Kawaguchiko Hotel New Century — Hotel in Fujikawaguchiko

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 sparse, gooseshit 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 do!! (If you have a car, book at a low-cost (possibly slightly cramped) business hotel and drive to Kawaguchiko to see the views. You'll save a lot of money and anguish.)||||When we buy goods, we can return them if they are not satisfactory. What a pity we cannot do this with catering and...

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 sparse, gooseshit 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 do!! (If you have a car, book at a low-cost (possibly slightly cramped) business hotel and drive to Kawaguchiko to see the views. You'll save a lot of money and anguish.)||||When we buy goods, we can return them if they are not satisfactory. What a pity we cannot do this with catering and...

We just stayed in this hotel for 2 nights in the Japanese style room, and absolutely loved it.

First of all, the location is great, when the weather is good (and we got lucky to see fuji mountain the first 2 days we were there), you are able to see both the fuji mountain and the lake, right outside of the hotel room. The bus station is nearby with many bus options for tour bus or buses to the nearest Shinkansen station.

Secondly, the service is very impressive. The shuttle bus is convenient, they helped us with the luggage, and even offered to take us to nearby convenience store with employee's car as needed. They asked for our permission and appropriate time to come to the room and make the Japanese style bed for us each day. They prepared boiled hot water in the water pot in the room before we arrived and each day after cleaning the room. My parents were very pleased with their service.

Thirdly, the Japanese style food in the restaurant is amazing. We tried 2 different days' breakfast and 1 dinner, and were surprised how much food were there. Food was served as a whole set for each person, and there are some changes from day to day. After trying their food, we lost motivation to explore other food in town, just want to stay in the hotel, eat and relax with the view.

Last but not least, the onsen in the hotel is great. I booked this hotel for their view and the onsen. The 7th floor one has a view of the lake and fuji mountain, feels hotter. The 1st floor one is less hot but still very good. There are not a lot of guests are using their onsen, and we used it multiple times during the stay, very relaxing.

Overall, very awesome experience for my family, and I appreciate this experience, and would definitely recommend this hotel to my other friends for...