Escape to Paradise: Shizuoka's Hotel Garden Square Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Shizuoka's Hotel Garden Square Awaits! - A Review (and a Confession or Two…)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the (green tea) beans on Hotel Garden Square in Shizuoka. Honestly, I'm still trying to process the whole experience. It was… a LOT. And in the best possible way, mostly. You know, the way that makes you slightly disoriented in a good, "did that actually happen?" kind of way.
First things first, let's get the nitty-gritty out of the way before I launch into my own personal travel diary.
SEO & Accessibility Galore (and My Own Struggles with It):
This place is surprisingly good on the accessibility front, which is fantastic. Seriously, Wheelchair accessible throughout, which is a HUUUGE win. I’m not in a wheelchair myself, but I always appreciate a hotel that's making things easier for everyone. They have Facilities for disabled guests, too, which is a great touch.
Getting there: They’ve got Airport transfer which is a godsend when you're jet-lagged and just want to melt into a comfortable bed. And for those driving, a Car park [free of charge]? Yes, please! Car park [on-site] is another great option.
The Room - My Cozy, Chaotic Sanctuary:
Okay, let's talk about the rooms. I stayed in a Non-smoking one, naturally, and thank goodness for the Blackout curtains. Seriously, jet lag is a beast. And speaking of beasts, the Extra long bed was like sleeping on a fluffy cloud. My god. Also, who needs a therapist when you've got a Sofa to collapse on after a long day?
They’ve got everything you could want: Air conditioning, a Refrigerator, a Coffee/tea maker (essential!), Free bottled water, Slippers, Bathrobes… the list goes on. I'm a sucker for a good bathrobe. I maybe, possibly, wore mine to the breakfast buffet (don't judge me!). There’s Internet access - wireless! I mean, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! You could check email, watch streaming, there’s Internet access – LAN also, for all those hardcore gamers, apparently.
Important note: I was slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of buttons and gizmos in the room. There was a Bathroom phone. Seriously? Who needs a phone in the bathroom?! And navigating the In-room safe box felt like cracking a high-level government code. It took me a good twenty minutes just to figure out how to turn on the wake-up service.
The Eats & Drinks – A Culinary Adventure (Mostly Positive)
Okay, so the food. This is where things get a little messy, in a good way, like a delicious, overflowing ramen bowl.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The buffet was excellent. Asian breakfast, plus Western breakfast. The coffee, however, was disappointingly weak. But hey, they have Coffee/tea in restaurant everywhere. Breakfast service was efficient, though.
- Restaurants: They feature Asian cuisine in restaurant. International cuisine in restaurant also.
- The Spa Experience (and My Near-Death Experience by Sauna)
I’m going to be brutally honest with you here. I LOVE spas. I live for spas. And Hotel Garden Square's spa… well, it tried to kill me. Okay, not literally, but the Sauna was intense. Seriously intense. I’m talking lava-hot. I may or may not have panicked a little bit and made a mad dash for the Swimming pool [outdoor].
But let’s get this straight, the spa is absolutely amazing and the spa services are of impeccable quality. They offer Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, and Swimming pool. I opted for the Massage, and it was the best I’ve ever experienced.
The Wellness & Fitness Conundrum (Yay, Fitness!):
I'm, let's just say, not a fitness fanatic. But even I was impressed by the Fitness center and the Gym/fitness options. They have Pool with view, just in case you do get bored of the fitness center. They have Foot bath? Nice.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Comfort Zone (Finally!)
I felt incredibly safe. With all the anti-covid things they have in place: like Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, and Sterilizing equipment. The fact that they have Doctor/nurse on call is a great plus.
The Extras – Where Things Get Interesting:
- They have a Shrine. Seriously? I'm all for cultural immersion, but a shrine? Next to the Smoking area? Okay…!
- There's a Convenience store. Essential for late-night snack attacks and emergency toothbrush purchases.
- They have Meeting/banquet facilities and Indoor venue for special events, and Outdoor venue for special events.
- A Gift/souvenir shop for those last-minute present runs.
My Emotional Rollercoaster – The Ups and (Slight) Downs:
Look, I'm not going to lie. I had a few moments of sheer overwhelmed bliss. I also, admittedly, had a few moments of "what have I gotten myself into?!" The sauna incident being a prime example.
But the staff? Absolutely lovely. The service was impeccable. Every single person was so helpful and friendly. I have to admit, I felt pampered. Like a fluffy, overfed cat. I could be at the desk, then be at the Front desk [24-hour].
The Verdict:
Hotel Garden Square is a fantastic option, especially if you're looking for a relaxing escape. Shizuoka is beautiful, and the hotel is truly lovely. It’s a splurge, yes, but you get what you pay for – luxury, relaxation, and the potential for a mild sauna-induced existential crisis.
So, my advice? Book it. Just… maybe take the sauna slowly. And bring a towel.
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P.S. I'm not kidding about the sauna. Take it easy! 😉
Escape to Paradise: Your Dreamy Taichung Sunny House Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your average travel itinerary. This is a descent into my glorious, slightly-unhinged trip to the Hotel Garden Square Shizuoka, Japan. Prepare for a rollercoaster, because frankly, I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about the whole darn thing.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Capsule Coffee Debacle (and Existential Dread)
- 14:00 (ish): Arrived in Shizuoka. The train ride from Tokyo was… well, it was a train ride. Pretty smooth, scenic, everything you expect – except I spent half the time wondering if I'd accidentally left my passport on the other bullet train (spoiler alert: I hadn't, but the anxiety was real).
- 15:00: Check-in at Hotel Garden Square. Okay, first impressions: kinda… beige. Very, very beige. The lobby was so smooth and polished, it felt wrong to even breathe. The aircon was cranked to arctic levels, which I suspect is a Japanese plot to force you to buy hot tea.
- 15:30: Room. Standard hotel room. Clean. Efficient. Slightly depressing. The view? A fire escape. Fantastic.
- 16:00: The Great Capsule Coffee Debacle. You know those tiny, pod-based coffee machines? Well, I'm convinced they're designed by sadists. Instructions in Japanese only (obviously), and the resulting "coffee" tasted like burnt plastic and despair. I spent a good ten minutes staring at the thing, trying to understand how such a beautiful machine could produce something so utterly heinous. This is exactly how I imagined my life will be in the future: trying to get the coffee machine to work and inevitably failing. At this point, I was pretty sure the universe was actively conspiring against my caffeine addiction.
- 17:00: Wandering. Shizuoka city center felt slightly deserted. Maybe everyone was hiding from the oppressive beige. I stumbled upon a tiny, blink-and-you'll-miss-it temple. Beautiful, peaceful, and filled with a sense of… calm that I desperately needed. I lit an incense stick, inhaled the smoke, and thought about the existential dread of hotel coffee.
- 19:00: Dinner. Found a little izakaya (Japanese pub) tucked away on a side street. Ordered some kind of grilled fish based on the gesture and the pleading look in my eyes. It was… delicious. The beer helped too. Sat there, watching the locals, feeling a tiny, fragile thread of contentment. Maybe this trip wouldn't be a complete disaster after all. (Cue dramatic irony: it wasn't, but it had its moments.)
Day 2: Tea Time Triumph and the Volcano That Wouldn't Volcan (and a lot of Tea)
- 08:00: Breakfast buffet at the hotel. The scrambled eggs looked… questionable. I stuck to toast and fruit. The coffee, thankfully, came from a regular pot this time, and it was… edible! That was a victory in itself. Managed to steal a couple of mini-croissants for later, because #alwayshungry.
- 09:00: Tea Plantation Trek! This was the main reason I came to Shizuoka – tea! I booked a tour. The scenery was breathtaking: rolling green hills, the kind of postcard-perfect view that makes you want to shout "I'M ALIVE!" I learned about the tea growing process, how the leaves are harvested, and, most importantly, how to properly drink tea. My tea-drinking skills are improving exponentially.
- 12:00: Lunch at the tea plantation. They had tea soba (noodles made with tea) and tempura. I ate everything in front of me, including the tiny, beautifully arranged garnishes.
- 14:00: Mount Fuji viewing (attempt). Sigh. It was cloudy. Really, really cloudy. So cloudy, in fact, that Mount Fuji seemed to have vanished from the face of the Earth. I spent half an hour staring into the misty nothingness, feeling a profound sense of anticlimax. Apparently, it's a very common disappointment. I just had to keep the hope alive that tomorrow would be better.
- 16:00: Tea Ceremony! I went to a traditional tea ceremony. I learned the proper way to make matcha (green tea) and the proper way to sip it. The whole thing was very serene and meditative. I felt my shoulders relax. I began to appreciate the slowness, and the detail and care that went into every step.
- 18:00: Dinner in Shizuoka city. Found a ramen place. The broth was rich, the noodles were perfectly springy, and the chashu pork melted in my mouth. I slurped it down with abandon, completely ignoring the "proper" way to eat ramen. I also had a strange (but delicious) pickled vegetable that tasted like sunshine and regret.
- 20:00: More wandering, and tea. I went back to the hotel, feeling strangely at peace. I decided to grab a tea bag (the ones that were left) and try and enjoy the small things.
Day 3: Return to reality
- 08:00: Breakfast and Packing. Today began with a sense of melancholy. My flight isn't until tonight, so there's still plenty of time to enjoy the city, but I can't shake the feeling that this has been a very short trip. Breakfast was the same as yesterday, with a slightly increased enthusiasm for the croissants.
- 09:00: Shopping. This was the only unplanned activity that I did. I went to a shop that was filled with anything tea-related. From the traditional tea cups to all sorts of tea sweets. And I bought lots of tea.
- 12:00: Lunch. I opted to go to the same ramen place as yesterday. The broth was exactly the same and the ramen felt even better.
- 13:00: Last moments of wandering. I walked in a nearby park, sat around the pond, and started looking at all the little details I missed in the first days.
- 15:00: Packing. The only thing I could do was put my clothes into a suitcase and plan everything to get to the airport.
- 16:00: Travel. The airport was not too far away. I checked in my bags, got a last tea and sat waiting for my flight.
- 18:00: The flight. I flew to Tokyo.
Final Thoughts:
Shizuoka. It wasn't what I expected. The hotel wasn't exactly inspiring, the coffee was a daily battle, and Fuji-san didn't show up. But… there was tea. Glorious, perfect tea. And quiet temples, and delicious food, and a sense of peace I rarely find in my bustling life. I might even have to return to Shizuoka. After I recover from the jet lag and the existential dread of hotel coffee, of course.
Escape to Paradise: Germany's Hotel Traumblick Awaits!
Hotel Garden Square Awaits: Let's Get Real (and Maybe a Little Crazy) About Shizuoka's Paradise!
Because brochures lie, let's be honest about what you REALLY want to know.
Okay, Seriously, Is This Place *Actually* Paradise? Or Just, You Know... Pretty?
Look, paradise is a strong word. I mean, I wouldn't trade my Netflix subscription for a lifetime supply of sunshine and butterflies (maybe a *really* good Netflix series about butterflies... hmmm). But, Hotel Garden Square Awaits is genuinely *pretty* damn good. The grounds? Stunning. Seriously, I walked around for like an hour just gaping at the landscaping. You know how sometimes hotel gardens look like they've been designed by robots who’ve never seen a real plant? Not this place. It's all lush and overflowing and... well, you can practically *smell* the money spent. But paradise? Depends if you consider dodging a rogue sprinkler head "living the dream." (Spoiler alert: I did. And it was hilarious! Almost choked on my matcha latte, though.)
The Rooms: Cozy Cottage Chic or Grim Hotel Room Gloom? Spill the Tea!
Alright, rooms. Here's the thing: I'm a sucker for a good hotel room. I mean, that moment you slide into the crisp white sheets after a long travel day? Pure bliss. The rooms at Garden Square are... good. Not *mind-blowingly* incredible, like something out of Architectural Digest, but definitely comfortable. Think clean lines, maybe a tiny balcony (score!), and a bathroom that doesn't feel like it was designed in the late 1980s (a *massive* win!). My only gripe? The lighting. It’s a bit… subdued. Like, "romance" subdued. Which is fine if you're on a romantic getaway, but if you’re trying to actually *see* to apply your makeup in the morning? Bring a flashlight. Seriously. I almost left the hotel looking like a clown because I couldn't see a damn thing! That's MY truth, folks. My makeup was an adventure. 😂
The Onsen (Hot Spring): Is it Worth the Awkwardness? (And the Nakedness?)
Okay, the onsen. Let's address the elephant (or rather, the naked people) in the room. Yes, you're going to be naked. Yes, it’s a little weird at first. Yes, you *might* feel like you’re starring in your own personal documentary about awkward social interactions. But… it’s actually amazing. The water is unbelievably relaxing. The outdoor onsen? Oh. My. Goodness. The feeling of soaking in that hot, mineral-rich water, with the cool air on your face... it's sublime. I was so lost in the moment, I almost fell asleep IN the water! (Don’t worry, I caught myself. Barely.) The key is to embrace the awkwardness. Everyone’s just trying to relax, so get over yourself. It’s a cultural experience, people! And by the end, I was practically a pro at the whole onsen thing. I could probably give a TED talk now on appropriate onsen etiquette. (Spoiler: don't stare.)
Let's Talk Food: Buffet Bonanza or Culinary Catastrophe? Dish!
The food. Ah, yes. Because let's face it, half the fun of a vacation is eating your weight in deliciousness. The buffet… was a mixed bag. Some things were *fantastic*. I'm talking fresh seafood, melt-in-your-mouth sushi, and pastries that practically sang to me from the display case. Other things… let’s just say they were… less memorable. The scrambled eggs, bless their hearts, were a little dry. (I got over it; I went back for more sushi.) But the best part? The *ambiance*. Even though the buffet was busy there was a kind of quiet dignity to it. The staff were absolutely lovely. One of them, bless her heart, saw me looking confused and guided me through the buffet like I was a toddler. (Maybe I was… hangry toddlers are a real thing, okay?!). Pro-tip: pace yourself. And go straight for the good stuff. You know, the sushi. And the pastries. (Did I mention the pastries?)
Getting Around: Lost in Translation or Smooth Sailing?
Okay, so getting *to* the Hotel Garden Square was a breeze. Smooth train ride, easy shuttle. But getting *around* Shizuoka? That's where things got… interesting. My Japanese is, let's say, "basic." Okay, *atrocious*. I relied heavily on Google Translate and a whole lot of pointing and smiling. I almost ended up on a train to Osaka instead of the local tea plantation. (Tea plantation is a great choice, btw.) The staff at the hotel were super helpful with directions, but sometimes I felt like I was in a silent movie, communicating with hand gestures and exaggerated facial expressions. One time a taxi driver just looked at me and shrugged. "Hai?" I said, with my best (and clearly terrible) Japanese. "Hai," he replied, shaking his head and smiling amiably. Then he drove me in the general direction of my destination. Somehow I made it to the tea plantation, which let me tell you, was worth the accidental adventures. The key is to embrace the chaos and enjoy the ride (even if you're not quite sure where you're going!).
The Spa: Relaxing Retreat or Overpriced Disappointment?
The Spa was...an experience. Let's start there. The facilities themselves were beautiful, all zen-like calm and soothing scents. It was all very Instagram-able, you know, the kind of place where you're supposed to whisper and contemplate your inner peace. I'd booked a massage, and I was seriously looking forward to it because my back was screaming after a day of hiking. The massage. Was. Intense. Like, seriously intense. The therapist was clearly skilled, but she seemed to have a personal vendetta against my knots. I’m not saying I yelped, but… well, I might have yelped. A little. And after, because I like to torture myself, I looked up reviews and saw other people saying the same thing. So, maybe, for me, it was a little too intense. I left feeling less relaxed and more like I'd been run over by a particularly determined truck. However, I will say this: the post-massage tea was delicious. And the complimentary snacks? Divine. So, it wasn’t a total disaster, just… a very memorable massage.
Is it Kid-Friendly? Bring the Little Monsters or Leave Them at Home? (My Verdict!)
Kid-friendly? Hmm. This is tricky. They *say* it's kid-friendly. They have a kids' club, you know, the deal. But honestly? I'm not totally convinced. It depends on your kid. If your offspring are the zen-like, quiet typeDelightful Hotels
