limited, which may complicate communication for non‑Japanese speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rooms come in double, twin, triple and quadruple layouts (typically 2–4 guests); the property is adults-only and cribs/extra beds are not available.
Yes — the ryokan offers public hot spring baths, open-air baths and a sauna, and some room types include private open-air onsen tubs; public-bath rules (including tattoo restrictions) apply.
The property does not list an airport shuttle; the nearest station is Gōra (about 300 m), so most guests arrive by Hakone Tozan Railway or arrange private transfers.
Haneda Airport (HND) is the closest major airport for Hakone; from there travelers use trains or airport buses to Odawara/Hakone-Yumoto and continue to Gōra by Hakone Tozan Railway.
Staff speak Japanese and provide English assistance, though English ability can be limited at times, so brief preparation or a translation app is helpful.
Expect a traditional stay with tatami-style rooms and yukata, kaiseki-style dinner and breakfast offerings, communal and private bathing, and polite onsen etiquette with quiet hours in the evenings.
Suiun is steps from Hakone Gora Park and close to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone Museum of Art, Owakudani and Lake Ashi — all are reachable by short walk, bus or a brief drive.
Take the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gōra Station — the ryokan is roughly a 3–5 minute walk (about 300 m); Gōra is reachable from Hakone-Yumoto or Odawara by train and local buses.
Check-in is from 14:00 to 18:00 and check-out is until 11:00; the property requests you inform them of your expected arrival time in advance if you will be late.
Some room types include private open-air baths or semi-private bathing options, pets are not permitted, and you’ll find convenience stores and small shops within walking distance in Gōra with larger supermarkets in Hakone-Yumoto or Odawara.