gran terrace Le Lien Hakone
8,8/10 Excellent - Based on 148 reviews
Gran Terrace Le Lien Hakone is an intimate eight-room property set on the hill above Gora, offering framed views of Hakone’s mountainous landscape and a focus on slow, nature-led hospitality. The hotel presents a quiet living room with a fireplace, a terrace for breakfast, and a small restaurant where meals are prepared from fresh ingredients and must be reserved in advance; the property emphasizes seasonal menus and limited meal availability to avoid waste. Guests can expect a relaxed pace of service from a compact team; early check-in is not accepted and late arrivals after 21:00 incur a nominal overtime charge, so arrival times are managed to protect staff working hours.
Water drawn from Owakudani supplies the onsen facilities and is described on-site as a milky white, free-flowing source; the property provides a private hot spring option and guidance on how to book and use the bath. Room types include Western, Japanese and mixed-style layouts, many with mountain views, and standard in-room amenities such as air conditioning, refrigerator and Wi‑Fi. The hotel’s small scale and emphasis on private bathing make it a straightforward choice for travellers seeking a ryokan with onsen in Hakone who value seclusion and carefully prepared meals.
Practical details reflect the compact, hillside character of the inn: there are no elevators and guest rooms are on the second floor, so the property is not barrier-free and may not suit those with limited mobility. Access is convenient to local transport, an eight‑minute walk from the nearby cable car station, and the hotel offers on-site parking and a luggage carriage service for Hakone transfers. For visitors seeking a ryokan with private onsen in Kanagawa, the property’s small scale, free-flowing Owakudani water and clear operational notes on mealtimes and arrivals provide a predictable, quietly focused stay.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: gran terrace Le Lien Hakone
Positive Reviews
Exceptional, attentive staff
Many guests highlight very friendly, helpful and discreet hosts who go out of their way to make visitors feel at home and provide thoughtful touches (welcome tea, special care, personalised service).
Excellent private onsen experience
The ryokan offers two private onsen (hot and lukewarm) that guests praise for quality, therapeutic effects and luxurious toiletries; they can be reserved and are often available 24/7 via a booking board.
Peaceful mountain location and great views
Reviewers appreciate the setting in nature — quiet, green surroundings with beautiful valley/mountain views and memorable sunrises, making it an ideal place to relax away from Tokyo.
Clean, comfortable traditional rooms
Rooms (Japanese-style or nicely decorated twin rooms) are described as clean, spacious and comfortable with authentic touches (futon, yukata) and elegant decor.
Very good food and breakfast
Several guests praise the breakfast and meals as excellent and beautifully presented; some specifically recommend booking breakfast at the ryokan for a satisfying start to the day.
Negative Reviews
Remote location with few nearby shops/restaurants
Multiple guests note a lack of convenience stores and restaurants within walking distance, so you need to plan food in advance or rely on the ryokan's dining (which often requires prior booking).
Limited public transport / access constraints
Public transit (cable car/ropeway and buses) stops early in the evening, making arrivals/departures time-sensitive; without daytime services guests may need taxis or a car (taxi costs may be discounted by the ryokan).
No ensuite showers in rooms
Many reviews mention there are no in-room showers — bathing/showering is done in the onsens, so guests should be prepared to use shared/private onsen facilities and reserve them when needed.
Occasional extra costs and booking issues
Some guests report extra charges (e.g., late-arrival fees or expensive add-ons) and one detailed complaint about an unexpected high last-minute fee and poor handling by staff, indicating potential issues with charge transparency or policy enforcement.
Food can be costly and must be reserved early
A few reviewers found on-site dining relatively expensive and advise booking meals (especially breakfast) in advance or bringing food, given limited external options and restricted local service hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
The property has eight rooms: twin and western types for two, Japanese-style rooms that sleep up to three on futons, and a chalet layout for larger groups. Please check the specific room type when booking.
Yes — the hot spring uses Owakudani source water (milky white) and the property offers both communal onsen facilities and reservable private onsen options for guests.
There is no dedicated airport shuttle; the ryokan is an 8-minute walk from Sounzan Cable Car Station and has an Izu–Hakone bus stop directly in front of the property. Guests commonly arrive by train and local bus or taxi.
Travel via Odawara or Hakone‑Yumoto using Odakyu or JR services, then transfer to the Hakone Tozan line and cable car/bus to Sounzan; total travel time from Tokyo airports is typically around two hours depending on connections.
Staff can communicate in English to assist guests, and the property requests non‑urgent inquiries be sent in writing (email, official LINE or booking messages) for clarity.
Expect a small, quiet ryokan with Japanese‑style rooms, mountain views, a relaxed ‘do nothing’ atmosphere, terrace breakfasts, a fireplace in communal areas and authentic onsen bathing.
Gora Park is about 1.7 km away, the Pola Museum about 1.9 km, and Owakudani Valley around 3.3 km; the cable car and ropeway give easy access to other Hakone sights.
The ryokan is an 8‑minute walk from Sounzan Station and served by a bus stop directly outside; private parking is available on site and the Hakone carry service (baggage forwarding) is recommended for sightseers who prefer to travel light.
Check‑in is from 15:00 and early entry before that is not accepted; check‑out time is shown on your booking confirmation and late arrivals should be communicated to the property in advance in writing.
Private onsen use and restaurant reservations are handled by the ryokan (restaurant reservations should be made at least two days in advance and additional meals cannot be added on arrival day); pets are generally not accepted so please confirm with the property, and the nearest convenience store is roughly 3 km from the hotel.