Hak Gora Paipu No Kemuri Plus

This hotel consistently exceeds expectations, primarily due to its prime location directly opposite Gora Station, making it an exceptional hub for exploring the Hakone region. It is widely praised for offering excellent value for money, especially with its inclusive buffet meals and access to traditional hot spring baths. The hotel is an ideal fit for families, sightseers, and budget travelers looking for convenient and comfortable lodging without excessive frills. Guests appreciate the overall cleanliness and the friendly, helpful staff. To enhance your stay, consider including the breakfast option due to limited local alternatives, and for light sleepers, it may be beneficial to request a room away from the train tracks. Utilizing the luggage storage service is also highly recommended.

Facilities & Amenities
Guests highly appreciate the hotel's onsen areas, which are a significant highlight, providing a relaxing experience after a day of sightseeing. These hot spring baths are separated for male and female guests and feature both indoor and outdoor pools, allowing for a traditional Japanese bathing experience. The onsen tubs are described as being of moderate size, comfortably accommodating several people with ample personal space, and benefit from a steady flow of hot water. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, a private hot spring can be borrowed for a small additional cost. The hotel also offers practical conveniences such as vending machines located on different floors, providing easy access to beverages and snacks. Additionally, a souvenir shop on-site is noted for its competitively priced items, often cheaper than those found at tourist spots. A pleasant lounge area is available for guests to relax and socialize.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
The cleanliness of the rooms is consistently highlighted by guests, who frequently describe them as very clean and well-maintained. The room size is often noted as being larger than typical Japanese hotel rooms, providing sufficient space to lay luggage and move comfortably. Feedback on the beds received mixed reviews, with some guests finding them on the harder side, while others described them as firm yet comfortable, ensuring a good night's sleep for most. In-room amenities include tea-making facilities, a small refrigerator, bathrobes, a tea kettle, and a television. The bathrooms are generally described as small, modular, and sometimes cramped, though functional. Noise levels from the nearby train tracks are a recurring topic; while trains run from early morning until late at night, many guests found the rooms to be well soundproofed and the noise negligible, though light sleepers might prefer earplugs or a room on the opposite side of the hotel. Windows can be opened for fresh air.

Dining & Food Quality
Both breakfast and dinner are served buffet-style, offering a wide and varied selection that caters to diverse tastes. The breakfast variety includes both Japanese and Western options such as scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, croissants, yogurt, coffee, grilled fish, and a waffle bar. Dinner offers an extensive selection, including roast beef, ribs, fish, sashimi, boiled crab, various salads, noodles, and a popular dessert bar with make-your-own ice cream sundaes. Guests appreciate the all-you-can-eat format and the good quality of the Japanese cafeteria-style food, which is particularly well-suited for families and picky eaters. It is recommended to arrive promptly for meals as food replenishment can sometimes be slow. Beverages are included, though alcohol is available at an extra cost. The dining room can become busy and noisy, especially during peak times.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is a significant advantage, situated directly across from Gora Station, making it incredibly convenient for exploring the Hakone region. This proximity provides immediate access to the mountain climbing cable cars, ropeway, and ferry services for the Lake Ashi loop tour, as well as bus lines that offer direct routes to destinations like the Gotemba Premium Outlets. Guests find it an ideal base for sightseeing and navigating the area's various attractions. While the immediate vicinity offers a wide variety of restaurants within a 15-minute walk, many close early, and there are limited night activities in Gora itself, which some guests noted.

Staff & Service
The staff are consistently described as friendly, helpful, and courteous, contributing positively to the guest experience. Despite a limited English proficiency among many staff members, they are patient and make efforts to assist guests, often knowing a few key English words to facilitate communication. The check-in and check-out processes are generally smooth, and guests particularly appreciate the baggage storage service available both before check-in and after check-out, which is highly convenient for sightseeing. Some guests also successfully utilized luggage forwarding services to their next destination, though language barriers occasionally presented initial challenges. The welcome is noted as warm, with thoughtful touches like providing larger yukata for Western guests.

Additional Information
The hotel is frequently highlighted for its excellent value and reasonable pricing, particularly as rates typically follow the Japanese custom of being per person and often include both dinner and breakfast, making it a budget-friendly option in an otherwise expensive area. While the decor is described as a little dated, the property is consistently noted as being well-maintained, clean, and functional, offering a practical rather than luxurious stay. The hotel is generally welcoming to foreigners, with some English signage and staff who are patient despite limited English proficiency. A unique and appreciated feature is the provision of a wooden wedge that allows guests to keep the room's power on while they are out, enabling devices to charge. The hotel's atmosphere is also noted for being able to accommodate families and children comfortably while still maintaining a quiet environment, making it suitable for a diverse range of guests.