New nine-suite modern villas from ESPACIO Hakone lie nestled within 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 its doors in July 2024, introducing a new level of luxury, privacy, design and world-class hospitality to Japan’s legendary mountain hot-spring destination of Hakone. Located within a pristine valley in the forested Miyanoshita region, the nine-suite retreat blends meticulous organic design with top-tier wellness programming and culinary excellence in a one-of-a-kind natural paradise.

ESPACIO Hakone is the first concept in Asia from the creators of ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki, its award-winning, 5-star property in Hawai’i. Borrowing the Spanish term for “space” or “universe,” and named for Japan’s Kirin, Phoenix, Tortoise and Dragon deities, ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu invites guests to a calm sanctuary reserved for a select few each night. The journey begins with a private cable car ride descending 328 feet into a secluded and unexplored valley carved by the tranquil Haya River.

© Courtesy of ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu

Guests entering ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu are ushered into one of nine private villas designed to honor and reflect the natural environment surrounding the property. All guest suites are adorned with original artwork created through ESPACIO’S collaboration with artists across a variety of media, including Karakami artist Toto Akihiko, sculptor Tomoya Tachibana, dyeing artist Shikeki Fukumoto, Kumiko craftsman Masanobu Shiozawa, gold and silver leaf artist Hiroto Rakusho and others.

Guest villas range in size from 990 to 1,144 square feet. Each is a private sanctuary with spacious interiors and outdoor pavilions with both indoor and outdoor baths. Several villas feature private saunas, swimming pools, and rooms for tea ceremonies and entertainment. All villas at ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu are fed by the pristine Dogashima hot spring, the most prized of the legendary Seven Hot Springs of Hakone. A sacred spring is not only a soothing elixir, but also rich in history, founded by Muso Soseki, a high priest of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist sect in the Nanbokucho period (1336–1392). The water has been flowing freely to the baths of each private villa in its purest state for more than 700 years.

© Courtesy of ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu

ESPACIO Hakone marks the debut of ESPACIO SPA, which features an open-air Hakone lava cave bath, a luxury bedrock bath crafted from ancient Austrian marble and additional spa treatments inspired by the seasonality of Hakone. Spa experiences are offered in the private treatment room, accompanied by indoor, outdoor and bedrock baths.

Under the direction of Michelin-starred Kyoto restaurant Tominokoji Yamagishi chef and founder Takahiro Yamagishi, ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu upholds the tradition of Kyoto cuisine and Cha-kaiseki, a curated culinary experience of tailored, in-suite dining in the private sanctuary of each villa. Menus are inspired by the bounty of Hakone and range from formal kaiseki presentations to creative interpretations of cozy and traditional nabe hotpot dinners. International saké sommelier Keita Akaboshi oversees the hotel’s collection of sakés and saké pairings.

ESPACIO The Hakone Geihinkan Rin-Poh-Ki-Ryu is a member of Leading Hotels of the World.