I Looked Into Mervelle Hakone Gora

I've been researching and stocking up on not just campsites but also little detours like "let's skip camping today and go do a hokans (hotel + vacance) instead" for my accommodation articles. I hadn't covered the all-inclusive hot spring inn genre much yet, so this time I decided to look into that to help fill the gap.

This time I looked into "Mervelle Hakone Gora." It's a 55-room hotel in the Gora area of Hakone, and I was drawn in by the word "all-inclusive"—things like free-flow drinks at dinner and rates that include the bathing tax—so I decided to check it out.

What Kind of Place Is Mervelle Hakone Gora?

This hotel is located in the Gora area of Hakone Town, and according to the official site, it has 55 rooms total and is run as an all-inclusive type of accommodation. If you choose a plan that includes dinner, it seems that free-flow soft drinks, alcohol, and draft beer during dinner are included in the room rate, so it's designed to minimize extra charges on-site. The bathing tax is also included in the accommodation fee, apparently, with no additional collection on-site.

As for room rates, the official site's main text doesn't list specific figures, and it seems you can only check them by going through the booking system. Some booking sites show prices starting in the tens of thousands of yen for two guests, but since this wasn't confirmed on the official site itself, it's probably best to treat that as just a rough reference. Apparently, registering as a member gets you 5% off all plans plus point rewards, so it might be worth checking whether you're a member before booking.

Check-in is basically from 3:00 PM and check-out by 10:00 AM, though it seems that bookings made through member registration may allow check-out until 11:00 AM. If a plan specifies particular times, those seem to take priority, so it's worth double-checking the details at the time of booking.

It seems day-use bathing is also available, priced at 1,550 yen for adults and 750 yen for children, with infants free, available from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. However, the official site's main text also mentions a separate 150 yen bathing tax for guests aged 12 and up, which felt a bit inconsistent with the explanation that towels and the bathing tax are included. It might be worth confirming this directly with the facility before visiting.

Komorin

I liked that the bathing tax is included with no extra payment on-site, on top of the free-flow drinks—it seems like you could relax without worrying about your wallet. The wording around the day-use bathing fee bugged me a little, though, so if you're planning to go, calling ahead to confirm sounds like the safer bet.

Checking Out the Rooms, the Large Bath, and Facilities for Indoor Types

There seem to be several room types available, including suites and loft twin rooms, and all of them apparently come with an open-air bath. However, the official site clearly states that this open-air bath isn't hot spring water, so it seems to function more as a way to enjoy privacy in your room rather than to give you a true hot spring feel. With Japanese-style rooms and Western-style twin rooms accommodating anywhere from 1 to 6 guests, it looks like there's a good range of options for everything from solo trips to group travel.

The large communal bath is available from 3:00 PM to midnight and again from 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM, with the jacuzzi, sauna, and cold bath also usable during those same hours. The water is a chloride spring blending water from Owakudani and Sounzan, apparently also known by nicknames along the lines of "the hot spring of heat," "the warming spring," and "the spring for wounds." It's said to be rich in metasilicic acid, with expected moisturizing and skin-beautifying effects, so it could be worth a visit just for the bathing experience. As for private baths, I couldn't find any mention on the official site, so I wasn't able to confirm whether they're available.

As for in-house facilities, I confirmed three on the official site: an herbal bar where you can mix your own medicinal teas and liquors, an "AKARI Library" reading space surrounded by lighting designed by Isamu Noguchi, and a fully reservation-based restaurant—its name appears written slightly differently across sources—serving original Japanese cuisine based on the philosophy of yin-yang and the five elements. Meals seem to be arranged through mobile ordering where you select a start time, which gives the impression of an effort to reduce wait times. It seems that back when the hotel was renovated in 2022, facilities like an esthetic salon, a self-photo studio, and a foot bath terrace were also introduced, but I couldn't confirm these in the current official site text, so I don't know whether they're still offered.

There's parking for 33 vehicles, free of charge, apparently with paved flooring, though there's a height restriction only in the underground section. There's no EV or PHV charging equipment, and pets aren't allowed, including in cars overnight. In terms of access, it's about a 5-minute walk on flat ground from the Hakone Tozan Cablecar station, but about a 5-minute walk up a steep slope from the Hakone Tozan Railway station, so a free shuttle service is offered instead. The shuttle reportedly runs between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, departing at :00, :20, and :40 past each hour, with no advance reservation needed.

Nearby Spots and Access

The official site's nearby sightseeing page introduces five spots: Hakone Gora Park, about a 1-minute walk away; the Hakone Museum of Art, about a 1-minute drive; the Hakone Open-Air Museum, about a 3-minute drive; Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, about a 5-minute drive; and Hakone Shrine, about a 20-minute drive. I liked that there's a park and a museum within walking distance, since that makes it easy to combine a day spent inside the hotel with a day spent out and about. There was no information about nearby dining on the official site, so I wasn't able to confirm anything on that front.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using Rakuten's official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, the overall rating came back as "C." I'll just share that result as-is for now.

Given the location in the mountains of Hakone, it's probably worth checking signal conditions ahead of time. Since this is the kind of place meant for relaxing all-inclusive style, whether Wi-Fi is provided is also a point of interest, but I couldn't find anything about it on the official site's FAQ page, so I wasn't able to confirm this at this time. If you need to stay connected for work, it might be reassuring to call ahead and ask.

Komorin

Honestly, the C rating was a bit concerning to me. It's the kind of inn where you can spend your whole stay within the building, but if you rely on your signal, it's probably worth checking in advance.

Wrapping Up

To sum up, Mervelle Hakone Gora struck me as an all-inclusive hotel packed with ways to spend a full day on-site, from the large communal bath, jacuzzi, and sauna to the herbal bar and reading space. With dinner-included plans, free-flow drinks are apparently included too, which makes it feel like a good fit for anyone who wants to relax without worrying much about extra charges. That said, there were a few things I couldn't fully confirm from the official site's main text alone, such as the wording around day-use bathing fees, whether private baths are available, and the Wi-Fi situation. If any of that concerns you, it might be reassuring to inquire before booking.

As for Rakuten Mobile signal, my check this time came back with a C rating. If you're planning to stay and are concerned about signal conditions, it's probably a good idea to check the official tool yourself as well.

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Related Links

• Official Site