Sorano Hotel & Spa
Days spent relaxing in Sorano Hotel & Spa’s rooftop onsen infinity pool
A MODERN SANCTUARY ACCESSIBLE FROM SHINJUKU
Just 30mins by direct train (JR Chuo line) from Shinjuku station lies Tachikawa, just outside of Tokyo’s main 23 words. Part of Western Tokyo, Tachikawa is actually a major commercial and transport hub. One can find all the major department stores, fashion brand names and popular eateries without the hectic crowds of Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku areas. The area is also beloved for the beautiful Showa Kinen Park (Tokyo’s largest park), where covering over 160 hectares - seasonal flowers bloom, various cycling paths curve in an out and wide open green lawns provide a relaxing atmosphere for everyone, especially families. It’s a perfect gateway not only to Central Tokyo but to the lush Tokyo mountain region of Okutama.
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Our Room: WA GARDEN MODERN TERRACE
AN ONSEN HOTEL GETAWAY - PERFECT FOR A WEEKEND OR STAYCATION
Roughly 10mins walk from JR Tachikawa Station (North Exit) lies the shopping and restaurant complex Green Springs which was created as a “Wellbeing Town” blending nature and modernity to provide a relaxing, soothing environment - good for the mind, body and soul.
Within Green Springs is Sorano Hotel & Spa where we spent a two night staycation to celebrate hubby’s birthday early one May (even though he’s a summer baby). Filled with natural light, warm wooden tones and modern design - the hotel covers 11 floors, with 81 spacious (for Japan) rooms all starting from 52 square meters. The deciding factor for me when I booked this hotel is the gorgeous 60m long x 4m wide rooftop onsen infinity pool - how could we not stay there?
PS. You can see Mt Fuji from the pool (season depending!)
Click Here to Jump to Read “My Personal Thoughts” & “Stay Details”
OUR ROOM
WA Modern Garden Terrace
There are a range of room styles available; higher floor rooms with balconies overlooking pretty Showa Kinen Park, ground floor dog friendly rooms, larger studios and suites. All the room interiors are fairly similar.
For awhile I ummmed and arghhhed over which room to book. In the end I went with the WA Modern Garden Terrace, for though it was on a lower floor, the larger terrace was perfect to relax and enjoy the fun food we had brought along with us for our staycation. It was perfect as well for when we bought takeaway pizza one night for dinner with some other little treats and enjoyed a hotel movie night.
This room style (WA MODERN) has the biggest balcony/terrace at 20square meters. Higher floor rooms are either 7-8 square meters.
THE ROOFTOP
ONSEN
INFINITY POOL
The main reason I booked a stay here. How could you not want to spend time relaxing in this gorgeous heated onsen infinity pool on the 11th floor?
Don’t worry though the pool in warmer months is not as hot as a traditional onsen - they regulate it by mixing the onsen spring with normal water and a bit of chlorine. I do believe the temperature is warmer in colder months.
Swimsuits must be worn at the pool, so its perfect for those who are still to shy to try a traditional public onsen and for those who want to enjoy time with their partner and/or family.
Use of the onsen infinity pool and the indoor one are restricted to hotel guests & loyalty members.
Cost: 2200JPY per person per day.
Read my travel tips below to get the best deal and negate the cost!
THE HOT SPRING CERTIFICATE DISPLAYED
As I’ve mentioned already in some articles written on the website — if an accommodation has a large public bath or pretty private pottery/hinoki bath - that doesn’t mean its an onsen.
Accommodation properties with onsen must display their onsen certificate (onsen bunsekisho, 温泉分析書).
Considering how expensive it is to maintain an onsen source - if a property has onsen - it will be shown.
FUN FACT: the onsen spring at Sorano Hotel & Spa has their own private onsen source. When building the hotel, they took an (educated) risk and drilled down 1400m to find it. Let’s just say it was not cheap to do so!
Can you see Mt Fuji in the left hand top corner? The photo doesn’t do it justice, it was ridiculously clear and majestic.
MT FUJI VIEWS!
Now if you remember, we stayed at Sorano in May and I was so surprised when the kind staff told me that one could perhaps see Mt Fuji from the infinity pool.
When I doublechecked with them, did they mean this month? Or only in the winter months? As a long term Japan resident - one knows that the best time to see Mt Fuji with her snow capped top is in the winter months when there’s no humidity and the sky is clear.
They told me it was still possible to see Mt Fuji even in May (weather depending) and the best time is early morning when the sky is clear! The afternoon is too humid.
Lo and behold! The next morning, we saw Mt Fuji clear and beautiful in all her snow capped glory.
PS. When snow falls in Tokyo (the rare occasion) - the snowy landscapes from the pool are picturesque!
THE INDOOR ONSEN
At times if the weather is particularly bad, use of the outdoor infinity onsen pool is unavailable. Luckily on the 10th floor below is also an indoor onsen, with large floor to ceiling windows that offer sweeping views of Showa Kinen Park. Atr the indoor onsen is also a jet bath which is wonderful to soothe sore shoulders and body aches.
Please note: only children 4years+ can use the onsen facilities. 16 years and under must be accompanied by a guardian/adult.
TRAVEL TIPS!
So even though I’ve lived in Japan for an age, I still find it baffling that many hotel pools charge an extra fee for pool usage IF you’re a hotel guest! Apparently its because its not as common for Japanese guests to use the pool as often as other international guests - so the maintenance and care cost of the pool is incorporated into a separate charge to guests who will use it. Additionally these properties are more often than not classed as having “wellness” facilities.
Whenever I book a hotel with a pool (eg. hotels in Odaiba for a staycation) - I always ensure to book an option that includes pool usage. Some properties may have the options of signing up for their private loyalty program (normally free) where if you book direct through the offical website you will often have a slight discounted rate and pool usage included! This is how I ensured for my stay at Sorano we didn’t pay the additional 2200JPY per person per day for pool usage! Well worth it! Just required a few extra mins to sign up! remember sign up before making a booking!
Tachikawa is a very family friendly town, as is Sorano Hotel - so if you want a higher chance of a quieter stay, book your trip to fall on the weekdays - try your best to avoid weekends.
Sorano Hotel also offers better rates if you stay 2 nights or more!
Important! Sorano Hotel generally closes on Wednesday along with some additional individual holidays throughout the year (you can check their schedule on their website directly)
A WELCOMING ENTRANCE TO SORANO HOTEL & SPA
As soon as you enter Sorano, the natural light and soothing scent immediately calms you. Bright with wide spaces, natural wooden tones and neutral grays are highlighted by daylight and the lush backdrop of greenery. The main breakfast restaurant Daichino is located on the lobby floor. Lunch and dinner can also be had at Daichino. Whilst IMA Lounge is where guests can enjoy complimentary coffee and tea (available from 7am - 10pm), sweets and a welcome drink (from 3pm - 5pm) and an evening soup (9pm-10pm) during their stay.
DINNER AT THE ROOFTOP BAR
If you want a bit more of special atmosphere for your meals, one can have lunch, dinner or an after dinner snack/drink on the 11th floor where you can enjoy the views of the pool and Showa Kinen Park. Its especially pretty at night (perhaps not so much during the day when people are using the pool!). We decided to have dinner one night during our stay just to see what it was like and to celebrate hubby’s birthday. Full thoughts below!
SNAPSHOTS OF GREEN SPRINGS IN TACHIKAWA
For those needing to venture out for a bit of a walk, there’s plenty to see and do within the close surroundings of Showa Kinen Park and Green Springs itself. If you’re not wanting to eat at the hotel’s restaurant there are various options within the complex itself of branches of popular restaurants along with boutique eateries plus the occasional food truck. Spots to sit and chill, greenery and water features and often heading towards the weekend - there will be little pop up or theme events/performances especially as the weather turns warmer.
MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
FOOD
As Sorano Hotel isn’t an actual onsen ryokan, I treated it more like a normal hotel stay - so didn’t offically include breakfast and dinner in my plan since I knew the surrounding area had so many other options. However we decided to have a dinner one night in the hotel to just try it and since we were celebrating hubby’s birthday. The food is very tasty and follows the philosophy of Japanese local, seasonal ingredients (so the core ethos of a kaiseki) presented as a modern fusion style, with a wellness element. Our dinner was lovely, albeit a little on the small side for both hubby and I (but we’re quite big eaters).
ONSEN
Though not a traditional onsen in the sense of bathing without clothes - having an onsen infinity pool is such a rarity! It was glorious! I adore heated swimming pools - so to have it with onsen water was just the best of both worlds to me. The view and the surroundings made it even more spectacular, from seeing Mt Fuji in the morning to a golden sunset - just such a lovely relaxing experience. Definitely a highlight of the stay.
ROOM AMBIANCE
One of the great things about Sorano Hotel & Spa is how spacious their rooms at. Their standard rooms all start at 52 square meters - this is the size of a suite in various other 4-5 star hotels! Adorned with neutral, warm, white, cream and wood tones - the ambiance is very soothing and welcoming. The bathrooms are spacious and modern, with all the basic amenities of shampoo, conditioner and body soap. They did away with all the token plastic and wasteful amenities like hairbrush, toothbrush and small samples of skincare to minimize environmental impact. The design is definitely pleasing and just feels great for a little getaway.
VENUE AMBIANCE
If you love modern hotels with loads of natural light, wooden tones and comfort - then you will enjoy a stay here. Architects will enjoy the design and structure, whilst everyone will appreciate the seasonal decorations that adorn the interiors of the lobby ( we had the hanging umbrellas to signify the beginning of rainy season to come). Having a relaxing lounge with complimentary coffee and tea, along with a sweets and welcome drink, and a nightly snack just give that little bit extra oomph of omotenashi service that guests can enjoy.
SURROUNDING AREA
Honestly the surrounding area has everything one needs - Tachikawa is one of the main commercial and transport hubs just outside of Tokyo’s 23 wards (its considered West Tokyo). You can find some of the most popular Japanese department stores near the train station (10mins walk away), the usual eateries, boutique shops etc (without the crowds of Shinjuku & Shibuya). Even if you don’t want to venture back to the station - the complex Sorano Hotel & Spa sits in — Green Springs has enough to keep one occupied for a few nights’ stay. Restaurants, small shops, restful areas - local events are normally held throughout the year there. Showa Kinen Park lies on the other side of the hotel where one can walk, cycle, have a picnic, enjoy the seasonal blooms and seasonal festivities.
SORANO HOTEL & SPA (at time of stay)
COST: starting from ~30,000JPY per person per night (without meals)
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast & Dinner depending on plan
CHECK IN/CHECK OUT TIME: 1500 / 1000
PAYMENT: Cash or Credit
ROOMS: 81
ENGLISH SPEAKING STAFF: Some
WEBSITE: SORANO HOTEL & SPA
IG: @soranohotel
OTHER PLACES TO STAY
Though there are many accommodation options in Japan - from interesting options like the Library Hotel or the Art Hotel or big names like the Four Seasons Otemachi or well known chain hotels like Candeo Roppongi or boutique ones like The Lively Azabu - to have an onsen infinity pool definitely stands on it’s own.
In fact the only comparable hotel I can think of is in the heart of a Kyoto - Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto - a modern onsen hotel with rooftop terrace onsen footbath featuring panoramic views of Central Kyoto, and a semi open air onsen on the 9th floor! Whilst its sister luxury hotel Shijo Bettei is worthy of a splurge (where every room has a private open air onsen)
