Hotels near Gokodai Observatory, Fujikawaguchiko

This is a decently nice, large ryokan-style hotel but it feels a bit old and shabby like a pre-bubble hotel which is past its glory days. The location was a lot more isolated than we were expecting, you really should have a car if you stay here as there is little in the immediate area and it's a decently long walk to the rest of town. I strongly disagree with the ”good for walkers” walkability rating that Tripadvisor gives it. The car does offer a free shuttle four times a day to Kawaguchiko station though which is nice. The rooms (at least the ones we stayed in) were ryokan style with tatami and futons. Both me and my companion found the futons very difficult to sleep in. I didn't get a good night's sleep any of my nights and woke up sore even after requesting an extra futon for support. The public onsen on the fourth floor was very nice and in my opinion quite large. Lastly, the WiFi ranged from terrible to passable. It would vary a bit from hour to hour but was often nearly unusable. This is not a ”bad” hotel by any means, just know what you're getting into. This place probably was more impressive back in the day but today feels slightly run down and not very modern.

Pros: 1. The room comfortably accommodated 3 adults, although the bathroom was a bit small even for one person. 2. The overall cleanliness of the hotel was satisfactory. 3. Breakfast met our expectations. 4. The onsen experience was enjoyable overall. 5. The hotel's location is convenient, being close to Lake Kawaguchiko. 6. Free parking area is near the hotel entrance. Cons: 1. We specifically booked a room with a ”mountain view” hoping to see Mount Fuji. Our room was on level 3. Unfortunately, we were disappointed to find that our view only included the tip of the mountain, obstructed by buildings and electric cables. This was quite different from the picturesque view advertised on their website. Considering the high price of the room (SGD$800 per night for 3 persons), this was a huge disappointment. We strongly believe that the hotel should reconsider offering level 3 rooms as 'mountain view' rooms and reserve levels 4 and 5 for this category, as this feels like a misrepresentation. 2. Dinner was a huge letdown. We were served only 2 platters of meat (pork and beef) of average quality and 1 vegetable platter for Shabu Shabu. The selection was extremely limited. Although we were offered a Kaiseki Ryori (multi-course Japanese-style meal) for the next evening, there was an additional charge of over $3000+ yen per person for the upgrade. Despite the extra cost, this option seemed more appealing as we did not want to have the same Shabu Shabu two nights in a row.

I stayed in a room with a hot spring bath on the Mt. Fuji side of the East Building. Blessed with the weather, I took a long view of Mt. Fuji from the evening to the next morning and soaked in the hot springs many times. (Laughs) The quality of the Kawaguchiko Onsen at this hotel is a neutral calcium, sodium-sulphate, and chlorine-based disinfection is heated and circulated, including a large communal bath and a private room bath. It is not a source hanging, but it is well managed including the spring temperature. It warmed up well. It seems to be a room meal, but I stayed at 々 at the end of the year 12/29 night, probably because there were many guests, in the dining room on the 7th floor, dinner was a course kaiseki dish, breakfast was a buffet. The beef stew that I expected was also served on the course because the amount was small, but it felt like a taste. Each was carefully cooked in a small amount, and the quality and quantity were satisfactory. I stayed until 11:00 in the morning, and I took a bath 5 times in another 々 large communal bath once, 3 times in the room bath. In addition, the large communal bath has a waterfall and an open-air rock bath in the foreground, and a large cypress bath in the back. I think the impression will change depending on the way Mt. Fuji looks, but I was lucky 々. Since it is the year-end and New Year holidays, the high accommodation fee is natural, but it was a satisfying content for the room, meal, bath, service, and environment that matched it.

The facilities are clean and the customer service is wonderful. The rooms are clean, and there is Wifi and USB port facilities for charging (Western room). The buffet-style meals are rich in variety such as local dishes and delicious. Very satisfied hotel depending on the choice of room. Strategy: Mt. Fuji, which you want from the large communal bath, is blocked by pillars, cherry trees, and it is a pity that you need to stand up from the open-air bath, and you can only see the indoor bath from a limited place while taking a bathtub. Therefore, you need to choose a room on the Mt. Fuji side to enjoy the view of Mt. Fuji from the hotel facilities. Hope: It would be even nice if there were Yoshida's udon noodles, seasonal local vegetables, fruits, and local products (milk, cheese, etc.). If you have already used it, the presentation will increase satisfaction as a traveler. I have tea and tea in the room, but I want coffee.

The location of the hotel is fantastic for sunset viewing. There is plenty of parking across the road, with a surfeit of basically unnecessary staff. We had a reasonable-sized room with large windows and a wonderful panorama of the lake and Mount Fuji. That's all that's positive. The hotel is in two parts: the original building and an annexe. It is NOT suitable for wheelchair users trying to get to a restaurant. There are too many steps, twists and turns. There are lifts to find rooms in part A or part B, and the locations of the onsens (which switch between male and female every day - nice views, though). The signage is rare and confusing. As a stocky European (100Kg), I had immense difficulty sleeping on a very thin futon. The electric heater in the room blasts an unhealthy stream of hot air. Switch off this health risk and you FREEZE (we were there in late October). The hotel is relatively expensive, so you'd expect quality rooms. What you get is the uniform Japanese army-style sp****, goose**** green-walled room that you'd find in business hotels at half the room rate of this laughingly named 'NEW CENTURY' place. Minimalist, to say the least (in reality, pinched, lacking in generosity and well-being). At least there was a fridge (with a freezer icebox!!) In a series of measures as a response to the risks of COVID, there were no real glasses - just paper cups, and a message asking you to close the toilet lid before flushing. Disappointingly, the toilet was untypically low quality - no little hand-washing basin and fountain on the top of the toilet, and thus no towel in the toilet itself. (So, mucky hands grasping two sets of door handles to wash your hands. How's that for customary Japanese hygiene?) We (a group of 13 people - I was the only gaijin...) had booked an evening meal, room and breakfast the next morning. Dinner? Again, for the price, you'd expect a nice piece of fish (probably from the lake) right? NO way. We got a few bits of sukiyaki, and mean little dishes with bits and pieces of this and that... I've eaten MUCH better food in izakayas and bars throughout Japan. My opinion was echoed by most of our party. Breakfast was below ordinary. Simple, plain, dull. Something to dispense with quickly. Taking fuel on board, that's all. The service in the restaurant was desultory (= awful, ungracious). During dinner, a stocky old lady granted me the opportunity to be bumped TWICE by her capacious bottom as she served the person next to me. I complained and pushed back, to the accompaniment of giggles from her lithe, unobtrusive colleagues. Mercifully I was spared any further encounter with this voluminous rear end at breakfast. The staff at breakfast time were a) limited in number b) slow and c) VERY detached. One had the feeling they were cleaning staff put into waiting uniforms. Per person, we paid over 13,000 yen. Frankly, an outrageous price. The ONLY benefit was the view. For that, you don't need a hotel room. A bus tour will

This hotel has 3 blocks as it is set into a hill. The first block contains the lobby, then at the 5th floor you connect to the middle block (which faces Fuji directly) and contains rooms on the 6-7th floors. It also contains the bathing area with an outdoor view of Mount Fuji. From the middle block, the 8th floor connects to the last block which contains levels 8-10. This block has a view of Fuji but you have to look out your window at a slant. Rooms are run down and hotel looks like it was stuck in the 1970s. Curtains are stained, walls have marks, corridor walls are stucco. Shoji screens in room have torn paper. Sink looks dirty. Wood surfaces are worn. The finishings in the room could certainly use some refurbishment and love. However it is decently clean and I was still comfortable for my stay. Food was a good spread and tasty. I was treated to fireworks over the lake which was visible from the room. The hotel staff (front desk, dinner staff) all made it a point to mention the event and where to view it from, which I appreciate.

Very close to the station and there are restaurants and Lawson nearby. There are both indoor and outdoor onsen (after 9pm or before 9am will have less people) for woman, and if you are tall enough then you will be able to see Fuji mountain when you are enjoying the onsen. Our room is high enough so can see the Fuji mountain directly!

The hotel itself is small 々 old, but it is very convenient with hot springs and taverns. It was Mt. Fuji view, so the view was good. However, there are many foreign guests, so I want you to tell me about the manners of the hot spring. I didn't know the manners, and I was poor to say the color 々 from Japanese guests. The explanation was also attached to the dressing room in the room and the hot spring, but I don't see it. I want you to visit if you know the rules when passing the key to the locker, and to those who don't know it, you can give it to a small paper. And please prepare not only English but also Spanish and French. Foreigners want to check the hot spring rules. Let's enjoy the hot springs! Open-air bath, wide and comfortable! Also, the color of the indoor clothes is thin, so the underwear is clear, and eventually I went every time in my clothes. I want you to be a little darker.

Second visit. Mt. Fuji is clear in winter. In the morning, I went to the illumination square in front of the restaurant because it was Akafuji before sunrise. From the right end to red purple, when the sunrise started at about 1 ／ 3, I returned to the magnificent Fuji, but the sunrise on the left, the full moon on the upper right, and Mt. Fuji in the middle. I have to see this. Under the sunrise is the sea of clouds in Lake Yamanaka. The view that there is everything to see. Since there are many families, the rooms are large and you can see Lake Yamanaka and Mt. Fuji from all rooms. The bath is on the 2nd floor with B1 and the mountain trail is clear from the observation bath. You should see people in the season. It is a good hotel that is calm.

Marriott staff welcomed us at the curb side. Check in was painless and soon we were off to our room. In room hot springs was a pleasant touch. The room was spacious and very comfortable. Even the Japanese pillows were soft and cozy. The food was top notch and catered to every taste. We opted for the dinner package—well worth the money. After dinner we rang for a late night massage…should have rethought that one. Asked for two therapist and got one. She had no clue what a massage was! Seriously!!! She literally poked at me with her finger tips. The pushed my head agains the pillow for ten minutes. Finally was had enough and she was dismissed with her full pay. Noted, she was not affiliated with the hotel, she was merely the lady they called. Please never call her again! Loved the hotel and the view. A must for anyone wanting a quiet getaway.