Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji: A fulfilling stay regardless of status

To maintain my Marriott Platinum status for 2025-2026, I am doing hotel training through stays.

The status for the year switches in March, but the specific date seems to vary depending on the year.

Because the fiscal year switched earlier than expected this year, by chance, I had the opportunity to stay at the same hotel on close dates with different statuses: Platinum and Gold.

In this stay, I will share what I experienced regarding what exactly is different when staying at the same hotel with different statuses.

In conclusion
Platinum and Gold each have rules based on categories, but other than that, I was able to have a fulfilling hotel stay regardless of status.

Let's look at it in order.

Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji

Hotel Overview

Note: All images are borrowed from the official website, except for those taken personally.

Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji is a 25-minute shuttle bus ride from Shuzenji Station on the Izuhakone Railway (if traveling by train).

It is located within the vast 500,000-tsubo grounds of "Laforet Resort Shuzenji."
It is in a prime location where you can view Mount Fuji and the Amagi mountain range from the windows.

The hotel building itself is designed with plenty of space, so even on days when it is nearly fully booked, you will not encounter crowds; it is a hotel where you can basically spend your time quietly and relaxingly.

Notable Facilities

Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji has facilities that you won't find anywhere else, ones that make you want to stay just for them.

Kids' Room

A tasteful kids' room that would make children envious.
It's a bit awkward for an adult to play inside alone💦 but I admired the teddy bear sitting at the entrance every time I passed by.

Dog Run

Believe it or not, the Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji has three types of dog-friendly rooms where you can stay with your beloved dog, as well as a dog run.

Hot Spring Spa (Swimwear required zone)

Swimwear is available for rent.
Considering it is located between the men's and women's baths, I thought it might be for family use, but

once I entered, I found that this place is...

At first glance, it looks like a large bath, but
actually

a hot spring pool✨♨️

Perhaps because it was a weekday, there were few users
(I avoided the crowded times, but it was empty anyway)

And at night, perhaps due to the indoor and outdoor lighting, the interior is naturally hidden from the outside...

It was empty, and since I usually walk in the gym pool, I walked here too!
Once I got used to it, I kept a low posture, walking while submerged up to my shoulders in the 90cm deep water.
I had mild muscle pain the next day😅

I'm not good at long soaks in hot springs, so I prefer to increase the number of times I enter, but I once stayed at an inn with a hot spring pool and used it frequently during my stay, and an injury I had healed in no time, so I am happy to have a hot spring pool.

Bedrock bath

550 yen for 45 minutes. It is a gender-segregated facility that includes loungewear, a towel, and water.

I took a break in the bedrock bath, warmed up both sides😅 twice, and
when I was done, I changed into my swimsuit and walked while soaking in the low-temperature hot spring in the hot spring spa.

If you have a room with a hot spring, you can bathe as much as you want✨

Even without a lounge,
and even if you bring your own breakfast, it was a good stay.

Breakfast

Platinum members and above can have breakfast at the hotel's dining room.

On the day I stayed as a Gold member, in order to spend time relaxing in the hot springs and bedrock baths, I ate light meals of bread and drinks I brought with me for breakfast and lunch instead of having dinner at the hotel restaurant.
You can also use the shuttle bus to go to other hotels in the facility or around the station to eat.

Dinner at the restaurant

It would have been a bit sad to end the trip with only the breakfast I brought, so I booked the hotel's dining room for the second night and had dinner there.

Differences in benefits between Platinum Elite and Gold Elite

Among the Marriott Bonvoy membership statuses, there are the following differences between Platinum Elite and Gold Elite.

Room upgrades

Gold
Upgrade to a better room
(excluding suites)

Platinum
Room upgrade including suites

It is true that the room I was upgraded to with Platinum felt a bit more luxurious, but...

However, the room I was upgraded to with Gold status was

with an onsen and
a view of Mt. Fuji🗻

so it was.

It's hard to say which is better.
Actually, for a solo hotel stay,
the room I was upgraded to with Gold might have been more comfortable✨

Working during the day while looking at Mt. Fuji from the window,
and unlimited access to the in-room onsen ＼(^o^)／

To put it mildly,

／
it was the best 💖
＼
✨

*It doesn't mean you are always upgraded to a room with an onsen; this time it was likely because I was lucky enough to get one based on availability.

Even after my Platinum status expired and I had two stays without lounge access or breakfast, the satisfaction level was high, and I intend to stay there again whenever I get the chance.

The access, rooms, and spacious areas are wonderful, but the basic hotel facilities are also great;
a big reason for me personally is that they have a hot spring water (warm water) pool and bedrock baths, which I have always sought out.

Late check-out

Gold: until 2:00 PM (subject to availability)
Platinum: until 4:00 PM (guaranteed)

I usually check out in the morning and head to the station because I want to get home before the rush hour starts. If it were a hotel stay in Tokyo, having until 4:00 PM would be nice.

Free breakfast

Gold None
Platinum Complimentary breakfast provided

Since the location makes it difficult to go out to buy food or dine out, you have to either eat at the all-day dining restaurant or bring your own food.

The breakfast buffet is 4,500 yen per person.
With Platinum status, your companion also eats for free, so the benefits of Platinum are significant for two people.

If you don't eat much in the morning, you could also bring enough bread, fruit, and drinks for one or two nights to get by (or rather, there are no shops within walking distance so I brought my own 💦).

Lounge access

Gold None
Platinum Access to the Club Lounge

A look at the status lounge at Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji

While lounge access is nice to have, I found it difficult to spend a significant amount of time in my room because I kept wanting to visit the lounge frequently during my stay.

Perhaps it is better to just stop by once during each time slot in your spare time, rather than trying to go every time the menu changes.

Welcome gift

Gold
250–500 bonus points
Platinum
Choice of 1,000 points, snacks, or amenities

If you think of it as just an option, the difference isn't so great that you're missing out if you don't have it.

In conclusion

For those who frequently use Marriott hotels or are looking for a more luxurious stay, it is worth aiming for Platinum Elite status, but

whether or not to obtain status is a matter of individual values, and it doesn't seem like you can't enjoy yourself without it.
If you can have a fulfilling time in your own way, that is more than enough.

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card

By holding the Marriott Bonvoy Premium Card, you can obtain Gold Elite status, and by using the card for 4 million yen or more per year, you can obtain Platinum Elite status.

If you have the opportunity to stay at Marriott-affiliated hotels, issuing a credit card is also an effective method.
For those who are going to create a credit card, a referral from a current holder is advantageous, so please use the link below if you need one.

By issuing through the link, 45,000 points will be granted for spending 300,000 yen within 3 months.

Note:
Benefits may vary depending on the hotel and the time of year.

Benefits may not be available depending on availability.

You can read articles in the same category from this magazine✨

Thank you for reading until the end. I hope this article provides some helpful hints✨💖

Receiving likes, comments, and follows is a great encouragement. I look forward to your continued support✨