Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f, a forest resort hotel nestled amid the rich natural surroundings of Sengokuhara in Hakone, Kanagawa, is launching a new creative program for the rainy season and Father's Day. Built around the concept of "Mamabi" (豆火) — miniature candle flames — the initiative invites guests to slow down, sit together, and let a small flickering light kindle quiet conversation.
Creator Ambassador Program
The hotel has launched a Creator Ambassador Program, bringing together creators from fields including music, art, craft, film, and photography. Participating creators stay at the property and share their perspectives on the experience through their individual voices. For the first cohort in 2026, 23 collaborating creators have been selected.
The inaugural creative initiative features the work of Beni, a candle creator and one of the program's first ambassadors. During the rainy season in Sengokuhara — when mist-laden air and the sound of rain draw the senses inward — Beni has created an experience around the gentle flicker of a small flame. The flame does not demand attention; it simply draws people together, naturally.
The experience is also framed with Father's Day in mind. A Mamabi kit paired with a postcard featuring an image of a small flame offers a way to convey appreciation without words — through the warmth of fire. Around the flame, no special setting or scripted conversation is needed; families can simply be present, letting natural silences and small exchanges fill the time.
Program Details
Rain-Day "Mamabi Room" — Limited to Rainy Days
On rainy days, the hotel's cafe & lounge opens a special space called the "Mamabi Room" (豆火の間). Guests can enjoy a cup of coffee alongside a small Mamabi flame while listening to the rain outside. It serves as a calm, unhurried retreat within the hotel — a place to spend the slower hours of a rainy-day stay.
Mamabi Kit and Pillow Mist (Available for Purchase)
The cafe & lounge stocks a Mamabi kit for sale. After sharing a flame together at the hotel, guests can take the kit home and recreate that same unhurried time — a fitting Father's Day gift. The act of preparing, lighting, and watching the flame becomes a wordless way to express gratitude, carrying the memory of Hakone back into everyday life.
An original pillow mist is also planned for release at a later date. A single spritz before sleep is intended to bring back the scent of the forest and the atmosphere of the stay.
Price: Mamabi Kit — ¥8,200 (tax included)
Note: The release timing and price of the pillow mist are yet to be announced.
Creator Ambassador: Beni
Mamabi Creator / Candle Creator
Instagram: @mamebi_creator_beni
Beni works with fire as a medium, exploring what it means to create "fire meant to be watched." Rather than illuminating a space, the focus is on a minimal flame that draws the gaze inward — including the rituals, intervals, and pauses involved in tending to it. Currently centered on the extremely small "Mamabi" flame, Beni investigates how the senses open within states of reduction. Drawing on knowledge related to bodily and sensory wellbeing, the work pursues forms of experience where stillness allows the senses to unfold.
Accommodation Plan
"A Stay with Fire and Space" — Savoring Mamabi Flicker and Silence in the Hakone Forest
(Dinner & Breakfast Included, with Mamabi Kit)
Stay Period: June 1 (Monday) to August 31 (Monday), 2026
Rates:
- före: From ¥64,000 for 2 guests, 1 room (dinner & breakfast included; tax and service charge included; bathing tax extra)
- villa 1/f: From ¥110,000 for 2 guests, 1 room (dinner & breakfast included; tax and service charge included; bathing tax extra)
Reservations:
- före: https://bit.ly/4wBjJK1
- villa 1/f: https://bit.ly/49w5Y5x
