Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f Launches Summer Gourmet Courses at WOODSIDE dining and Hyoseki
Nestled amid the lush forests of Sengokuhara in Hakone, the resort hotel Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f will begin offering summer seasonal menus from June 1, 2026. Two of the resort's restaurants — wood-fire dining venue WOODSIDE dining and Japanese restaurant Hyoseki — will each present courses highlighting the flavors of summer, from peach and corn to eel and wagyu.
WOODSIDE dining
Set within a striking half-dome structure in the forest, WOODSIDE dining serves wood-fire innovative cuisine. Two Summer Courses are available for the season, both crafted around the bold heat and fragrant smoke of the wood fire.
Summer Course A opens with a caprese of water eggplant and burrata cheese, followed by a mille-feuille of caramelized eel with peach and sansho pepper chutney. The fish course features isaki (chicken grunt fish) grilled over wood fire, finished with a fermented salt-lemon vinaigrette. The main is a BBQ grill of pork shoulder spareribs with summer mandarin orange, where the intensity of the wood fire meets the brightness of citrus.
Summer Course B begins with appetizers that draw out the sweetness of summer vegetables: grilled asparagus and squid salad, and corn rib fritters. The bonito wood-fire course is served with a charred butter soy sauce and myoga pickles. The main is roasted duck breast scented with five-spice powder and honey, complemented by a light watermelon and cottage cheese salad.
Service hours: 5:30 PM–7:30 PM / 7:45 PM–10:00 PM (Last order 9:30 PM)
Price: Summer Course A & B / ¥12,000 (tax and service charge included)
Hyoseki
Housed in a building that retains the architectural beauty of the Taisho era, Hyoseki presents a Seasonal Kaiseki reflecting the spirit of Japanese summer. The appetizer course includes myoga sushi, hime-morokoshi (baby corn), and freshwater prawns from Lake Biwa, offering refreshing flavors and colors. The simmered soup features aburame (greenling fish) in a matcha broth, while the grilled course presents salt-grilled sea bass.
The main course highlights black wagyu fillet with corn and summer vegetables. The meal closes with water manju and seasonal fruit.
Service hours: 5:30 PM–10:00 PM (Last order 9:30 PM) *Last entry at 7:00 PM
Price: Seasonal Kaiseki June–August / ¥18,000 (tax and service charge included)
About WOODSIDE dining
WOODSIDE dining is a half-dome shaped restaurant nestled in the forest. Its large glass walls frame ever-changing seasonal scenery, creating a setting that feels like a living landscape painting. The dinner menu centers on wood-fire innovative cuisine, where chefs skillfully control the type of wood and temperature to draw out the best of seasonal ingredients. Far-infrared heat creates a crispy exterior and juicy interior, with a gentle lingering smokiness. Culinary inspiration draws from Japanese cuisine and other multicultural elements, combining dashi, fermentation, and spice to create distinctive flavors, paired with a curated wine selection.
About Hyoseki
Hyoseki carries on the heritage of the historic hot spring inn Hyosekikaku, which opened in 1914 (Taisho 3rd year) and was designed by architect Fujikichi Shimada. The space retains fine craftsmanship throughout, including woven sugi-board (cedar) ceilings and hand-carved openwork decorations. Celebrated figures such as poet Yosano Akiko, painter Ishii Hakutei, and economist Kawai Eijiro once frequented the establishment, and the Emperor Emeritus also stayed here during his time as Crown Prince.
About Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f
Surrounded by the natural scenery of Sengokuhara in the Hakone mountain range, Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f offers a special relaxation space attuned to the changing seasons. The property comprises the modern hotel "före" (37 rooms) and independent cottages "villa 1/f" (18 units). Dining facilities include WOODSIDE dining (breakfast buffet and dinner), Hyoseki (Japanese breakfast and kaiseki), and a cafe and lounge. The resort also features the hot spring "ONSEN f," the spa "könoha spa," and "free bird & terrace," where guests can enjoy complimentary drinks and seasonal welcome services in an outdoor setting with views of the surrounding forest.
Reservations can be made online:
- WOODSIDE dining: https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/hakone-retreat-woodside-dining/reserve
- Hyoseki: https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/hakone-retreat-hyoseki/reserve
Official website: https://www.hakone-retreat.com
