What kind of luxury resort is Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, an IHG Hotel?
In early April, when the cherry blossoms began to bloom, we took the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, got off at JR Odawara Station, and then took a free shuttle bus to the hotel. This time, we wanted to soak in an onsen while viewing the cherry blossoms, so we stayed at the spa resort around the time the cherry blossoms were in bloom.
A 30-minute shuttle bus ride from Odawara Station brought us to the hotel, where the entrance was decorated with a jinrikisha, a rickshaw often seen in Kyoto and Asakusa. The automatic door opened to reveal a magnificent sliding door that was once used as a gate to a samurai residence. Once inside, the pillars, walls, and ceiling were decorated with magnificent marquetry. Marquetry is one of Hakone’s representative traditional crafts. Not only the interiors, but also the furniture and cushions were decorated with marquetry patterns. In the dining area, the walls were covered with paintings of ukiyoe woodblock prints depicting the mountains of Hakone, arranged in a modern style.
After completing check-in formalities on a sofa next to the dining restaurant, the staff showed us to our riverside room on the fourth floor. As we entered the room, we could hear the sound of the river flowing. The room was smaller than I had expected, but it was functionally designed. The private onsen on the balcony had a bathtub made of stone and a shower room next to it. All rooms have private hot spring baths. The walls were decorated with interesting artwork that mixed old Hakone and modern times. The furnishings were also tastefully done in indigo blue, giving the room a sophisticated and modern feel.
The room by the river had a pleasant sound of the river when I opened the window, and the sound and space were very soothing as I lay on the bed. We relaxed with coffee in our room for a while and enjoyed the private hot spring bath on the balcony. The temperature of the hot spring tends to be high, so it is recommended to fill the bathtub with hot spring water as soon as you get to your room and let it cool down for a while, or add tap water.
Then the resort features a spa onsen. Instead of the traditional Japanese hot spring style, the spa onsen is like a swimming pool where you wear a bathing suit. After relaxing in our room, we decided to go there. There was a large screen inside the spa onsen, showing beautiful natural images of Hakone and Mt. Fuji. Whenever the images on the big screen changed, the colors and brightness reflected on the window glass and the surface of the onsen changed, and at the same time, the ambience of the space changed.
Then, after enjoying the spa onsen, we went to the courtyard where the footbath was located. The courtyard, where the sun had just set, was lit up in indigo blue, creating a wonderful fantasy world. I felt as if I was in space. I was amazed at how completely different the atmosphere here was from that of the daytime. It is great to take a footbath here and have a drink.
If I were to venture a fault, I would say that the view from the room was not so good. We stayed during the cherry blossom season, so we were able to see the cherry blossoms blooming along the river, which was nice, but if you stay during other seasons, you may not need to book a room along the river. Also, even though there was a nice private hot spring bath on the balcony, it was in full view from outside, and I needed to lower a bamboo blind, so I could not enjoy the view when I was in the bath.
Also, the food at the dining restaurant on the first floor was no bad, with wood-grilled beef, but the price range is comparable to that of luxury hotels in Tokyo. The taste was also average. For two adults, a la carte and not drinking alcohol, the price was about JPY35,000, but we were not very satisfied. On the other hand, The breakfast buffet was wonderful. Salads with fresh vegetables harvested in Hakone are plentiful, and the freshly baked croissants and danishes were delicious. You can choose either Japanese or Western food for your main course, and everything else is buffet style.
Overall, the facility is a great place for couples because of the romantic ambiance. Often on weekends I saw families with children, but during the week there seemed to be more couples. Also, although this hotel appears to be a 5-star hotel, it is more of a 4-star hotel. It was more casual and stylish than a luxury resort. We value the view from our room, so we felt it was lacking, but the hospitality of the hotel staff was excellent and we enjoyed our stay. Check Availability and Pricing for the resort hotel on agoda
Is the location easy to access?
There are several ways to get there, but I will only describe the easy way.
Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, get off at JR Odawara Station, and take a hotel’s free shuttle service from West Exit of Odawara Station. This is the easiest way to get there. Departs from Odawara Station at 10:00, 12:30, 15:30, and 17:30. As of 2022, no advance reservations are required.
Alternatively, take Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station. Then transfer to Hakone Tozan Railway and get off at Gora Station. Upon customer request, the hotel provides a free shuttle service to and from Gora Station between 10:00 and 18:00. Inquiries: Tel +81 460-83-8310 It is within walking distance from the station, but it is better to ask for a shuttle service because of the long slope.
Then, if you are taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to JR Odawara Station, you need to pay attention to your luggage. Please check here for details. When boarding the Shinkansen, luggage whose total of three sides exceeds 160 cm requires advance reservation of a seat with an oversized luggage space. Baby strollers, musical instruments, bicycles, surfboards, etc. are excluded. Items may be brought in as long as they are placed in a special bag and can stand up.
Passengers bringing oversized baggage without an advance reservation will be charged a carry-on fee of 1,000 JPY. In such cases, the baggage needs to be placed in an area designated by the crew. Also, large luggage is not allowed in unreserved seats on the Shinkansen. Then, children under 6 years old usually do not need a ticket, but if a preschooler uses the Shinkansen, a reserved seat ticket for preschoolers is required to be purchased.
On Odakyu Romancecars, the size of luggage is limited to a total of no more than 250 centimeters on three sides and no longer than 2 meters in length. The weight is limited to 30 kg, and up to two pieces may be carried on board as long as they do not interfere with the operation of the train or inconvenience other passengers. Exercise equipment such as ski boards, snowboards, bicycles, etc. may be brought in as long as they are placed in a special bag and can stand up. Strollers are folded and placed in front of the seats. Then normally, children under 6 years of age do not need a ticket, but when using a seat on an Odakyu Romancecar, a child’s express ticket and a ticket for children are required. However, if you hold a child on your lap, a limited express ticket and a boarding pass are not required. Please refer to the info.
Where is the best accommodation for anniversaries in Hakone?
If you are looking for a place for a special occasion, the property would be one of the best in Hakone. The staff arranges flowers and cakes to celebrate an anniversary at additional charges if you request in advance.
Rooms I would recommend?
The rooms along the river did not have an open atmosphere even when the windows were opened because the bus terminal and convenience store on the other side of the river were visible. Also, the rooms on the mountain side would not be enough to enjoy the spectacular view of Hakone because of the factory in front of them. If you stay here, a room on the 4th floor would be a good choice. Unless you look down from the balcony, you won’t notice the buildings much.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, yukatas, bathrobes, skincare products, sweets, and a coffee machine with capsules, etc. A Boss speaker was placed by the bed. The free Wi-Fi reception was excellent in the property. Room service is available between 7:30 and 22:30.
Also, this is child-friendly. Staff provides cribs, bed guards, and meals, etc. if you request in advance. You can share the bed in your guest room with a child under the age of 12 for no additional cost.
How about In-house Facilities?
As noted above, there is a spa onsen, Jacuzzi bath and sauna. All of them are open from 9:00 to 22:00.
There is a spa treatment shop and reservations are required for treatment services.
There is also a gym, which is available 24 hours a day, free of charge. It has a full range of exercise equipment and impressive large-screen digital signage, which is a nice change from the usual. Also, there is a cafe and bar on 1F.
Then the resort is a perfect universal design. Wheelchairs are available for borrowing. If you are bringing someone with weak legs, let the staff know in advance. They will be able to arrange a room close to the elevator. During our stay, we saw guests in wheelchairs.
TOP5 Best Accessible Hotels and Ryokans in Hakone
Then there are several dog-friendly rooms. This is rare in Hakone. We saw dog walkers as we gazed at the cherry blossoms in full bloom along the river from our balcony. The rooms come with special amenities for dogs: up to two small dogs or one medium-sized dog per room. Free shuttle service is not available with dogs.
How about meals?
There is only one dining restaurant on site, but there are Chinese and pizza restaurants called TABIYA’S nearby that can be used.
My impressions
Overall, rooms with private hot spring baths are more expensive in Hakone, but I thought the price was lower here. Also, there are still very few resort hotels in Hakone that offer rooms with private hot spring baths, so this is ideal for those who prefer hotels to ryokans. Then the spa onsen is also a rare onsen-style in Japan, but couples and families can enjoy it together. It is easy to use for a weekend trip, and I would like to visit again in the fall season.
Have a great holiday! Welcome to receive any questions about Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, an IHG Hotel from the below space. Check Availability and Pricing for the resort hotel on agoda
Info about Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, an IHG Hotel
| Style | Modern Resort Spa Hotel |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 40,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact | Call at +81 460-83-8310 overseas Call at 0460-83-8310 domestic Japan |
| Internet Connection | Free wifi in the hotel |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available |
| Location | Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, an IHG Hotel’s MAP |
| Access | Free shuttle service from Odawara Station or Gora Station |
| Address and TEL | 924-1 KIGA, HAKONE-MACHI ASHIGARASHIMO GUN HAKONE KANAGAWA 250-0402 JAPAN Tel +81 0460-83-8310 |
| Official Homepage | Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, an IHG Hotel’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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