EN RESORT ReCove Hakone

This is a resort type of hotel that was pretty busy with tour groups and families. The hotel is split into 2 buildings an the onsen is in one of them. Like other hotels in Hakone, this hotel was fairly isolated, so it’s not a place where you can walk to anything. The rooms were pretty comfortable and the beds were great. The breakfast was amazing. There was all different kinds of food that you could sample and fill yourself up with. They had an omelette making station and onigiri making station and more. Like a lot of older hotels, in the winter time the rooms get overheated. And there doesn’t seem to be a good way to cool down the rooms. We ended up opening the window, to cool down the room. I don’t believe there’s air-conditioning in this room. The onsen is huge and has both indoor and outdoor hot pools. Very nice experience.

At the end of the year, I suddenly had an idea to go on a trip to Hakone. Because it was renewed in 2024 and was highly evaluated on other sites, I used this which was available. I think it's good if you think mainly about sightseeing instead of relaxing in an inn. The lobby and restaurant were renovated and beautiful. The guest room, on the other hand, was disappointing because it felt old. You can hear children running and talking from nearby rooms until late at night, perhaps because the walls are thin. Meals were buffet in the morning and evening. I recommend the tiramisu for dinner dessert. The rice balls were delicious for breakfast. I think families with children, large groups and young people are better off spending time with their friends because they can spend their time without concern.

First & foremost, they sent us to their old, unkept building on the back side. We were told that If you book on any hotel booking sites you get Re cove’s old building. Huge rooms. The furniture is dated with torn furnishings, very old towels & creaking bath tub & bath floor. But that we lived with bcos we’d already booked. Their housekeeping is outsourced so they work for limited time without any control by manager. Breakfast spread is good but repeated every day. No complaint. Staying for 2 nights is ok. We didn’t complain for anything, But while checking out we experienced what was never expected in Japanese hospitality. It was raining heavily & we had a toddler baby in the stroller. We wanted to go to Ueno. For those who don’t know, Hakone is wide spread with spaced out hotels, smaller footpaths. Cabs are rare & they could not organise any. so we decided to walk upto a small bus stop just 50/100 mtrs away & requested someone from hotel to collect hotel umbrellas from us lest we get wet. Their minibus was in the porch but they wouldn’t even drop us at the bus stop. The manager wouldn’t agree on any help. Atlast we then told them that we will post a review of this bad experience & they sneered. As if they liked to see our helplessness as a family with a baby. Finally, one of us had to run up back to the hotel to return the umbrellas as the bus had already come. The bus driver was considerate enough to wait till all our family boarded. On second thoughts we should have left the umbrellas at the bus stop. They would have had to collect anyway. But our goodness prevailed.