About koti hakone

koti hakone (コティ箱根) is a private villa in a quiet villa area of Sengokuhara, Hakone. It's a Nordic-style company retreat built in 1980, which we renovated in 2024. We host just one group per night. Families, friends and companies get the whole building and garden to themselves.

koti means "home" in Finnish

Our name, "koti," means "home" in Finnish. Rather than staying at a hotel on your trip, it's like everyone coming home to the same house. We chose the name hoping you'd spend your time here with that feeling.

After check-in, head first to the spacious living room. Someone steps into the kitchen, the kids race off to the kids' room, and at night everyone gathers around the same table. Our goal is a place where you can relax and spend your time however you like, just as you would at home.

The blue sofa by the window A large group eating at the big table

Reopening a Nordic-style company retreat

The building was built in 1980 as a company retreat. It has a Nordic-style triangular roof, a red-brick entrance, a large living room, a large bath and five guest rooms.

The owner had long wanted to run a lodging business, and an opportunity led to this building. Keeping the generous spaces of the retreat as they were, we renovated it in 2024 into a place where large groups can stay comfortably.

• A large bath filled with free-flowing hot spring water, and a barrel-shaped Finnish sauna in the garden
• The big table that seats up to 20, and a commercial-grade kitchen
• A kids' room with monkey bars handmade by a craftsman, and an outdoor kids' park
• A covered BBQ area and a fire pit for campfires

We've kept improving things little by little since opening. In 2026, we replaced the dining chairs, put up a pergola on the sauna's cool-down deck and expanded the outdoor kids' park. We also added a small gym on the second floor (2F).

The exterior in the evening The red-brick entrance

What matters to us

Just one group per night We host only one group per night, so you'll never run into other guests. The living room, hot spring and garden are all yours.

One table for a large group On large-group trips, people often end up split across several rooms or tables. At koti hakone, the big table seats 16 as is, or up to 20 when you add the square corner table in between. We care about everyone being able to eat, talk and laugh at the same table.

For families, friends and companies We want to be a place that works for three-generation family trips from grandparents to small children, weekends with groups of friends, and company trips and training camps alike. For kids, we have the kids' room and play equipment in the garden. For companies, we have a projector, displays, a whiteboard and payment by invoice.

The big table, full view The upright piano Time around the campfire

From the owner

I'm Kano (叶), the owner of koti hakone.

I have kids of my own, and I realized there are surprisingly few places where you can stay comfortably together with friends' families. Back when I worked at a tech startup in Tokyo, I also had a hard time finding places that worked well for company trips.

A place where even a large group can get together without worrying about others, sit around the same table and talk at leisure. I created koti hakone hoping it would become that kind of place. It would make me very happy if you spent time here that makes you think, "Let's get together again."

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out on LINE, even before you book.

The owner and staff of koti hakone

Sengokuhara

koti hakone is in the Sasaodai villa area (笹尾台別荘地) of Sengokuhara, an area known for its susuki grass fields. It's about 90 minutes from Shinjuku by car or highway bus. In autumn the susuki grass fields turn golden, and in winter the air is crisp and clear, with snow on some days.

Because the surroundings are a quiet villa area, we ask that the garden and other outdoor areas be used only until 9:00 pm. In the evening, enjoy the hot spring and board games indoors. We introduce nearby shops and sights in our Area guide, and what to enjoy each season in koti through the seasons.

The Sengokuhara Susuki Grass Fields

Guest reviews and awards

Booking.com Traveller Review Awards 2025 and 2026 We received Booking.com's Traveller Review Award two years in a row.

Airbnb Superhost for five consecutive periods On Airbnb, we've been recognized as a Superhost five periods in a row. We now have more than 150 reviews.

Here are a few of the reviews we've received (excerpts from Airbnb reviews).

• "We were a big group of 26, but we had no trouble at all using the facilities and it was extremely comfortable." (Trip with friends, 26 guests)
• "The kids played on the outdoor play equipment until it started raining, and after that they spent the whole time in the kids' room and playroom inside. They never got bored, so the adults could relax in the living room and cook without worrying." (Three generations)
• "We used it for a company training camp. Just looking out at the garden felt special, and it was a very comfortable place to stay." (Company training camp)
• "The number one thing is the free-flowing hot spring!! That's what made us choose this place!!"

You can read all the reviews on the koti hakone pages on Airbnb and Booking.com.

Guest stays on Instagram

Guests share photos and videos from their stay on Instagram by tagging @koti_hakone. Thank you!

How we run the house

There are no staff on site at koti hakone. Check-in is by smart lock, and we send your door code 2 days before your stay. You don't have to wait for anyone to greet you, so you can go at your own pace.

In return, we respond quickly through our LINE official account (from about 8:00 am to 9:00 pm). If anything comes up, contact us on LINE, even during your stay. Our cleaning staff clean the house after check-out. There's no cleaning or towel change during your stay, but you're welcome to use the washing machine and dryer free of charge.

For how your stay works, see Your stay, step by step.

Ask us on LINE

Operating company

For more about the company, see our Company profile.

Owner's Blog

The owner writes a blog about improvements to the house, the seasons in Sengokuhara and shops in the area. It also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the house, such as why we changed our check-in and check-out times, and how the garden lawn died off over a single winter.

Read the Owner's Blog