Aura Tachibana

“A wonderful Japanese experience (lodging & meals)”

We stayed only 1 night in which I wish we had at least 2 nights to truly relax and enjoy. We did have a chance to walk around the hotel and down to the river before dinner -beautiful. We booked a "Kaze No Tachi Duluxe Room with Private Open-Air Bath" and we just loved it. The room was very la… more

We stayed only 1 night in which I wish we had at least 2 nights to truly relax and enjoy. We did have a chance to walk around the hotel and down to the river before dinner -beautiful. We booked a "Kaze No Tachi Duluxe Room with Private Open-Air Bath" and we just loved it. The room was very large, with multiple rooms and areas, and perhaps a little outdated, but we were Ok with it as the other things made up for it. We loved our private open air balcony with our private bath - just wish we had more time to enjoy it, as we had to leave early morning the next day after breakfast. The balcony has beautiful mountain views. If you don't book a room with a private bath - just know that upon arrival you can book a private bath on the rooftop for a small fee. There is also a public sitting area on the roof top as well (with a bar during the season), there is also a public bar inside. They provide yukata's (casual kimomo's) to wear to your meals and/or the onsen. We wished we had known this as we would have warn ours to dinner. No worries, we made sure to wear them for breakfast. If you book the Kaze No Tachi , the meals are included and you eat in a separate dining room than those booking without the meals. These meals are "Kaiseki" which is a multi-course meal. There is so much food, actually too much. The courses and the presentation are amazing. Definitely not for picky eaters. Both my husband and I are foodies, and love to try different things, and I will admit, I didn't love everything. But overall, wow! It was truly an advent, just make sure to enjoy it and not rush through it. My only complaint is there are two meal times, and you don't get to pick the dinner time - they tell you at check in. We were told we were eating at the earlier time, and we wished we could have pushed it back, as we will still full from our lunch (and they do not allow you to pick your time ahead of check in). I do feel like you should be able to request your dinner time after booking, and before check in. We both enjoyed the public onsen and when I went both times it was completely empty. This was my first time in a public onsen and it was a great experience (note public onsens are separate males and females and no clothes are allowed) If you are looking to get out of your comfort zone, try this traditional Japanese ryokan with the traditional meals - the experience is worth the splurge! I highly recommend this hotel!!!

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“Stunning Japanese experience”

What a fabulous onsen hotel in a great location in Hakone. We spent so long looking for the perfect combination of location, kaiseki cuisine and onsen for just one night in Hakone but the research really paid off. Aura Tachibana sits on the hill overlooking the main Hakone Yumoto town and is reall… more

What a fabulous onsen hotel in a great location in Hakone. We spent so long looking for the perfect combination of location, kaiseki cuisine and onsen for just one night in Hakone but the research really paid off. Aura Tachibana sits on the hill overlooking the main Hakone Yumoto town and is really accessible. We used the luggage delivery service at the main train station after arriving from Tokyo, allowing us to do the full loop before returning to town and walking up to the hotel. The service and staff were amazing, our bags were waiting for us in our room, allowing us chance to enjoy the balcony mini onsen before dinner. The dinner experience was everything we wanted – exquisite presentation and amazing tastes. In fact, the kaiseki style breakfast the following morning was equally fabulous. Having the balcony hot tub meant we were able to take our time in building up to trying the proper onsen Japanese style but it was a wonderful introduction to this most Japanese of traditions and rituals. We went down to try it out after dinner and before we enjoyed a shochu nightcap in the bar. The room itself was traditional in style, very spacious with a living room with tatami mats as well as the bedroom with futons. The futons were far more comfortable that we had imagined and we had a great night’s sleep. Loved every second of our stay here – it’s not the cheapest but for the full experience we got, it was worth every penny.

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“Authentic Ryokan Experience with Stunning Onsen”

Had a really memorable stay at Aura Tachibana in Hakone—such a great way to experience a traditional Japanese ryokan. The highlight was definitely the onsen experience. The baths were fantastic and incredibly relaxing, and if you get the chance to book a private open-air bath, it’s absolutely wort… more

Had a really memorable stay at Aura Tachibana in Hakone—such a great way to experience a traditional Japanese ryokan. The highlight was definitely the onsen experience. The baths were fantastic and incredibly relaxing, and if you get the chance to book a private open-air bath, it’s absolutely worth it. The mountain views and peaceful setting really make it special. The staff were friendly and attentive throughout the stay, and there’s even a shuttle available from the station which makes getting there easier. If you want a traditional Japanese banquet then the food here will meet your needs—both dinner and breakfast are presented asa true Japanese dining experience, with multiple courses and plenty of variety. The hotel itself has a slightly traditional, older feel in places, but that honestly adds to the charm and authenticity of the experience. Overall, it’s a great place to unwind and enjoy a relaxing stay in Hakone. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a classic onsen and ryokan experience!

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“Average ryokan which needs an update.”

This hotel is rather tired and needs an update. The towels and small and thin. The shower room is basic. The futons are thin. On the positive side, the outdoor terrace is very pleasant as is the library and bar area. We also enjoyed the onsen and private spa.