THE STORY
Nestled among the volcanic peaks of Hakone sits the hot spring town of Gora and a luxury mountain resort from ryokan brand FUFU.
Inspired by the austere beauty of the surrounding wilderness, the 39 spacious rooms are decorated in muted earth tones and richly textured natural materials. Each features a private hot spring view bath with windows that slide back to admit fresh breezes and the gentle sounds of the forest.
At restaurant Yamanoe, the dining experience is defined by choice. While most ryokans have a set menu, FUFU Hakone allows guests to customize their kaiseki course from a seasonal prix fixe menu including washoku classics and original dishes that make creative use of Hakone’s bounty of Pacific seafood and produce from the foothills of Mt. Fuji. A six-seat teppan counter gives meat-loving guests the opportunity to see juicy wagyu steaks grilled before their eyes. And a deep cellar of both wines and sakes offers extensive pairing options.
While the in-room baths are sourced from an alkaline hot spring deep below the resort, the calcium-rich waters of the panoramic communal bath come from nearby Owakudani, allowing guests to enjoy two drastically different sources. Meanwhile, spa HINOKA serves up an entirely different bathing experience: a cradle of fermenting hinoki wood powder that naturally heats the body like a sauna.
From a massive, ikebana-decorated plinth in the entrance way to small accents in the rooms, the resort is decorated with authentic Komatsu stone, a local form of andesite formed by lava flows some 300,000 years ago. Prized for its density and resistance to erosion, it was once used to construct castles for feudal lords. Now, as stately monuments to the glacial pace of geological change, the stones serve as gentle reminder to slow down and savor a renewing moment of relaxation at FUFU Hakone.
Inspired by the austere beauty of the surrounding wilderness, the 39 spacious rooms are decorated in muted earth tones and richly textured natural materials. Each features a private hot spring view bath with windows that slide back to admit fresh breezes and the gentle sounds of the forest.
At restaurant Yamanoe, the dining experience is defined by choice. While most ryokans have a set menu, FUFU Hakone allows guests to customize their kaiseki course from a seasonal prix fixe menu including washoku classics and original dishes that make creative use of Hakone’s bounty of Pacific seafood and produce from the foothills of Mt. Fuji. A six-seat teppan counter gives meat-loving guests the opportunity to see juicy wagyu steaks grilled before their eyes. And a deep cellar of both wines and sakes offers extensive pairing options.
While the in-room baths are sourced from an alkaline hot spring deep below the resort, the calcium-rich waters of the panoramic communal bath come from nearby Owakudani, allowing guests to enjoy two drastically different sources. Meanwhile, spa HINOKA serves up an entirely different bathing experience: a cradle of fermenting hinoki wood powder that naturally heats the body like a sauna.
From a massive, ikebana-decorated plinth in the entrance way to small accents in the rooms, the resort is decorated with authentic Komatsu stone, a local form of andesite formed by lava flows some 300,000 years ago. Prized for its density and resistance to erosion, it was once used to construct castles for feudal lords. Now, as stately monuments to the glacial pace of geological change, the stones serve as gentle reminder to slow down and savor a renewing moment of relaxation at FUFU Hakone.
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