For this winter trip to Hakone, I stayed at a retreat hotel located in the Miyagino area, which is known for its exceptionally quiet atmosphere.nol hakone myojindai / nol hakone myojindai」。
This hotel, which reopened in May 2024 after renovations, is a retreat hotel for adults that was rebuilt from the former "Tokyu Harvest Club Hakone Myojindaira" with the theme of harmony with nature, while making use of the good qualities of the existing building and reconstructing it in a modern and stylish way.
As you walk along the tree-lined approach, you enter a place where time seems to slow down, as if you've been suddenly cut off from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Stepping through the door, you'll find yourself in a spacious lobby lounge with high ceilings. Soft natural light streams in through the high windows, and the stylish yet warm design incorporates wood to gently soothe your mind and body upon arrival.
The countless thin lines of light suspended from the ceiling are captivating, resembling a "light installation" painted in the space. The randomly intersecting stick-shaped lights and the softly glowing tiny particles of light overlap, giving rhythm and depth to the quiet lobby. The calculated haphazardness is like sunlight filtering through trees in nature, and it feels like a symbol of the "harmony between nature and modernity" that this hotel cherishes.
The front desk features the "CH24 (commonly known as the Y-chair)" designed by Danish designer Hans J. Wegner of "CARL HANSEN & SØN". Check-in is from 3 PM, but since I arrived a little early, I was allowed to check in first and spend time in the lounge while my room was being prepared.
After completing the necessary procedures, we were shown a map of the building and given a detailed explanation of the location of our room, the various facilities, and how to use the dog run where we could spend time with our dog, including important points to keep in mind.
You are free to use the skincare set (cleansing oil, toner, and lotion) provided at the front desk, as well as the cleaning paper for wiping down your glasses and smartphone.
Dogs are welcome in the lobby lounge, provided they are in a pet stroller or carrier bag that completely encloses them.
The shop located to the left of the front desk offers a wide selection of Hakone's local specialties as well as hotel-original items, making it easy to find the perfect souvenir to remember your trip. The hotel also has a thermal pool that can be used year-round, and swimwear is available for purchase.
The marquetry items, imbued with the traditions of Hakone, truly possess the appearance of works of art.
After checking in, you can relax in the lounge and enjoy a welcome drink. A nice feature is that non-alcoholic beverages are available on a free-flowing basis, allowing you to enjoy them whenever you like.
This herbal water, made with herbs grown on our facility farm, is an original blend of mint, red clover flowers, dandelion root, and burdock root. Because it's organically grown, it's gentle on the body and perfect for detoxification, with a refreshing taste that quenches a dry throat.
The hotel actively employs Nepalese staff and also offers and sells tea from the Ilam region of Nepal. Grown using natural farming methods, Ilam tea is environmentally friendly and a rare delicacy that showcases the unique flavor of the land.
In addition, the fragrant "LUPICIAThey offer several kinds of flavored teas, herbal teas, black teas, and green teas, and even the time spent deciding which one to choose feels leisurely and luxurious in this place.
A coffee maker is also provided, offering both hot and iced coffee.
Alcoholic beverages are available for a fee. The wine server offers a selection of red and white wines chosen by our sommelier, as well as sake. Each glass (70ml) costs 600 yen, and you can easily enjoy it by exchanging a special coin at the front desk.
There's also a sparkling water dispenser, so you can make Calpis soda by mixing it with concentrated Calpis syrup, or enjoy colorful flavored sodas by adding MONIN non-alcoholic syrup and sliced lemons from the refrigerator.
"MONIN Butterfly Pea Soda", "MONIN Blue Curacao Soda"
I had braced myself for the harsh cold of Hakone in the middle of winter and bundled up in layers, but the well-insulated hotel was warmer than I expected, and the cold sparkling water actually seemed to soothe my mind and body.
"nol hakone myojindai" is designed to make your stay a time of complete relaxation and rejuvenation, featuring a large public bath, open-air bath, and sauna that draw water from Miyagino Onsen, one of the seventeen hot springs of Hakone, as well as an indoor thermal pool that can be enjoyed all year round.
Of the 39 rooms across 6 different room types, 4 are dedicated pet-friendly rooms, and the hotel also boasts a spacious outdoor dog run. It's a dog-friendly hotel where you and your beloved dog can fully enjoy the nature of Hakone.
In the courtyard, the winter forests of Hakone stretch out before you. Taking a deep breath of the crisp air, watching the trees sway in the breeze, and simply spending time in quiet contemplation—this kind of time doing nothing might be the unique hospitality offered by this retreat hotel. The design, which harmonizes with nature, and the refined functional beauty—the balance between them is so pleasant that from the very beginning of my stay, my anticipation for the time I would spend here quietly grew.
Next episode preview: We'll show you a relaxing room where you can spend time with your beloved dog.
nol hakone myojindai / nol hakone myojindai
Address: 1488-205 Miyagino, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0401
TEL: 0460-87-2034
https://www.nolhotels.com/hakone-myojindai/
