Hotels Near JR Hatsukari station in Otsuki

The other day, I stayed at Starland. I live in the same city where Starland is located, and I thought it would be a good idea to stay there by myself for a change of pace. The building itself is a little old, but there are no particular issues with staying there. I was able to really refresh my mind. I would definitely stay here again when I'm feeling tired both physically and mentally.

Fabulous “destination” hotel…. The food was incredible (either French or Japanese degustation style menu). You could not get a better viewpoint for Mt Fuji. Advice: traditional public onsen so no tattoos but they have private baths too so happy days; a car would be helpful as the taxi service is fairly sp****; if you don’t have a car then book Taka from Native Fuji Tours (he was 10/10)… and pay the extra for a higher floor… we had one with a bath on the balcony… stunning!

For more general details about Fufu Kawaguchiko, please read my review from October 2020... We decided at the last minute to pay a visit to the Fuji Five Lakes area because the weather forecast called for a clear day (and hopefully a clear view of Mt. Fuji.) Thankfully, one room was available, and it was the exact same room as the one we stayed at the first time (Fufu Luxury Premium Suite, Room #408.) It's a top-floor corner suite with a separate bedroom/living room along with an expansive balcony and a free-flowing, open-air Onsen (natural hot springs) bath. As rooms go, it's pure bliss. Modern, tastefully furnished and decorated, bright and airy, and has all of the amenities and features one would expect when staying at a relatively new high-end property. We still feel that Fufu doesn't make the best use of its space - it's a bit busy, and consequently seems a bit less spacious than its specifications suggest (it's officially 136 square meters, although someone we can't help but feel that they're counting the balcony space as part of the overall room size.) It's really less of a ryokan and more of a hotel with ryokan-style elements. Shoes don't need to come off (although you're advised to do so in the guest rooms), they provide ”Samue” (sort of spa pajama/style) outfits rather than the traditional (and albeit more pretty but less comfortable) Yukatas, but still retain some of the common ryokan charms (and a few drawbacks.) The staff are relatively young, hip and ”pretty”, and more casually friendly than the typical traditional ryokan, which is good or bad, depending on your perspective. We enjoyed the high-energy vibe of the place, although we also do enjoy the finesse and quaintness that top traditional ryokans exhibit as well (Asaba is a perfect example of this.) The clientele are also more youthful than most other properties that we've stayed at - this is where the young, wealthy and beautiful go to see and be seen, that's for sure. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but just a FYI. Not much has changed from our last stay, although I will say that we enjoyed the food offering a bit more this time. We learned that they brought in a new head chef, and while it's not a night-and-day difference, we did notice a quality and creative improvement from last time. A few specialty dishes were once again served, including a unique cheese gratin with Natto (fermented soybeans that is slimy and has a pungent odor) for breakfast - we enjoyed the dish, but not sure how many Westerners can handle Natto, which is a very acquired taste. While we wish there was an option to have meals served in one's own room, we do think that Fufu needs to have more ”ko****su” private dining rooms in the restaurant. They only have a handful of them, and priority goes to large groups or families with small children. When we go to a high-end ryokan, we prefer not to dine in an open, restaurant-style environment. We requested a Ko****su in advance, and were only told we wo

I stayed at the Kogetsu for 2 nights in May and it was an unforgettable experience. Every detail was beautiful and thoughtful. I booked rather late and was not able to book the same room, so the first night I stayed in a Standard Western Style twin w open-air bath; and the second night in a Standard Japanese Modern w open-air bath (Triple). Both were on the 3rd (of 5) floors and both had stunning views of Mt Fuji. Both incorporated both Japanese and Western style. The first room had wood floors throughout and half-shoji screen doors so you could separate the bedroom and dining areas. It also had a small walk-in closet. The outdoor onsen was quite large (could easily fit 4 adults) and the patio was wider than in the Triple room. I posted pics of the Standard Western Style Twin and will post the pics of the Triple separately. In contrast the Triple room was larger and there was a gorgeous daybed (which becomes the 3rd bed) with windows on either side overlooking Mt Fuji. The onsen was a bit smaller (could easily fit 2 adults). The bedroom was carpeted, dining area had tatami-style mats, and hallway had wood floors. There was a wardrobe rather than walk-in closet in this room. Both rooms had a wet area for washing up before the onsen, a separate powder room, and separate toilet room. Honestly, you can’t go wrong - both rooms were gorgeous. I felt lucky to be here. One thing to note is that there is a boat launch beside the ryokan, so my open-air onsen on 3rd floor was not super private (there’s a screen to pull down if you want privacy, but it obscures the view). The 4th/5th floors would have more feeling of privacy. The kaiseki meals were beautifully displayed and delicious. The 2 nights’ menus were different but followed a similar (but not identical) format: 1) Aperitif, 2) Seasonal appetizers, 3) Soup, 4) Sashimi, 5) Main course (hot), 6) Steamed fish, 7) Grilled fish, 8) Palette cleanser, 9) simmered dish, 10) rice dish, and 11) dessert. My nakai, Fumiko-san, was lovely - friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Breakfast was also included - it was half- buffet, with an elegant bento box with appetizers and tamago. It also included delicious tempura, made to order and delivered to your table. The hotel has a happy hour from 2:30-6:30 where a limited selection of tea, coffee, nonalcoholic drinks, beer and wine are free. You can enjoy them on the gorgeous terrace overlooking Mt Fuji with your feet soaking in the footpath (just not in your room). Lastly there are shuttles every morning to Kawaguchiko Station or any of the tourist sights on the way, and the hotel will send a shuttle to pick you up when you are ready to come back. The location of this ryokan could not be better - close to some great museums and on the North shore of the lake, which has the best views (and away from the touristy South shore).

This is the second time staying in Fuji Ginkei, while the first time was in 2017. The reason I chose it when I went to Kawaguchiko the second time was the perfect location, service, and food when I stayed in 2017. First, I should thank the hotel staff. As you might know, it is tough for solo travelers to book a Ryokan room. As a search around the hotel list, which I think is perfect for the stay, Fuji Ginkei is one of a few hotels which said OK. I appreciate it. The location is perfect as you can see the lake and mountain simultaneously. For Kawaguchiko, only a few hotels have this kind of view. When you arrive at the Kawaguchiko station, don't forget to call them, and they will pick you up. However, when you live, if you want to take their shuttle bus, you need to check their shuttle bus schedule. I choose the Japanese-style room which a balcony since I want to take many photos from my room. It is worth it as the view from the room is perfect. I can stay in the room and watch Mount Fuji all afternoon. It even has an individual bathroom in the room, which is kind of rare. If you stay in the hotel in Winter, don't forget to use the outdoor onsen. It will be freezing to get in and out, but it is worth it as you will see a very clear sky and many stars when using the outdoor onsen. You will never forget it. Moreover, don't forget to go lakeside, which is only a few meters away. You can take perfect photos of the lake, Mount Fuji and the stars. It is impressive. Service is as good as before, which you can imagine. When you are having breakfast and dinner, the staff will talk with you, introducing the dish and telling you much exciting and helpful information. For once, I was discussing さかさふじ with them and really learned a lot. The dish is good. As I stayed for two nights, I think the first night's dinner was better than the second. For breakfast, I don't have too many things to say. Overall, the dish tasted good but not as impressive as in 2017, maybe because I tried some Michelin during these years, which increased my standard. Overall, it is an excellent hotel, and the price is not that high compared to other hotels around Kawaguchiko. Once again, is it worthy.

We checked into Kasuitei Oya for just one night, as we were visiting Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji en route from Tokyo to Matsumoto. The hotel sent a collection shuttle bus to the train station and was there in a flash. The staff at this hotel were excellent - they were very attentive and happy to spend time suggesting local things to visit. The room itself was beautiful with a great outlook over the lake. We booked a Western style room, which still had the traditional tatami mat area for relaxing but also had a raised Western style bed, which we enjoyed. We really enjoyed the baths and considered booking the private bath for an hour. In the end we just used the standard baths and the outside one was really lovely. I watched the full moon rise from the bath overlooking the lake - magical moment. Although you don't get a Fuji view from the baths or the room in the hotel, there is a balcony up on the same floor as the baths where you can see Fuji. The location of the hotel is brilliant - you can easily walk to restaurants and everything else you need. We spent a nice evening at a very nearby Izakaya called Cooliya bar, recommended by the hotel and a great place for some tasty plates and a couple of drinks later in the evening. We had the traditional breakfast in the morning. There were a lot of dishes within the breakfast - beautifully presented but a little bit too much food for me in the morning, with some of the dishes a bit on the experimental side for us! Overall, a great stay and would recommend.

Stayed for two nights and finally I got a much better sleep for the first time on my 2 week trip! Breakfast was ok, not fantastic-the place seems very deserted with many shops shuttered quite early on and streets dark. The bath was decent but nothing to shout about. Overall a value for money place just don’t expect too much

The accommodation environment is comfortable, clean, small and beautiful, and the room layout is practical. The location is very good. It's only a 2-minute walk from Fujisan Station (bus) and Fujikyu Line Station. It's so close. There are shopping malls, train stations, and bus stops within Fujisan Station. The property has an elevator. Supplies can be picked up at the front desk on the first floor. The hotel does not provide breakfast. There is a restaurant with a simple kitchen in the public space on the first floor, which is very convenient. There is a washer and dryer. Stay in a twin room on the 3rd floor. The room is spacious and clean. The bathroom and toilet are independent. You can go up to the rooftop terrace, and if the weather is good, you can see Mount Fuji. I can communicate in Chinese, which is very convenient. I can say that the location is good, the scenery is good, and the service is good. The only drawback is that the mirror faces the bed, and the check-out time is 10am, which is a bit too early.

Very nice mountain view from room. The public baths located on 7th floor are amazing as the one in open space is extraordinary. Very relaxing and comfortable in summer night. The buffet breakfast and dinner provide many choices of different cuisine. Overall speaking, very good choice I have made. I will sure will pick Mystays again.

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.