As we'll be staying in many ryokan with set meal times and elaborate kaiseki dinners, I'm trying to determine whether it's worth dining at Kadan for both nights of our stay?

I understand that the appeal of ryokan is to seek out retreat and tranquility, indulge in kaiseki and onsen... we're looking forward to exploring the town as well. I'd like to visit the Pola Museum of Art, take the Hakone Gondola, visit the Kuzuryu Shrine Singu and sime of the historic onsens, enjoy an afternoon tea in the Fujiya Hotel. And time permitting, even take a sidetrip to Kamakura to tour the temples upon return to Tokyo (after check-out on our final morning).

That said, I am hoping that our 2 night stay at Gora Kadan will primarily be centered around the ryokan and amenities it offers; relaxing and regenerating after our long flight (only 4 days earlier) and enjoying the baths, the food, the beautiful surroundings. I do not want to feel rushed or follow any timelines or schedules.

I am uncertain whether forgoing our second kaiseki meal at Gora Kadan would add-to or take-away from, that sense of complete abandonment, unwinding, and reconnection with self that one typically seeks in ryokan. I understand that most ryokan have very restrictive policies for pre-set meal times; is GK similar?

Furthermore, I've heard that there is not really anything else of comparable quality in Hakone. Is this also the case? We are not snobs and would just as welcome a great bowl of soba or a casual noodle place, if there is anything worth considering nearby.

Lastly, the reason for my uncertainty re. meals both nights at Gora Kadan is two-fold:

1. I'm a bit concerned about redundancy with regards to cuisine and local/seasonal ingredients. We are interested in diversity and would like to experience varied meals and styles of cooking. I'm not certain if their kitchen operates as a more traditional ryokan or if the itamae serves a more creative cuisine similar to the Michelin-starred Tokyo/Kyoto kithens, but we'll be eating a LOT of kaiseki meals in the approx. 20 nights we've booked in ryokan throughout our trip.

2. I understand that prices are exceptionally high and that *compared to the equivalent of what one would find in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, or elsewhere - the value is not exactly proportional. I've heard it said that the kitchen operates on what would elsewhere be considered a 1-star experience, at 3-star prices. While cost isn't really a factor in deciding, I wanted to ask whether this would eb the general concensus?

So taking into account freedom to sightsee if we chose to wander around town, repetition in kaiseki meal service on two consecutive nights, size of meal and feasibility of such large dinners throughout our trip + seemingly lack of other options in the area (though I'm not particularly familiar with restaurants in Hakone) - would you suggest we accept meals both nights of our stay at GK or forgo the second night and explore other local restaurants?

Thanks for your opinions!