Originally Posted by
OsakaWino
But I don't mean to compare the 2 properties as one being better than the other. They are completely different in every aspect, so while someone might like one more than the other, it is like comparing apples and oranges. I just think they make a nice combination, with easy and convenient transportation between the two, if someone has 4 or 5 nights to spend in the area.
They are indeed very different, and the experiences complement each other nicely.
If you really take to Hakone and wish to extend your stay, a night each at the Fujiya Hotel and Prince Hakone hotels respectively offers a similar complementary experience. The Fujiya is the oldest Western Hotel in Japan, and offers amazing 19th century charm (and also connects with one of those much nicer hiking trails that I was talking about), while Prince Hakone offers up quirky entertainment with Hakone-en, as well as THE best views of Lake Ashi you will ever find.
So...maybe you can stay four nights in Hakone after all, so long as you do them all in different hotels.
