Review of Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa in Japan: Why I’d Recommend Using Your Aspire Resort Credit Here

My round-the-world business class journey in summer 2025 began with a familiar destination: Japan. Although this was my eighth visit to Japan, I am always happy to return to my favorite country.

However, this time, I wanted to visit a new destination. Fortunately, I had an expiring Hilton resort credit to use, and there were several properties I was considering. Ultimately, I stayed at the Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa, which is widely regarded as one of the best Hilton properties in Japan.

Here’s an in-depth look at my experience at the luxury resort and why you should consider staying there when traveling to Odawara.

Booking the Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa

Although I carry numerous credit cards in my wallet, arguably no card is as valuable as the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The Hilton Aspire card offers a ton of valuable perks and benefits, including top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status and an annual free night certificate.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $750

Annual Fee

$550

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550 (rates & fees)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
• Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
• Enhance your hotel stay with complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status and enjoy a world of hotel privileges and benefits. Get exclusive perks at any of Hilton's 24 hotel brands, like a 100% Bonus on Base Points earned on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi and space-available room upgrades at select properties, and more.
• Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
• $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
• $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
• Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you can earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 (for a total of $60,000) in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
• $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your eligible Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
• $100 Property Credit: How it Works: To receive up to $100 in credits for qualifying hotel charges, book a 2-night minimum stay at participating Waldorf Astoria^® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad^® Hotels & Resorts with your Card through hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page or call Hilton Honors at (855) 292-5757 with the proper booking reference. See Terms & Conditions for further details.
• Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

As expected, the Hilton Aspire card has a substantial $550 annual fee. However, it also comes with statement credits that help offset the card’s $550 annual fee.

This includes up to $400 annual Hilton resort credits (up to $200 in statement credits semiannually) on your card each anniversary year. This credit can only be used at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.

With the first of 2 $200 semiannual statement credits set to expire at the end of June, it was time to use it or lose it. Since I was in Japan, I thought it would be an excellent place to find a Hilton resort property.

Ultimately, I went to the Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa, a Hilton resort less than a 2-hour train ride from Tokyo. The property’s cash rates hover around $200 per night, so I knew I could maximize the resort credit.

I booked 1 night at the cheapest rate available: a Hilton Superior Twin Room. Since I am a Hilton Honors Diamond elite member, I felt confident I would get upgraded to a nicer room.

The room for this stay came out to ¥33,734 (about $235 before the $200 resort credit was applied), including taxes and fees.

The Hilton resort credit is a card-specific benefit, so I didn’t consider any other options when paying for my room. On top of the resort credit, the Hilton Aspire card earns 14x points spent at hotels in the Hilton portfolio.

Hot Tip:

Check out our recommended credit cards for Hilton loyalists.

About 3 days before the check-in date, I got an email from Hilton stating that I had been awarded a complimentary room upgrade for my stay.

Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa Location

As the name suggests, the Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa is in Odawara, Japan, in the Kanagawa Prefecture. The property is in the village of Nebukawa on a hill overlooking Sagami Bay.

Odawara is best known for its historic and traditional Odawara Castle. It is also home to several of Japan’s most famous parks and museums, including the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History and the Suzuhiro Kamaboko Museum.

Getting There

Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa is less than 2 hours from Tokyo via the Tōkaidō Line (in the Atami direction). The journey to Nebukawa Station from Tokyo Station costs ¥1,690 (about $12). From Nebukawa Station, you can take the complimentary shuttle bus to the resort.

Checking In

I arrived at Nebukawa Station around 11 a.m. Fortunately, as I stepped outside the station’s only exit, the resort’s complimentary shuttle bus awaited. The shuttle bus runs on a schedule (more on this below).

The shuttle bus service saved me from a nearly 35-minute uphill walk, which would have been exhausting considering the Japanese summer heat. Fortunately, the bus service takes just under 5 minutes and drops guests off right at the resort’s main entrance.

I proceeded straight to the check-in counter and was greeted by a hotel representative who welcomed me to the hotel. She then walked me over to the the property’s rooms manager, who welcomed me to the hotel.

The rooms manager requested my passport for identification and thanked me for my Hilton Honors loyalty. He told me the hotel upgraded me to a Japanese Western Deluxe Room on the highest floor, but said the room would not be ready for several hours, as the hotel had had 100% occupancy the night prior.

He said the hotel could store my bags if I wanted to go out, or I could pass the time at the resort’s executive lounge. I did the latter, since I planned to take it easy. He gave me a key card to enter the lounge and said to return to him in about 2 hours to see if the room was ready. I thanked him for the excellent service and was on my way to the lounge. I returned at the designated time and was given my room key cards.

Elite Benefits

As a Hilton Honors Diamond elite member, I received several benefits at the hotel:

• Upgrade to a Deluxe Room
• Complimentary continental breakfast (for up to 2 guests)
• Complimentary late 2 p.m. checkout
• No resort fees on reward stays booked using points
• Daily bottled water
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Lobby

The lobby had tall ceilings and an open-concept space with 2 identical seating areas, each featuring armchairs, lounging chairs, and sectional sofas.

Between the 2 sections, there was easily enough seating for upward of 50 people.

A large art piece divided the 2 seating areas. The hotel’s lobby lounge was directly across from this (on the opposite side of the check-in desks) — more on this in the Food and Beverages section.

There was an infused-water station near one of the pillars next to one of the check-in desks. The staff did an excellent job replenishing the different beverages.

Lastly, the left side of the seating area led to the hotel’s guest-floor elevators.

Bottom Line:

The lobby was massive, among the biggest I had ever seen in a hotel. It did an excellent job of creating a relaxing atmosphere. There was diverse seating, which was a nice touch, as the area did get busy with the hundreds of guests constantly flowing throughout.

Japanese Western Deluxe Room

As I exited the elevator on the 11th floor, I walked down a hallway to my room.

Walking into the room, a small foyer almost immediately led to the room’s living quarters. The 2 twin beds were aligned against the left wall, with a small space between them.

Without headboards, the beds looked out of place. However, they were extremely comfortable thanks to the high-quality bedding and thick pillows.

Between the 2 beds was a panel with wall-mounted reading lamps and controls for the room’s lighting.

The room featured a wall-mounted television directly across from the beds, with a small storage console beneath it.

The room’s minifridge was in the left section of the console, while the right side housed a coffee machine, an electric kettle, and a selection of glassware.

The room’s closet was to the right of the television.

The closet held the room’s safe, a steamer, and an ironing board. Two pairs of yukatas (a bathrobe-style kimono) and slippers were stored in the drawers for visiting the onsen and spa.

Next to the beds was a large, incredibly comfortable lounging sofa — large enough for an adult to sleep comfortably. There was also a small round table next to the sofa.

The hotel offered 2 complimentary bottles of natural mineral water. Additionally, the general manager left a personalized welcome card addressed to me on the table, along with a complimentary box of chocolates.

Directly behind the sofa was 1 of the room’s 2 balconies, which was major overkill, as both offered similar views.

The balcony provided stunning views of the resort’s pool area, Sagami Bay, and the surrounding mountains.

Lastly, the room also featured a traditional tatami mat room where up to 4 additional guests could sleep on futon mats. There was also a small table with ample space to sit.

I loved the tatami room, which provided even more space and a unique experience. I wish more hotels incorporated this aspect of Japanese culture. This room also featured a television and a balcony.

The room could be divided using the sliding pocket doors.

Bottom Line:

Overall, I was very impressed with the room, which offered tremendous space and comfort. I loved how the room incorporated Japanese elements, and the tatami room was a nice surprise. I also commend the property for proactively upgrading me to a nicer room without me asking, thanks to my Hilton Honors Diamond elite status.

Bathroom

The bathroom entrance was near the entrance to the room itself. Although quite small, the bathroom was well-maintained and functional.

It was divided into separate sections, with the toilet in a separate room with a door. As you’d expect to find in Japan, the toilet featured a bidet.

The rest of the bathroom was across the hall from the toilet room. In the main section of the bathroom, there was a deep sink with a mirror behind it.

The hotel provided plenty of complimentary toiletries, including dental kits, a vanity kit, a shower cap, a shaving kit, and a comb. Spare towels were directly below the vanity.

The shower room was also separated from the rest of the bathroom and had its own door. It featured another sink and a tub to shower in.

Unfortunately, there was no overhead rainfall showerhead. However, the water pressure from the handheld shower head was fantastic.

The hotel also provided Crabtree & Evelyn shower toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

Amenities

As you’d expect in any massive resort hotel, the Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa offered a long list of amenities. The resort featured a full spa, natural hot spring baths, several swimming pools, and an entire entertainment complex.

Seina Spa

The resort features a massive luxury spa called Seina Spa, open daily between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The spa offers numerous facilities, including hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms. Guests can also receive spa services and treatments, including facials and massages.

The spa also has a unique stone spa bath available daily from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Bade Zone

The resort has a separate facility in a connected building named the Bade Zone. It can be accessed through a corridor from the lobby.

Natural Hot Spring Baths

One of the resort’s defining features is the authentic onsen (natural hot spring), which is among the most incredible things I have ever experienced in a hotel worldwide.

The onsens are open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight for hotel guests and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for guests purchasing day passes.

Hot Tip:

Generally, photography inside an onsen is forbidden to respect the privacy of other bathers.

Swimming Pools

The resort has a massive, all-weather, heated pool facility with 10 individual pools and saunas. The swimming pool section of the Bade Zone is open daily between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Although there were numerous pools, the 25-meter (82-foot) lap swimming pool was the defining feature. It was incredibly well-maintained, and a lifeguard was present.

The pool area was massive, lined with lounge chairs, and had ample space for guests to swim or relax.

Fitness Center

The resort featured a fully equipped fitness center on the second floor of the Bade facility, which was open 24 hours a day. It was among the biggest fitness centers I have ever seen in any hotel.

The massive facility had an excellent selection of weight training machines, more than 50 different machines in all.

There were also plenty of cardio machines, including several treadmills and ellipticals.

Athlete’s Gym

Also on the second floor, an entirely separate athlete’s gym was initially built specifically for the Australian National rugby team (per the room’s manager).

This gym featured more strength training machines and equipment. It also had several small sections with free weights and benches.

There was a small selection of cardio machines, including treadmills, ellipticals, and different types of stationary bikes.

Golf Driving Range

The resort also boasts a complimentary 27-meter (88-foot) indoor golf driving range on the second floor across the hall from the athlete’s gym.

Tennis Courts

The resort also features several indoor and outdoor regulation-size tennis courts. The outdoor tennis court can be reached through the ground level of the Bade facility.

Meanwhile, the indoor tennis court is on level B1.

Amusement Center

The hotel also features an entire amusement center on Level B1 in the main facility. It is easily accessible via the guest elevators near the lobby.

The amusement center is open from 4 to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

Bowling Alley

The amusement center’s main attraction is the 10-lane bowling alley. Prices vary depending on the number of people playing and whether you are a hotel guest.

Karaoke Rooms

The property also boasts several karaoke rooms of varying sizes. The largest can hold up to 25 people at once.

Gaming Arcade

There is a massive gaming arcade with hundreds of games available, including popular ones like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders.

An entire section of the gaming arcade was dedicated to claw machines. All in all, there were more than 50 claw machines.

Kids Playroom

The amusement facility also has a kids playroom, open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Laundry Facility

The property also offers a coin-operated laundry facility with 3 washers and dryers.

Meeting Rooms

The resort has 21 meeting rooms and over 30,000 square feet of event space.

Complimentary Shuttle Service

The resort offers complimentary shuttle buses to and from the resort and Nebukawa and Odawara stations. Shuttle buses to and from Odawara Station are available weekdays only. 

Parking

The resort offers complimentary self-parking.

Food and Beverages

The Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa featured several on-site food-and-beverage venues, ranging from a lounge serving comfort food to a buffet restaurant. Here’s a look at what you can expect at the dining establishments.

Brasserie Flora

Brasserie Flora is the hotel’s main dining venue, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets. It was open for breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. on weekends and 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. on weekdays. The lunch buffet was available daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the dinner buffet was from 5:15 to 9 p.m.

Guests with Hilton Honors Gold or Diamond status (and guests who book rates with breakfast included) can have a complimentary breakfast at Brasserie Flora. 

Since the hotel was very busy, I had my breakfast right when the restaurant opened at 6:30 a.m. After being seated by a restaurant staff member, I looked through the breakfast buffet offerings. 

The first section featured a selection of seafood, including grilled salmon, dried horse mackerel, and fish cake.

Next, there was a good selection of hot food, including hash browns, bacon, and sausage.

Another hot food station consisted of baked beans, sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, corn, and cherry tomatoes.

There was also some salami and salmon next to a small cereal bar. Here, you could also find various nuts, including almonds and cashews.

A massive bakery and pastry section featured many popular foods, including muffins, Danishes, croissants, pain au chocolat, and bread.

There was also a great selection of fresh fruits and a salad bar with different toppings and dressings. 

Lastly, there was an entire seafood rice bowl bar with a fantastic selection of seafood toppings and sauces. For my bowl, I had horse mackerel, negitoro, salmon, wasabi, and soy sauce.

Bottom Line:

 The Brasserie Flora breakfast buffet had a good selection of food. The food was fresh and constantly replenished, and the staff members were quick to handle any drink requests.

Ocean Lounge

As with many Hilton resort hotels, there was an executive lounge available called the Ocean Lounge. It was on the second floor and could be reached from the lobby guest elevators. It was open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Since the hotel has no executive floor, only guests with Hilton Honors Diamond status can access the lounge. The hotel provides Diamond members with a key card specifically for the lounge.

The lounge offers all-day refreshments and a comfortable place to spend a few hours. There is a multitude of seating, including some incredibly comfortable sofas.

The lounge offers curated snacks during the afternoon between 3 and 4 p.m.

On my afternoon visit, there was pudding, cake, and mousse.

The lounge also offers a cocktail hour from 5 to 7 p.m. daily. The selection of beer and wine during my visit was relatively limited.

During my evening visit, small snacks included fish cake, assorted nuts, and olives.

There was also salmon, sliced salami, and a cheese and dried fruit platter.

Bottom Line:

Unfortunately, the resort’s executive lounge was a major letdown. There was a limited selection of beverages and snacks throughout the day. The cocktail hour also lacked variety.

Lobby Lounge

As its name indicates, the Lobby Lounge is in the hotel’s lobby. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Lobby Lounge had a decent food selection, from pasta to sandwiches.

Service

Although I didn’t have many interactions with the hotel staff, the few I did have were fantastic. As expected from a higher-end hotel in Japan, there was a great degree of Japanese hospitality.

All the hotel’s staff members greeted me with warm smiles and genuine hospitality and were curious to know how I was enjoying my time in Japan.

Final Thoughts

The Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa is a fantastic Hilton resort property worth considering for those visiting Odawara or the surrounding region. The resort has an absurd amount of on-site amenities, which really enhances the overall experience.

Unfortunately, the lounge at the property was a major letdown. However, the breakfast was fantastic and the hotel staff were equally as great.

I must commend Hilton for treating its elite members right, as I was upgraded to a nicer room prior to arriving at the property and without even needing to ask. I will aspire to stay at the property again.