Bold statement: A serene, luxury gateway to Japan’s prized hot springs is coming, and it’s redefining hospitality in Hakone. The Okura Resort brand is set to debut in Japan with The Okura Resort Hakone Gora, opening in 2029. This first Okura Resort property will be developed and owned by Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd., while Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. will manage the hotel under the new Okura Resort umbrella following an operational agreement signed on July 11, 2025.
Hakone, renowned for its natural beauty and thermal waters, attracts nearly 20 million visitors annually who come to soak in hot springs, explore museums, and enjoy the surrounding scenery. The new property will be located in the Gora area, famous for its abundant hot springs, and will offer sweeping views of the Hakone mountains, including the iconic Myojogatake. Guests will have access to unique local attractions, such as Hakone’s summer festival, while experiencing the tranquil landscape in every season.
Toshihiro Ogita, President of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., expressed enthusiasm about the brand expansion: bringing The Okura Resort to Hakone—one of Japan’s premier hot spring destinations—blends Hakone’s rich history, natural beauty, and cultural charm with Okura’s hospitality philosophy. The goal is to deliver a distinctive experience rooted in omotenashi, or attentive hospitality, within this special locale.
The Okura Resort Concept: Tradition Merged with a Quiet Landscape
The Okura Resort brand extends Hotel Okura’s tradition of Japanese aesthetics and wa (harmony), offering refined comfort, personalized, high-quality service, and cuisine crafted from regional ingredients. The concept emphasizes harmony with the surrounding nature and local community, delivering a serene retreat that respects the area’s environment.
Design and Setting
Award-winning designer Gwenael Nicolas of Curiosity, based in Tokyo, is guiding the overall design. Framed by a concept described as a 'Forest Hideaway,' the hotel will integrate with Gora’s lush surroundings. Expect warm green and beige tones, expansive windows, and interiors that bring Hakone’s mountains into view to create an immersive, tranquil stay.
Accommodations and Facilities
The property will comprise a West Wing and an East Wing, totaling 58 rooms. Each room will feature a private open-air bath drawing on waters from the famous Owakudani Hot Spring, with an average size of about 63 square meters, including balconies. The spa area will include an indoor hot spring bath, as well as dry and mist saunas. Dining will include a fine dining restaurant with a teppanyaki counter and a lobby lounge/bar, all designed to complement Gora’s natural beauty.
Key Details
Location: Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Total floor area: 9,650.84 square meters
West Wing: 3 floors above ground, 3 below
East Wing: 4 floors above ground
Guest rooms: 58 (West Wing: 12 rooms; East Wing: 46 rooms)
Dining: Fine dining restaurant, lounge, bar
Facilities: Large bathing area (indoor, dry and mist saunas), 2 treatment rooms
Access: About 5 minutes by car from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway; roughly 3 minutes on foot from Naka-Gora cable car station
About Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1958, Hotel Okura opened its flagship Hotel Okura Tokyo in 1962, blending traditional Japanese beauty with top-tier accommodations, cuisine, and service. After closing in 2015 and undergoing four years of rebuilding, it reopened as The Okura Tokyo in 2019. The Okura group specializes in hotel ownership, development, and management, as well as restaurant and chain operations through its subsidiaries. The brand’s pledge—“Best Accommodation, Cuisine and Service”—captures the fusion of meticulous Japanese attention to detail with Western practicality. For more information, visit www.okura.com.
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a Hotel Okura subsidiary, operates 79 properties (53 in Japan and 26 overseas) across three brands—Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International, and Hotel JAL City—totaling about 23,605 guest rooms as of December 1, 2025. Learn more at www.okura-nikko.com.
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