A massive bookshelf filling the walls of the open-ceiling lounge
When traveling, you often come across unexpected encounters. Sometimes it’s a person, sometimes an object, and sometimes a book you happen to pick up by chance. Hakone Honbako, which opened in August 2018, is a unique book-themed haven designed to spark that very curiosity. It’s not a bookstore, nor a library, nor a typical inn or hotel with a library. As they describe it, it’s a Book-Auberge a coined term combining book and auberge. An entirely new concept of an interactive media hotel centered around books.
First image: The bookshelf even has cozy, hideaway nooks you can crawl into, full of playful charm.
Second image: Quiet corners to enjoy books can be found all around the building. This shot shows the lounge on the second floor.
Books are not limited to the lounge. They fill every public space throughout the building, including hallways, the restaurant, and the lifestyle and artisan shop. All the books are freely available to pick up, read as much as you like, and even buy. The space is designed so you feel like you’re truly living with the books, with many thoughtful touches that bring you closer to each one.
The collection includes about 12,000 titles, ranging from new releases and rare books to foreign editions and picture books. The project team selects books around the themes of clothing, food, shelter, play, rest, and knowledge to enrich daily life. In addition, a special selection called That Person’s Bookshelf, curated by well-known figures who love books, adds unique personality and depth to the variety.
There are 18 guest rooms in total. Each room has a clear, colorless open-air hot spring bath supplied from Gora. The furniture arrangement is different in every room, so no two rooms are alike. The placement of books is also regularly changed, so you can discover a new book every time you visit.
First image: A corner suite with a bookshelf partition dividing the bedroom and living area.
Second image: Terrace twin room.
The large public baths feature two types of hot springs: a clear, colorless water that’s great for the skin, and a milky white sulfur spring.
The restaurant at Hakone Honbako, which proudly calls itself a Book-Auberge, goes beyond simply promoting local ingredients. It reinterprets the Hakone region and draws inspiration from the culture and history of the post towns along the Tokaido Road to create its menu. Related books that add an intellectual dimension to each dish are also displayed on bookshelves within the restaurant.
Additionally, to encourage guests to take their time reading after meals, the dining area puts special care into pairing non-alcoholic drinks. Along with seasonal herbs and fruits, they offer unique combinations inspired by the local forested environment, blending trees and vegetables. The books you discover here will likely bring back fond memories of your time in Hakone long after your trip.
On the dining room wall hangs a piece by Russian artist Ekaterina Panikanova, who creates her artwork by painting on vintage books.
Photo courtesy of Hakone Honbako
Hakone Honbako
Address: 1320-491 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigara-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone: 0570-001-810
Website: https://hakonehonbako.com/
