Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa offers perfect getaway

Tokyoites looking for an easy weekend trip, especially those who have already been there, done that in places like Kamakura, Hakone or Shimoda, must try Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa in Kanagawa Prefecture. The hotel, which has recently renovated its guest rooms and restaurant, is located in the foothills of the Hakone mountains, with a panoramic view of Sagami Bay. In the Edo period, Odawara was the popular rest district called “hatago,” or lodgings, for travelers along the Tokaido route that connected Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto. While some “hatago” still operate as lodging for travelers, Hilton Odawara has modernized its infrastructure and maintained its hospitality.

Hopping on the shinkansen at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo is the fastest and most hassle-free way to get there. The comfy 30-minute ride offers an enjoyable view and a peaceful coffee break. You can also take JR or Odakyu express lines from central Tokyo which takes about three times longer than the bullet train, but one-third its price. The hotel provides a free shuttle van from Odawara station on weekdays, which is approximately 20 minutes to the front desk. The complementary bus ride from the closest station, Nebukawa on the Odakyu line, takes about seven minutes. If you want to drive, it’s about an hour from central Tokyo directly to the resort. It’s so convenient and yet, once you get there, you’ll find it far away from the bustling city, especially when you gasp at the sight of the oceanic scenery.

The hotel occupies a grand 230,000-square-meter area -- that’s five times the size of Tokyo Dome. There is an extensive list of recreational facilities: 11 hydrotherapy spa pools, sauna, tennis courts, 18-hole putting green, table tennis, badminton court, volleyball court, golf driving range, 25-meter indoor swimming pool, bowling alley, karaoke boxes, gaming arcade and walking trail. You would need a good few days to enjoy most of the recreation.

For my weekend getaway, I stayed in the freshly remodeled Japanese Western Room. This room is a spacious 54 square meters, with a “washitsu” or tatami-matted Japanese tearoom along with twin beds and a day bed alongside large opening windows. All 173 rooms have panoramic ocean views and you can step out onto the balconies for a better look. The entire space is modern, but incorporates the quintessential Odawara culture.

I was welcomed with a traditional Odawara lantern, purple silhouette drawings of local pine trees on the wall above the headboards, a beautiful “chashitsu” (immaculate Japanese tea room set), and the sea breeze from Sagami Bay fulfilling the entire room with blissful relaxation. I was especially contented with the box full of original Odawara sweets. I didn’t realize it was a part of the hotel’s “omotenashi,” or hospitality, until I curiously opened it. It was a wooden box with three tiers; one with “odango,” or sweet buns and “monaka”, or sweet bean jam filling sandwiched between crisp wafers, in the shape of Odawara Castle; the second tier was filled with the hotel’s original cookies and pound cake; and the third with shrimp rice crackers, a popular Odawara souvenir. You can serve yourself with complimentary green tea at the “chashitsu.” I was already enjoying the luxurious start to my stay. The tearoom fits three futon mattresses and the sofa bed can be used for sleeping, which allows a maximum of six guests to stay in the Japanese Western room. It is ideal for a family weekend, an onsen trip, or even a girls’ spa getaway.

After loosening up for awhile, I went down to check out their hot spring. They have a separate area for men and women and a spacious locker area. There are 10 shower cubicles surrounding the bath, each equipped with soap and shampoo. The hot spring outlined in natural stones probably fits about 10 people with their legs stretched out. The water is sodium chloride strong saline springs, so it tastes very salty. These salty hot springs are effective in keeping you warm for a considerable time even after you get out of the bath. Sodium chloride is said to stimulate female hormones. It also has a sterilizing effect which helps heal burns and cuts, although it may sting you a bit. The water also facilitates gastric secretion, making it valuable for people suffering constipation. The warmth is durable so I didn’t need to stay in the bath for very long and it kept me temperate throughout the night.

A breakfast buffet at Brasserie Flora is included in the stay. Living up to its name, the restaurant has a botanical feel with local pines featured in every corner. Considering that it seats 280, it’s amazing to hear that the restaurant has a queue almost every weekend. The buffet features delicious local products such as “wasabi-zuke” (pickled wasabi), “kamaboko” (fish cake), and local fish. The Japanese lineup also includes rice, miso soup, pickled plums, natto (fermented beans), homemade tofu, braised vegetables and more. You can also go international with omelets cooked upon request, fresh salad, hashed browns, sausages, and various pastries. A variety of fruits, yogurts and corn flakes and an extended list of beverages make you feel spoiled. The terrace seats (32 in total) are highly recommended if the weather is good. They also serve lunch and dinner in buffet style which features steaks, oysters, crabs and sushi.

I tried the Aqua Beaute Spa after enjoying breakfast as they are open from 9:30 a.m. The spa is adjacent to the fitness gym. A few ladies at the counter welcomed me to the relax room where I was asked to fill in a consulting form. After a quick consultation with the therapist, I was guided to the locker room. There are no hot baths or showers in this section so I would recommend that you take the onsen prior to your visit. I chose to get a facial, but they gave me a set of bath robe and slippers for better comfort. There are 6 private treatment rooms, two of which are dedicated for facials.

I had the 60-minute aroma facial. The aroma oil is blended according to the guest’s condition. As I lay on the treatment bed, my therapist started cleansing my skin with a hot towel and carefully took my make-up off around my eyes with cream and cotton. She then moisturized my skin with a steamer. The steam was warm and the water particles are very small so the delicate steam felt so comfortable. This opens the pores of the skin, allowing it to absorb the aroma. She then starts with the aroma facial treatment. The touch of the therapist is gentle and robotically rhythmic. I chose lavender for the base scent and the therapist went ahead and blended the oil matching my skin type and current condition. The rhythm never disrupted and it was so difficult for me to stay awake. She thoroughly massaged my face and decollate.

After the massage, my skin was already damp and supple. She then put a mask on my face and let it sit for awhile as she exited the room for about five minutes. When she returned, she took it off softly with a hot towel and that was the end of the treatment. My skin was extremely soft and my fingers bounced on my cheek like a trampoline. You are provided an herb tea at the end of the treatment at the relax room. The products they use are Sothys from France. Sothys focuses on organic ingredients and owns an independent research center developing cutting edge technology. For summer, they recommend Whitening Facial (50 min. ¥12,960) and Aroma Therapy Body Treatment (75 min. ¥16,200). There are two bilingual staff.

All in all it was a perfect weekend getaway to unwind. The hotel also provides dog friendly villas. This is a big plus for guests, including me, who feel guilty leaving their best pals behind.

They provide special renewal packages that run until the end of next March, such as “Chef to Yourself.” This offers a special course dinner exclusively by the executive chef limited to only two groups of guests a night. “Moon Beauty Plus” offers a package including a 30-minute facial at the Aqua Beaute Spa, five different types of detox herb tea, and a studio program of your choice which includes Japanese jazz dance, yoga, belly dance and aqua stretch.

The newly appointed general manager is from Munich, Germany, and you can tell he is a very generous man who understands Japanese culture and is more than interested in incorporating the tradition of the region. Personally, this is why I really liked the renovated Hilton Odawara Spa and Resort and one of the reasons why I would like to come back.

© Japan Today