How to Stay in Tokyo for Free: Part 9 – Day Trip From Tokyo – Where to Eat in Hakone

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Emily:   Have you always wanted to visit Japan?  You can get there for a fraction of the cost with a few credit card sign-up bonuses!

My boyfriend and I recently flew from Austin to Japan for ~$200 round trip in Business Class.  And for 3 weeks of lodging (including some fancy hotels), I spent ~$450!

Japan is a beautiful country with LOTS to see and do, from high-rise skyscrapers to old temples to hot springs.  I loved Tokyo for its energetic neighborhoods, shopping, and delicious restaurants.

Wherever you go, you’re sure to have an amazing time!  In this series, I’ll go into detail about where I stayed in Tokyo, what to do, and some of my favorite restaurants, and show you how you can do it, too!

How to Stay in Tokyo for Free Trip Report Index:

• Part 1 – Introduction and Planning
• Part 2 – Our $200 Business Class Flights to Japan
• Part 3 – Grand Hyatt Tokyo Hotel Review
• Part 4 – What to Do in Tokyo
• Part 5 – Where to Shop in Tokyo
• Part 6 – Why Tokyo is the Culinary Capital of the World
• Part 7 – Day Trip From Tokyo – Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa Review
• Part 8 – Day Trip From Tokyo – What to Do in Hakone
• Part 9 – Day Trip From Tokyo – Where to Eat in Hakone

Where to Eat in Hakone

1.   Order Room Service

There weren’t many restaurants located near the Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa, so one evening, we ordered room service.

The options ranged from ~$21 for a bacon cheese hamburger, to ~$54 for Fujisan Okamura beef.

But we decided on spaghetti and traditional Japanese curry.

The curry was especially good, but the portions were small.  And we were both still hungry after our dinners!

2.   Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Hakone

Breakfast was my favorite meal of the day, because it was a buffet!  Plus, because Daraius has Hyatt Globalist elite status that he shares it with me, we get perks like free breakfast. 😉

If you have Hyatt Explorist or Globalist elite status, you can get free breakfast on certain stays.

The Hyatt Regency Hakone offered American favorites like scrambled eggs, sausages, and potatoes.

And a number of different Japanese favorites, too.

There was also a big selection of fresh juices and smoothies!

If you don’t have Hyatt elite status with free breakfast, you can get a delicious and cheap breakfast at the nearby restaurant, Paseo.

3.   Paseo

Paseo is ~5 minutes walking distance from the hotel, and gets good reviews on TripAdvisor.

They are only open for breakfast and lunch.  And because of our busy schedule, we just got Japanese sweet breads to go.

That said, they were amazing.  So I can only imagine how great the rest of their menu is!

The restaurant itself is cute, with indoor and outdoor seating.

And best of all, everything is really affordable.

4.   Itoh Dining by Nobu

If you want to splurge on an amazing meal, try Itoh Dining by Nobu.

We didn’t go here, but it gets nearly all 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor.  Some reviewers say it was the best restaurant they visited during their entire trip to Japan!

5.   Grocery Store Food

Trying to save money?  Consider hitting up a grocery store, where you can find different ready-to-eat foods.

We stocked up on snacks, a few drinks, and some noodle meals.

The particular store we went to was just a ~15 minute walk from the hotel.

Bottom Line

The food at the Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa is good.  But there are other options outside of the hotel if you know where to look.

Paseo and Itoh Dining by Nobu are top choices.  Just be prepared for an expensive meal if you decide to treat yourself to a meal at Itoh Dining by Nobu!

You can also walk to a convenience store to stock up on snacks, drinks, and readymade meals, if you want to save money on eating out.