Resorts in Hakone

"This was my second stay here. My previous visit with my child was so enjoyable that when a friend came to Japan, I brought them here for a night. Throughout our stay, the staff were incredibly kind and thoughtful. Both breakfast and dinner were very satisfying. However, at check-out, one particular staff member's attitude absolutely floored me. 1. For self-check-out, there were three machines. One was free, and there was no queue, so we just went ahead and used it. 2. After checking out, I wanted to inquire about the hotel shuttle and public bus routes and schedules, as we didn't have a car this time. Both manual check-out counters were busy with guests, so I stood behind them, waiting my turn. 3. Suddenly, a staff member came out from the side to guide guests queuing for check-out. She noticed I was inadvertently standing in front of the line she was directing. She gestured for me to move, and I apologized and immediately stepped aside. Then, when she had a moment, I asked her where I should queue to inquire about the hotel bus schedule. For some reason, she seemed extremely annoyed. She spoke to me with a blank expression for a couple of sentences, then realized I didn't speak Japanese, and that she couldn't explain it to me quickly. Our conversation wasn't even finished when she angrily turned and walked away... At first, I thought she was in a hurry to attend to the queuing guests, as it was peak check-out time, and that she'd get back to me. So I waited in a spot where I wouldn't bother her or her line. But then I realized she completely intended to ignore me! I just stood there waiting for her, hahaha. Eventually, I thought, 'This isn't right. Is getting a schedule really this difficult?' She was the only person available to ask, so I went up to her again and asked in English. She froze, looking at me with a surprised expression, perhaps not expecting me to come back after her impolite demeanor. So, she had to patiently, albeit reluctantly, quickly reply to me in English. I asked if she could give me a copy of the schedule. She didn't even say ”please wait a moment.” She just turned directly to the counter, grabbed a schedule, practically slapped it into my hand with a ”Pia!” sound, said absolutely nothing, and then spun around and walked away, hahaha. I even managed to say ”thank you” to her. I was stunned. A 2600 yen per night hotel, and in my two years in Japan, this was the first time I'd experienced such shockingly poor service. I suggest that during peak check-out times, more staff should be assigned, or essential information like schedules should be placed in a conspicuous location, which would also save staff the trouble. And while the hotel indicates Chinese-speaking service is available, if staff who only speak Chinese are discouraged from asking questions, then I suggest the hotel shouldn't be on platforms like Ctrip trying to attract Chinese customers in the first place."

"Service and amenities were excellent but hotel transportation is inadequate for visitors to this area. You are basically relying on prearranged hotel food service unless you like Italian every night or else there is no reliable way of getting into Gora or nearby eateries safely especially at night. Uber or taxis are unreliable and non existence while we were there. We ended up buying food during the day and use hotel microwave to heat up our dinner."

"Hi everyone, It was very beautiful place to stay, very peaceful, clean and comfortable. Large room, beautiful view and onsen was very good. To those not travelling by car, you need to get a bus Hakone freepass to get around. You can purchase it online, this is a big help. One of the biggest problem was when we arrived the bus station at bus stop no. 252 ( Sengoku-kogen), we called the hotel to arrange to be pick up from the bus station no. 252, we have terrible language problems. They don't understand where was bus stop 252. They don't recognise there is a coffee shop, Lawson and little police station. Finally we have to pull our luggageas all the way to the hotel. Majority of the road was uphill and very little lighting ... Near bus stop number 252, you can see Lawson, a coffee shop and little police station. On the second day, the shuttle bus service took us out to the musuem. We walked back from the museums, it took about 90mins to walk back to the hotel. We were told the bus ticket have to purchase at the counter Tokendai. We were stucked in the hotel for two days, because we really don't know where to apply which bus tickets. On the third day, the hotel shuttle took us to another musuem, we were very thankful a lady from a musuem inform us we can get the ticket Hakone free pass online. On the fourth day, we just realised Tokendai ( cruise) very close to the hotel. Luckily we managed to get around for the last day of our stay. Overall we enjoyed the stay. The receptionists were very polite and tried to help. We have communication breakdown, they were continually apologises. Big thank you for the trip.com to solve the problem."

"If you are looking to escape the relentless pace of the city, Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa is an absolute sanctuary. I recently stayed here and left feeling completely recharged. The most striking thing about this resort is the peace and quiet. Nestled between the mountains and the Sagami Bay, it offers a rare opportunity to truly reconnect with nature. Whether you are walking through the lush greenery of the grounds or simply staring out at the ocean, the atmosphere is incredibly grounding."

"Facilities: This hotel has an old-money charm, and you can really see its past luxury. Everything is very well-maintained, and the rooms are clean. There aren't many power outlets, but they thoughtfully provided power strips. The tatami mattress was very comfortable, and the cleaning staff did a thorough job every day. The view from the window was beautiful, and falling asleep to the sound of the ocean waves was a dream. Service: The hotel offers a shuttle service to Atami JR Station, departing every half hour from in front of McDonald's. There are two vans per shuttle, clearly marked with the hotel's name in red, and managed by hotel staff. They drop off at both the old and new wings, which makes up for the slightly inconvenient location. Environment: The hotel boasts three large hot springs, all with both indoor and outdoor baths. I tried them all, and each has its own unique character. My skin felt so smooth afterwards! The walkway on the 15th floor of the Ocean Wing (old building) offers panoramic ocean views, making it the perfect spot to watch the sunrise. Dining: The buffet dinner was absolutely, incredibly amazing! Unlimited tuna belly! All-you-can-eat scallops and roe! Shrimp, sea bream, squid, salmon – there was so much I couldn't even try it all. The cooked dishes were also delicious, but my stomach just couldn't fit any more. I saw some not-so-great reviews before checking in, but perhaps everyone has different preferences. We, however, highly recommend it!"