Hotel Camelot — Hotel in Fujikawaguchiko

We stayed at Hotel Camelot after stumbling across it on the Qantas website when searching for accommodation using points. I was immediately drawn to it as a musician due to the photos I saw of rehearsal rooms and live music there.

We wanted somewhere central to the Kawaguchiko area and this seemed perfect. What I wasn’t expecting was an almost portrait like view of Mt Fuji from the balcony of our room which was amazing. Add to that the owner and staff were wonderfully warm and accommodating, and the hotel cat Oreo (Oleo) and the owners dog Shido were adorable and that alone would be enough reason to recommend staying.

It’s a quaint Showa era establishment so if you’re after something modern with all the latest facilities, you’ll be disappointed. That said, it’s got a charm you can only find in something like this. It’s a music lovers den of interesting decor, posters and art and even a Leslie cab repurposed as a stand.

We stayed in room 210 and if you can get it, it’s the best for the view. The room was spacious and retro with two single beds and a fold down futon. Beds were fine and the room was clean. It had the typical smell of a 40 year old establishment but nothing foul. The bathroom was a typical unit style but lacked a washlet on the toilet. The water from the tap is from the local source, straight from Fuji. Takes a bit of time for it to heat up when you put the hot water on but it’s clearly noted on a sign in the bathroom.

There’s a lounge area to hang in which is nice and a common area. Downstairs are two hallways with big doors that lead to rehearsal rooms and along the top of the walls were placards signed by artists that have been there going back to when they opened in 1983. Photos of artists playing there and events held in the past.

There’s a large indoor bath on the ground floor that was just the right temperature and I spaced out for a good while in there. It’s and old fitout in there but was clean.

It’s in a good location for travels to local sights and the izakaya directly next door had some great food.

If you want to experience something different and meet some wonderful people, I highly recommend staying a few...

Normally I do not take the effort to rate or review the place I visit, because the rating simply matches with my experience, but this hotel was out of the world. The rooms were okay like what you would expect for the price, the location was awesome, but the service was the best I have ever had. They came to pick you up at the station (which is already crazy for a budget hotel and a 15 minute walk), then greeted me in the most kind way, brought my stuff up to my room and helped me with my questions. I think if you want a conversation with these people they would be more than open for it, so yeah the stay itself was awesome already and the best I had in Japan and I have certainly stayed at more luxerious and expensive hotels. The most crazy part came after I left, once I was packing I did not notice I did not have my ring cage with me (samsung ring so the cage is also the charge station) and simply buying a new one would cost 2 weeks of shipping time and 90 euros. So the first thing I did was message the hotel and they said: "yeah we have found it". So going back and forth on how we should arrange it for me to get it back and they said if you send the information of your next hotel (which is the worst I have stayed in, in Japan, but that is inrelevant) we will send it there. Oh and as a added bonus the shipping fees were on them, because I stayed 2 nights. These people went out of their way to help me and refused to let me pay a dime, this hotel is...

Generally, It's a little bit old but still good. 6 min walking distance to the popular Mt. fuji backgrounded lawson photo spot. Restaurants in walking distance. 24 hours available simple ofuro/onsen.

Wonderful front desk staff helped the check-in proceed smoothly. Unlike the standard front desk staff, He welcomed genuinely with warm greeting and chatted like a friend 😀 I could see his hospitality impressed a senior foreigner guest couple who came before me.

It's a "music studio" hotel, and once we get in, we will be pampered with the old music ambiance. I paid the budget price, so i dont mind sharing the ofuro/public bath & toilet, but waking up midnight and had to walk that although bright corridor was eerrrrr.. the experience I dont really favor 🤣

Also, they served welcome drink but do not prepare mineral water in the room, so better to prepare some bottles along...