Marroad Hakone

The staff were wonderful, so kind and helpful. My only real complaint is that the lobby looks a bit dated. The rooms have been nicely renovated and are a comfortable size, and the views from the dining area are gorgeous. The onsen was clean and comfortable, with an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and a sauna. I was pleasantly surprised by the two massage chairs on the first floor. They were super relaxing. I’d rate it 4.5 if I could. I only had breakfast, and it was good. The omelette and fried eggs were cooked perfectly, and the pastries were unexpectedly nice, very buttery and flaky. I’d definitely recommend it.

Our Deluxe Room was fantastic, apparently recently renovated, and the new details were excellent. We also appreciated the arrival Happy Hour, with unlimited drinks and light snacks. The facilities had some good points too: the onsens were nice, though small. The outdoor roof leaked, and ice-cold rain dripped on us while we were trying to relax. The service was deeply disappointing. Staff seemed bothered by us and rushed our interactions, including breakfast orders. The worst part was dinner. We were told the restaurant was “full,” so we had to find food elsewhere, even though we saw only about five people dining there all night. The hotel is isolated up a mountain, a 30-minute walk from the nearest conbini, and there’s no room service. Staff offered no other options, so we were left stranded. Luckily, we found Bombay Hakone. They delivered excellent Indian food up the twisty mountain roads in the rain, and they deserve major kudos for that. I’ve stayed at many ryokans and hotels in the Hakone area. This was my first and last visit to Hotel Marroad.

Finding dinner took some effort since the hotel sits up on a hill. For getting around, the car transfer from Gora Station was handy and worth using. If your foreign phone can’t call the hotel, the tourist information office can call for you, though you’ll need to talk to reception yourself. Another option is the cable car to its second stop, Koenkami. We stayed two nights on a spontaneous Hakone visit, without dinner. The room was roomy, clean, and comfortable. There was a free-flow aperitif with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The indoor and outdoor baths were pleasant, though not very big, and had the basic amenities. Breakfast was plentiful and decent, served at the table rather than as a buffet. You could choose an egg dish, but most of the other menu stayed the same each morning.

The staff were so friendly and helpful, and the station is only about a seven-minute walk away. We slept well in the very comfortable bed. Our room was spotless and spacious, with a sofa that made it easy to relax. A great stay, highly recommended.