Livemax Resort Hakone Sengokuhara

I was a little worried because I'd read some negative reviews, but in the end, it was a very satisfying trip! We got there by bus, but there were steep slopes and stairs from the nearest bus stop to the hotel, which would have been difficult for elderly people or those with children. Also, there were no hotel signs until the very end, so even though I looked at Google Maps, I was a little worried about whether I was on the right path. The hotel's interior was certainly a bit dated in some places, but it seemed to be well-cleaned. I wonder if it was originally a training camp or something? The room was adequately equipped and spacious, but as everyone has said, the smell was a bit of a concern. The air freshener used to mask the smell was strong, and it had a unique sweet scent that I never got used to. I think it would be a good idea to use an unscented deodorant. The open-air bath in the guest room was semi-open-air, but I could see the night view by opening the window, which was very pleasant. I took a dip three times during my stay, and the hot water was always good. The view was even better than I expected, which was a nice plus. As for the food, I was very satisfied both in the evening and in the morning! Dinner was very filling, with a magnificent simmered golden-eyed snapper, sukiyaki, sashimi, abalone, and other dishes. I was so full I ended up leaving dessert. The cheesecake that was served for dessert was delicious, but unfortunately I couldn't finish it... For breakfast, I was able to choose my main fish from horse mackerel, mackerel, or salmon upon check-in, and the menu was full of side dishes that went perfectly with rice, including homemade-looking tofu, thick omelet, squid sashimi, and other rice accompaniments. It was my favorite hotel breakfast of all the ones I've had so far. Although most of the staff were foreigners, we were able to communicate with them, and it was clear that they were working hard. I played free table tennis, soaked in the hot springs, and ate lots of delicious food. Overall, it was a very satisfying trip! Thank you very much.

The open-air bath in the room was great. The sukiyaki and boiled fish for dinner and the choice of grilled fish for breakfast were delicious. We also enjoyed table tennis and karaoke.

The entire hotel, including the rooms and sheets, had a strong perfume-like smell that made me feel extremely unwell! I thought it was probably to get rid of the mold smell, as the reviews said! There was a loud bubbling noise from inside the room the whole time, probably from the boiler, which made it impossible to sleep! The walk to the front desk was much steeper than I expected, making it difficult! The staff were foreigners, but the service and food were great!