New nine-suite modern villas from ESPACIO Hakone lie tucked into a pristine Japanese forest, offering exclusive access to the source of the historic Dogashima hot spring.
ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu opened in July 2024, introducing a refined level of luxury, privacy and hospitality to Hakone, Japan’s legendary mountain hot-spring destination. Situated in a secluded valley in the forested Miyanoshita area, the nine-suite retreat blends careful organic design with wellness programming and elevated culinary offerings within a serene natural setting.
ESPACIO Hakone is the group’s first concept in Asia from the creators of ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki, the award-winning five-star property in Hawai‘i. The name borrows the Spanish word for “space” and references Japan’s Kirin, Phoenix, Tortoise and Dragon deities. ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu welcomes guests to a calm sanctuary reserved for a limited number of visitors each night. The journey begins with a private cable car descent of 328 feet into a secluded valley carved by the peaceful Haya River.
© Courtesy of ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu
Guests are welcomed into one of nine private villas thoughtfully designed to reflect the surrounding natural environment. Each suite is adorned with original artwork created through collaborations with Japanese artists working across varied media, including Karakami artist Toto Akihiko, sculptor Tomoya Tachibana, dye artist Shikeki Fukumoto, Kumiko craftsman Masanobu Shiozawa and gold and silver leaf artist Hiroto Rakusho.
Villas range from 990 to 1,144 square feet and serve as private sanctuaries with generous interiors and outdoor pavilions featuring indoor and outdoor baths. Several accommodations include private saunas, swimming pools and dedicated rooms for tea ceremonies or entertainment. Every villa is supplied by the pristine Dogashima hot spring, one of the celebrated Seven Hot Springs of Hakone. This sacred spring, associated with Muso Soseki—an influential Rinzai Zen priest from the Nanbokucho period (1336–1392)—has flowed to nearby baths in its pure form for more than 700 years.
© Courtesy of ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu
The property launches ESPACIO SPA, which features an open-air Hakone lava cave bath, a luxurious bedrock bath hewn from ancient Austrian marble, and seasonal spa treatments inspired by Hakone’s natural rhythms. Spa experiences take place in private treatment rooms and are complemented by indoor, outdoor and bedrock baths.
Under the direction of Michelin-starred Kyoto chef Takahiro Yamagishi—the founder of Tominokoji Yamagishi—ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu honors the tradition of Kyoto cuisine and the Cha-kaiseki concept, offering curated, in-suite dining experiences. Menus draw on Hakone’s local produce and range from formal kaiseki presentations to inventive takes on homely nabe hotpot dinners. International saké sommelier Keita Akaboshi manages the hotel’s saké collection and designs thoughtful saké pairings.
ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu is a member of Leading Hotels of the World, combining discreet luxury, cultural craftsmanship and restorative hot-spring wellness in a secluded Hakone valley.