Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora By Ihg

“A Beautiful and Relaxing Stay in Hakone”

Our three-night stay at Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora was exceptional from beginning to end. The service was outstanding, with a team that was highly professional, experienced, and genuinely friendly. It was clear that they were very comfortable assisting leisure travelers from around the world while st… more

Our three-night stay at Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora was exceptional from beginning to end. The service was outstanding, with a team that was highly professional, experienced, and genuinely friendly. It was clear that they were very comfortable assisting leisure travelers from around the world while still maintaining a warm and personal approach. The hotel’s design is one of its greatest highlights. The décor is beautifully inspired by the local Hakone region, with impressive wood finishes and thoughtful details throughout the property. Everything felt elegant, peaceful, and perfectly suited to the surrounding area. Our room was amazing, with a great layout and a private outdoor tub on the balcony that our seven-year-old son thoroughly enjoyed. We highly recommend paying extra for a room facing the creek. The sound of the running water was incredibly relaxing whenever we spent time in the room. The fitness center was top-notch, and the indoor spa area was both beautiful and calming. It was one of the most relaxing spaces we experienced during our trip. The restaurant was also excellent, with many local dishes and some wonderful fish options that we truly enjoyed. Breakfast was outstanding, both in terms of the quality and variety of the food and the exceptional service from the team. Transportation was made very easy through the hotel’s complimentary private cars and shuttle services, which were extremely helpful when getting around Hakone. We also appreciated the seated front desk experience. After traveling for several hours, it was wonderful to sit down during check-in and receive a thoughtful introduction to the hotel’s services and amenities. Strong leadership is evident throughout the property, from the cleanliness and perfect presentation of the hotel to the training, professionalism, and positive attitude of the team. We were genuinely sad to check out after four wonderful days and would highly recommend Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora to anyone visiting the region.

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“Great hotel on Hakone/Gora”

Stayed for 2 nights in 2 rooms as a family of 4. The rooms are elegantly laid out, very functional and nicely presented. The Onsen is great but be careful as it gets very hot! The restaurant is very nice in the hotel, grilled over a wood fire. We had the chefs signature which was great but quite… more

Stayed for 2 nights in 2 rooms as a family of 4. The rooms are elegantly laid out, very functional and nicely presented. The Onsen is great but be careful as it gets very hot! The restaurant is very nice in the hotel, grilled over a wood fire. We had the chefs signature which was great but quite expensive for Japanese pricing, but we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Free snacks and drinks in the lobby up until 5 is a nice touch as well. The shuttle to Gora station was very useful, as the walk is quite steep but manageable but probably not if carrying your bags. If you're staying and you want the best food in the area at exceptionally reasonable prices, then turn left out of the hotel on the main road to Hakone Diner (800m along the road past Box Burger). It's nothing like a diner and was one of the best meals we've had in Japan. Highly recommended and I encourage everyone to try if wanting somewhere good outside the hotel. We would return again

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“Beautiful property and location, but a factory-farm for tourists”

Good things first -- the location along the river is beautiful and calming (although be aware that there is currently some daytime construction across the river), and the rooms are stylish and generously sized, especially for Japan. Even with a third bed for a child it was easy to move around the … more

Good things first -- the location along the river is beautiful and calming (although be aware that there is currently some daytime construction across the river), and the rooms are stylish and generously sized, especially for Japan. Even with a third bed for a child it was easy to move around the room. The rooms are in great condition and spotlessly clean. Sitting in the outdoor private "onsen" in the evening while listening to the rushing water is a delight. The breakfast buffet is high quality, offering a range of Japanese and Western items. The hotel shuttle to and from Odawara Station is very convenient with luggage. While the hotel is very close to Gora Station, it may not be obvious from Google Maps that this is a 600m walk with an 88m change in elevation! There are a lot of steps that would be quite a workout with luggage. There is also nearby (level) access to bus stops for multiple local lines. Now the not good -- the AC for both our rooms was broken. It was clear this had been the case well before our arrival, but we did not notice until bedtime when the room was swelteringly hot. The front desk confirmed they were showing a fault and gave us fans, but no attempt was made to fix this during our stay. No compensation was offered until I asked, when 5k points per room was offered. This was extremely disappointing. Overall, the staff seemed overworked (or perhaps understaffed) and generally not focused on customer service, but rather on getting as many people through the property as quickly as possible. Early check-in (under AmEx Travel terms) seems to not be generally available, and early check-out is advised by the team to avoid waiting. This property did not come anywhere near my baseline expectations of service in Japan, but I also did not see any Japanese guests which is perhaps telling. The hotel "onsen" was spacious and comfortable, although it was disappointing that the jacuzzi section was closed until further notice. This left a lounging area with a giant video display of landscapes, a dry sauna, a very hot wading pool, and a deeper hot pool with a strong circular current. I use "onsen" in quotes because in any other context I would consider this a pool spa... certainly the water all smells strongly of chlorine treatment rather than of natural minerals, so you should set your expectations appropriately. Overall it was not a bad stay, but for the price I will likely investigate ryokan options on a future visit to Hakone.

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“Grubby charging extra fees”

We recently stayed at Hotel Indigo Hakone and overall had a mixed experience. The rooms were spacious and well appointed with good amenities, and the staff were genuinely helpful throughout our stay. The location is great and the free shuttle to and from the station was a really nice touch that we… more

We recently stayed at Hotel Indigo Hakone and overall had a mixed experience. The rooms were spacious and well appointed with good amenities, and the staff were genuinely helpful throughout our stay. The location is great and the free shuttle to and from the station was a really nice touch that we appreciated. Dinner and breakfast at the restaurant were both enjoyable with good quality food, though prices were on the steep side even by Hakone standards. However, the hidden fees left a sour taste. When we were told our room was ready early, we were then hit with a $100 early check in charge. This felt completely unjustified as the room was already cleaned and prepared. The hotel incurs no additional cost whatsoever in simply handing over a key to a room that is already sitting there ready. It felt a little grubby to charge guests for something that costs the hotel nothing. On top of that, there was an additional charge to use the onsen in the room. When an onsen is already built into your room, it should be included in the price. Charging extra for a feature that is physically part of the room you are already paying for is hard to justify. For a hotel at this price point, the nickel and diming is disappointing and takes away from what could otherwise be a lovely stay. Sort out the fees and this place would be a solid four or five stars.

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