How to Stay in Tokyo for Free: Part 7 – Day Trip From Tokyo – Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa Review
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Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers. 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
Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa Review
Hakone, located ~90 minutes from Tokyo, made for the perfect overnight trip.
It’s a mountainous resort town known for its hot springs. And with lots of hills and mountains, it’s a beautiful place to visit if you’re a nature lover!
1. Getting to Hakone
To get to the Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa, we took a taxi from the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo to Ebisu Station. Then hopped on the Japan Railways line that took us straight to Odawara Station. It was a ~90 minute ride.
Staying at the Hyatt Regency in Hakone is convenient, because they’ll send a shuttle to pick you up from the train station.
There was another couple also being picked up at the same time as us. And although the drive to the resort is another ~30 to ~45 minutes, it’s really scenic!
2. Our Room
Rooms at the Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa cost ~$500 or 25,000 Hyatt points per night.
I transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio for our stay. But you could also consider getting the Chase Hyatt card, that comes with 2 free night certificates for any Hyatt hotel, after meeting minimum spending requirements.
The Hyatt Regency Hakone is a nice hotel. But it’s a little secluded from the restaurants and activities in the area. So plan on doing some walking when you leave the hotel!
We had a beautiful room that looked out toward the mountains.
It was large, and had a sofa and coffee table. We booked a base room, but were upgraded to a Deluxe room. These rooms retail for ~$650 per night!
There was even a patio with a small dining table and chairs.
The bathroom was also luxurious.
There were double sinks…
And I can’t forget to mention the minibar, with plenty of coffee and tea.
The only downside to the Hyatt Regency Hakone is that it’s located outside the downtown area. So it’s far from restaurants, bars, and other activities. And I prefer having non-hotel food options, so I can save money. Plus, the food is usually better!
You Can Do It, Too!
1. Flights
Our round-trip Business Class flights to Japan cost 95,000 American Airlines miles and ~$110 in taxes and fees.
For an even better flight experience, try to find a seat on Cathay Pacific or Japan Air Lines!
If you need more American Airlines miles, consider cards like:- Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard – 50,000 American Airlines miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard – 60,000 American Airlines miles after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account (limited-time offer)
- Barclaycard American Airlines Aviator Red – 50,000 American Airlines bonus miles after your first purchase and payment of annual fee within the first 90 days of account opening
2. Hotels
I stayed for free at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, which usually costs ~$700+ per night! I used my 2 free nights from the old Chase Hyatt card sign-up bonus for part of my stay. And I transferred points to Hyatt from my Chase Sapphire Preferred, which is super easy to do.
Note: The Chase Hyatt card sign-up bonus is now different. It’s 40,000 Hyatt points after meeting minimum spending requirements.There are plenty of hotels where you can stay with points, so it doesn’t have to be Hyatt! Use Hotel Hustle or Award Mapper to find hotels you can book with points.
Hilton has hotels in Japan including the Hilton Tokyo and Hilton Osaka. Or you could use IHG points to stay at the InterContinental Tokyo Bay or InterContinental Osaka. There are lots of options!
Bottom Line
After our stay in Tokyo, we took a short trip to Hakone, a mountainous resort town about 90 minutes from the city. It was the perfect getaway after fast-paced Tokyo!
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa. Where rooms go for ~$500 or 25,000 Hyatt points per night.
We enjoyed the spacious rooms and modern decor. And especially appreciated the free shuttle between the train station and hotel!
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