Hyatt Regency Hakone, Japan REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Nov 29, 2014, 5:46 am
#226
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
You should call US central reservations to reserve the CC award nights. The hotel would probably allow you to pay the difference to upgrade to a higher category, but I suspect there would be no point to this. You would still be better off paying a rate and using the DSU.
Nov 29, 2014, 8:42 am
#227
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ
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Do you mean the Chase award night for the sign-up offer or the annual award? If it were latter, you can't use it at this hotel.
Dec 19, 2014, 6:39 am
#229
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 362
I'm currently on my last night here and I have a question about Onsen in Hyatt. I've been to several onsens in Japan (both hotels and independently run ones) and always noticed the onsen water is murky (ranging from a little murky to very heavily sulfur smelling murky). When I got to use HR Hakone's Onsen, i was surprised to see the water is very clear, and not "smelling" of any sulfur or mineral-ish smell. So...i'm just wondering whether the water in HR Hakone is really onsen water?
Dec 19, 2014, 6:47 am
#230
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
Murkiness has nothing to do with it being a true onsen.... And you must been having a lot of baths not to smell the sulfur anymore that is present at the HR Hakone :-). I sure did, not such much when at the onsen itself but later when I was back in my room.
Dec 19, 2014, 12:49 pm
#231
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,857
All the onsen water in the Gora area comes from higher up on the hill. You can see the area it is taken from if you ride the ropeway. So yes, it really is onsen water.
Dec 19, 2014, 3:26 pm
#232
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
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I'm currently on my last night here and I have a question about Onsen in Hyatt. I've been to several onsens in Japan (both hotels and independently run ones) and always noticed the onsen water is murky (ranging from a little murky to very heavily sulfur smelling murky). When I got to use HR Hakone's Onsen, i was surprised to see the water is very clear, and not "smelling" of any sulfur or mineral-ish smell. So...i'm just wondering whether the water in HR Hakone is really onsen water?
I'm not sure, but I don't think that a hotel can legally collect the Hakone Onsen tax if they aren't certified.
Dec 19, 2014, 7:13 pm
#233
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 362
Thanks for the replies. I must say that I'm having blocked nose these days so I can't really smell any sulfur coming out of the onsen.. However the sulfur smell at Owakudani is strong enough for me to detect. Also I did not seem to notice any signs posted on the walls of HR Hakone Onsen to certify the water.. Maybe it's hidden in some corner but I didn't bother looking for it. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the onsen even though I found it a little too clear (which is not a bad thing). Typing this now while I'm waiting for the shuttle van to take us to Gora then on the way to Tokyo!
Dec 19, 2014, 10:43 pm
#234
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
Thanks for the replies. I must say that I'm having blocked nose these days so I can't really smell any sulfur coming out of the onsen.. However the sulfur smell at Owakudani is strong enough for me to detect. Also I did not seem to notice any signs posted on the walls of HR Hakone Onsen to certify the water.. Maybe it's hidden in some corner but I didn't bother looking for it. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the onsen even though I found it a little too clear (which is not a bad thing). Typing this now while I'm waiting for the shuttle van to take us to Gora then on the way to Tokyo!
Mar 19, 2015, 7:51 pm
#235
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,454
other western breakfast options nearby?
We're staying here in July for 2 nights (2 adults + 2 kids). Got two standard rooms, one P+C and one all points. Only Platinum, so no free breakfast. Is there any place close by that serves a western breakfast, or are we stuck eating at the hotel? I saw that the western buffet costs $30+ so that will be a bit pricey for a family of 4 for two mornings.
Mar 19, 2015, 9:28 pm
#236
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We're staying here in July for 2 nights (2 adults + 2 kids). Got two standard rooms, one P+C and one all points. Only Platinum, so no free breakfast. Is there any place close by that serves a western breakfast, or are we stuck eating at the hotel? I saw that the western buffet costs $30+ so that will be a bit pricey for a family of 4 for two mornings.
The Hotel Marroad is about a five minute walk away and offers breakfast buffet in its French restaurant for 1950 yen (about $16 today) It's a nice looking hotel, but I have never eaten there, so cannot vouch for the food.
Mar 20, 2015, 1:48 am
#237
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
You can take the cable car down and be in town in about 15 minutes.... but I don't really know any breakfast places there, but there probably will be.
Also when walking to the cable car, just around the corner from the hotel there is a small family operated coffee place that also serves food. Probably breakfast as well.
Also when walking to the cable car, just around the corner from the hotel there is a small family operated coffee place that also serves food. Probably breakfast as well.
Mar 20, 2015, 2:23 am
#238
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Mar 20, 2015, 2:42 am
#239
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
Google helped me a bit... I was talking about Paseo, as far as I can tell opening is at 9:00. Didn't go there myself, but it looked nice.
https://www.google.nl/maps/@35.24956...OQ!2e0!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.nl/maps/@35.24956...OQ!2e0!6m1!1e1