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.

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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.

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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.

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To escape the heat in Tokyo, we decided to spend a few days in Hakone, favorite summer destination of many Japanese. For this mini break, I booked a corner suite at the Hyatt Regency Hakone. This modern resort hotel is very popular as a weekend retreat. Many people love its clean lines and warm interiors.

At the same time, the hotel team is enthusiastic and friendly. So it’s a nice break, especially during the pandemic, to stay at this hotel with a cheerful and yet relaxing atmosphere. The team is even dressed in matching blue and white shirts, emphasizing further the resort feeling.

THE HOTEL IS FULL

Apparently, many people had the same idea. The Hyatt Regency Hakone is booked to safe capacity and everyone is enjoying the cooler climate. When we arrived, afternoon tea was in progress in the lounge. I peeked into the lounge and there were happy faces everywhere. Observing my keen interest in the lounge, the bell boy said: “We also host drinks for guests in the lounge every evening.”

Not too many hotels offer complimentary drinks every night to guests, but this is a tradition at the Hyatt Regency Hakone. Regular guests look forward to having a glass of wine, on the house, before they go on to dinner.

CORNER SUITE WITH A VIEW AT THE HYATT REGENCY HAKONE

Our suite was in the annex, which is where the spa and the hot springs also are located. It was a large corner suite with a most innovative design to further maximize space and utility.

Also, this hotel has a main building and two annex buildings. One of the annex buildings has Japanese style rooms. This building also has the rooms that guests with dogs can book. Yes, the Hyatt Regency Hakone actually has dog-friendly rooms.

For one thing, the bedroom is enclosed completely in smokey glass with sliding doors that open onto the living room. This allows for a free and easy flow through the suite, while also keeping privacy. You can sleep cocooned in comfort in the evening and open the entire room up to views of trees in the day.

WINTER GARDEN IN HAKONE

The most interesting feature of this suite is perhaps the winter garden. Few hotels have such a feature in their rooms, after all. Here, the suite bar and a dining table are placed on a pretty terrace completely enclosed by windows and glass.

The windows all open up so you can enjoy fresh air on a fine day — and most days in Hakone are fine. The air is pure and clean so it’s wonderful to be able to open the windows.

I also love the bathroom, which is connected to a spacious dressing room and double sink area. It has a large bathing area and a deep Whirlpool jacuzzi tub that’s perfect for soaking.

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WELLNESS RETREAT IN THE MOUNTAINS

Very nicely, too, the hotel has provided a proper yoga mat and yoga DVDs in the dressing room. So guests who want to do their own mini wellness retreat while staying at the Hyatt Regency Hakone can do yoga in their suite while enjoying the beautiful view of greenery.

Read more about the best hotels in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

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