Hello. My name is Nakajima from the Premium Japan editorial department. The other day, I went to Fujiya Hotel in Miyanoshita, Hakone. I knew that it reopened in July 2 after more than two years of renovations, but this was actually my first visit to Fujiya after the renovation. I went out curious to see how things had changed.
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the grandeur of Fujiya Hotel's Hanagoten, Western wing, and main building that you see as you approach Miyanoshita is a landmark that represents Hakone. After checking in, we decided to have some tea in the lobby. Of course, the famous apple pie is still alive and well. This flavor matches the texture of the apple with a pleasant sourness and the sweetness of the ice cream. Nothing had changed.
You must try the famous apple pie, which has the same taste.
Here are some of the big changes I noticed this time. One is that we have a large public bath! In the past, there used to be a small gender-separated bathhouse next to the indoor pool that could fill up with only 10 people. Basically, all rooms have hot springs, so there was no need to upgrade the large public bath, but perhaps in keeping with the trends of the times, a new one was built on the top floor of the Forest Wing due to this renovation.
This large public bath with an indoor bath, semi-outdoor bath, and dry sauna was very nice! Although the simple design and semi-open-air baths do limit the view, it provides the luxury of relaxing and relaxing in the bath. Hot springs are the star here. I felt very relaxed because there were no extraneous things. This large public bath is available. Photos of the large bathFujiya Hotel websitePlease see more.
The other thing is dining. The Cascade Room, which had previously been used as a banquet hall, has been renovated so that it can also be used as a dining venue. Before the renovation, we made reservations at different times in order to manage the number of guests concentrating on the main dining room, The Fujiya, but there were times during the busy season when we were invited to dinner after 20:XNUMX p.m.
Nowadays, I choose either Cascade Room or The Fujiya for dinner when I make a reservation, so it's less crowded and I can enjoy my meal in peace. I think this was a very good decision.
I was also pleasantly surprised to find a new lounge exclusively for guests where you can relax while enjoying soft drinks. I felt that the basics of a resort - hot springs, gourmet food, and just relaxing - had been further enhanced.
Main Dining The Fujiya's flower lattice ceiling is always stunning.
Dinner time begins with a view of the setting sun illuminating the mountain range. The plates and cutlery have a nostalgic feel to them.
This time we stayed at Hanagoten. I think the biggest renovation is the bathroom, which still retains the previous atmosphere. The tiles, bathtub, washstand, etc. are all new, and the location has been revised for improved usability. You can enjoy fresh hot springs even in your room, so it's perfect for a stay-at-home trip. When you open the window, a cool breeze blows through.
It is also fun to take a walk in the garden. As you climb up the undulating garden, you will come across a watermill and an herb garden. It's very quiet except for the occasional sound of the Hakone Tozan Railway passing by.
After taking a walk, I took a bath in the hot springs, then lay back on the bed and stretched out my arms and legs. Before I know it, I find myself dozing off, and just using my time like this feels like a luxury.
A very classical flower palace guest room.
All of the rooms at Hana Goten are named after flowers. This room is Ayame. The room key and the paintings are all filled with iris.
You can see the Western building from your room. It's a view that makes you feel like you've traveled back in time.
In the evening, go to Bar Vitoria. Don't you think there are very few bars with this kind of atmosphere? Especially since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many hotels still have their bars closed, so an authentic hotel bar itself is valuable. After all, you'll want to drink a cocktail here. I listened to old jazz and sipped gimlets.
After all, we're here for cocktails.
This time I visited to avoid holidays, so the number of guests seemed to have calmed down quite a bit, but I heard that this year, perhaps as a reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, the hotel was busy with many people during Golden Week and summer vacation, and the staff were very busy. Masu.
Fujiya Hotel has a large public bath, spa, and lounge for guests. I realized that one night was not enough. After spending two nights there, I thought it would be nice to spend a relaxing time in the hotel, dreaming of my next visit, and headed home on the Hakone Tozan Railway. It is sure to be crowded during the fall foliage season. Therefore, I would like to visit quiet Hakone in early autumn or when it gets a little colder.
Chisa Nakajima
Fukuhen from Premium Japan. I love watching Japanese movies from the 1950s and 60s and drinking wine.
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