Marriott Izu Shuzenji Stay: Marriott Platinum Challenge

Date: 2018-06-15

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Getting There

Marriott Platinum Challenge — 4th qualifying stay.

From Karuizawa, the journey to Izu Shuzenji involves taking the Shinkansen to Mishima, then the Izuhakone Railway to Shuzenji Station. The Izuhakone Railway has been operating for 100 years — a charming, functional regional line.

The hotel shuttle runs once an hour from Shuzenji Station; the trip takes about 10 minutes.

The Hotel

Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji has 128 guest rooms. It sits in the Shuzenji Onsen area — one of Japan's famous hot spring resorts (among the "100 Best Hot Springs of Japan"). The property includes a large communal onsen bath, a hot stone bath (ganban-yoku) made from granite, and a swimsuit-accessible communal pool.

The Room

Upgraded (Marriott Gold benefit) to a twin room with in-room private hot spring bath — same concept as Karuizawa, with water flowing continuously. Simmons beds. THANN amenities. Welcome chocolates and water on arrival.

The views from the window look out over the forested hillsides of the Izu peninsula. Very peaceful.

Note: The press service (garment pressing) at this hotel requires a stay of 2 or more nights to use — unlike Karuizawa, where it was available from the first night.

Ganban-yoku (Hot Stone Bath) and Large Bath

The ganban-yoku (lying on heated granite slabs in a warm room) costs ¥540 for 45 minutes. Deeply relaxing, excellent for tired legs and cold sensitivity. I wanted to do a second session.

The communal onsen bath was entirely empty at 8pm — the same as at Karuizawa the night before. June is the quiet season, which is exactly why the Platinum Challenge is offered then.

Unusually for a Japanese hotel, there is also a swimsuit-accessible communal bath — intended for international guests who are not comfortable bathing in the traditional Japanese style.

Cocktail Lounge

One notable difference from UK Marriotts: the evening cocktail lounge here serves unlimited drinks throughout the session — in the UK, Gold/Platinum benefit typically means one complimentary drink. A welcome difference.

Breakfast

The breakfast menu was almost identical to Lake Biwa Marriott. A little more local colour would be welcome — the Izu peninsula has its own food culture (wasabi, local seafood) that could be better represented.

The large windows near the breakfast area were not as clean as they could be — a shame given the views they ought to provide.

A large group of Taiwanese guests provided the majority of the occupancy. Well-mannered and appreciative travellers who are increasingly important to Japanese hotels as domestic tourism patterns shift.

Cost

One person, one night: ¥10,628 (before tax and service charge). Two people pay the same room rate — so bringing a companion effectively halves the per-person cost. By Japanese hotel standards, and compared to Karuizawa, this is outstanding value.

Important note for Japan visitors: Japanese hotel prices are typically quoted excluding consumption tax (8–10%) and service charge, which together add 15–20% to the stated rate. This is different from the UK, where the quoted price is always the price you pay.

A strong recommendation — particularly for couples or two friends travelling together.

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