What began as the thought of a simple snack soon turned into one of the most elegant surprises of our trip — a full afternoon tea in Hakone’s mountains. At the Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa, a modern retreat with hot springs and pet-friendly rooms, the lounge was anything but quiet. On the ground floor, the glow of a giant fireplace lit up a crowd of cheerful guests, all gathered for a ritual of tea, champagne, and conversation.
A Warm Welcome at the Hyatt Regency in Hakone
“What’s happening over there?” I asked the bell boy, who was carefully handling our luggage. The welcoming team immediately set the tone for our stay, their cheerful smiles and crisp blue-and-white uniforms radiating warmth and polish.
“As you’ll be here for several days, you simply must try our afternoon tea,” he replied with a knowing grin. “It’s one of our most popular experiences. Many of our returning guests make sure to reserve it as soon as they book their rooms.”
That was all the encouragement we needed.
La Esperanza Granada: A Luxury Villa in Andalusia
Afternoon Tea in Hakone
Drawn by the promise of tiers of delicate savories, jewel-like pastries, and pots of fragrant tea, we joined the lively crowd in the lounge. The Hyatt Regency Hakone’s afternoon tea is more than a meal—it is a ritual in itself. Guests settle into deep chairs, conversation flows as smoothly as the champagne, and every plate seems touched with artistry.
Set against the serene backdrop of Hakone’s mountains, the experience feels both indulgent and restorative. Time slows here. Between each sip and bite, you feel the world recede just a little further away.
Starting with Ruinart Champagne
Considering we were high in the mountains of Hakone, the afternoon tea felt especially indulgent. We began with flutes of Ruinart champagne, one of France’s finest, and the crisp bubbles set the tone for everything that followed. It was an unexpected touch of Parisian elegance in a Japanese mountain retreat — the perfect prelude to towers of savory bites, delicate pastries, and steaming pots of tea.
First came the scones, still warm from the oven. They arrived with clotted cream, golden butter, and a trio of jams — the essentials of any proper afternoon tea. Breaking one open and watching the steam curl into the air felt like the most comforting luxury.
Then the waitstaff presented multi-tiered trays, each one carefully arranged with a mix of savory bites and jewel-like pastries. It was as much an aesthetic feast as a culinary one. For a moment, no one moved; the trays looked too perfect to disturb, as though each piece had been placed to be admired before tasted.
Nagatacho Ohka: Tokyo’s Best Fine Dining Restaurant
Western elegance, Japanese hospitality
As the afternoon lingered on, I realized that this was more than just tea and pastries. It was a ritual of comfort, crafted high in the mountains of Japan. Afternoon tea at the Hyatt Regency Hakone blends Western elegance with Japanese hospitality, turning a simple pause in the day into something memorable. Surrounded by views of Hakone’s green hills, the scent of wood smoke, and the gentle hum of conversation around the fireplace, I felt time slow down.
In that moment, afternoon tea became what it should always be — not just food, but a way to savor place, season, and company. And in Hakone, that ritual felt especially luxurious.
Read more about the best hotels and resorts in Japan in Travelife Magazine.
