Shoji Lake Hotel — Hotel in Fujikawaguchiko

I don't know why it's taken me so long to review. Visited in April.

I'll start with the cons because I feel this hotel has more positives.

Cons: Location: There's not much nearby HOWEVER you're not going to lake shoji / fuji to do things, you're going to enjoy the nature.

Rooms: A bit dated for my taste specifically. But again, you're not going for super modern fancy hotels.

Pros: Beautiful location: Cherry blossom trees nearby, direct view of Fuji (when the clouds are gone), 3 minute walk to the water where we even seen some boars.

Hospitality:

The staff and owner were absolutely amazing, kind and lovely. So polite and when we brought up a concern they were extremely apologetic and looked into it right away.

We arrived a bit late and they advised us to go get food at the nearby restaurant as they were closing soon, and by the time we got back our (very heavy) luggage was in our room.

The owner is an absolutely lovely man and he made us feel extremely welcome at all times. Genuinely the best experience I've had in a hotel.

Baths: There are 2 outdoor baths (1 male 1 female), very nice go be able to go out at night and relax and feel at peace.

There's also 2 indoor baths (again male and female) with a direct view of fuji! The opening and closing times are posted so pay attention, but again the owner and hotel staff made the decision to leave the baths open longer than normal as Fuji was visible and they wanted the guests to have a great experience.

I do highly recommend this hotel, and recommend you remember that this location (not just the hotel) is not for modern luxury, but for nature, relaxation and getting away from busy...

You MUST stay here if you visit Japan! This hotel is the oldest hotel we stayed at whilst we were in Japan but it was by far our favourite. The hospitality of the owner and the staff are incredible. They speak minimal English but will try to assist you in every single way possible and google translate works a charm. You must remove your shoes at the entrance of the hotel (you're provided a shoe rack for your room) and change to the slippers provided. When we came down the next morning they had our shoes out ready to go There is no elevator at the hotel but there are only 4 floors and the staff will take your heavier luggage and deliver it to your room with their internal lift. You have the option of traditional Japanese Futon beds or western style rooms, regardless of which one you choose you will have amazing views looking out over Shoji Lake, and if you're lucky, Mt Fuji. Some of the bathrooms have been renovated however the rooms give a nostalgic vibe of a 90's Japanese hotel room which just adds to the experience. They also offer indoor & outdoor onsen experiences and are tattoo friendly which can be rare in Japan. There is a bus stop at the entrance of the hotel but I'd highly recommend hiring a car for your stay around Mt Fuji. If you're travelling from Tokyo we took the train about 40 minutes out to Chofu and picked up the car from there. An easy way to avoid the Tokyo traffic and you're only one street away from the express way! We also drove from Kyoto to Mt Fuji the next week but this does take double the time. I can't...

We were very, very fortunate. We had clear views of Mt Fuji for the 3 days we were there. And one evening during dinner, we witnessed a really special fiery cloud cap on the peak. Even the wait staff said it was so rare! I felt that God came down and met with us in Japan...especially as we were there for a church retreat :)||Best part of the hotel: Breathtaking view of Mt Fuji almost every day||Worst part: Everything is ancient, tired, stained, in need of repairs, 70s feel furniture and furnishings. Futons and pillows were so stained they were scary. No lifts at all!||Food: Very traditional full-course Japanese meals that were well-prepared and very substantial. After the 1st meal, I stopped eating the rice just to finish the rest of the dishes. Quite delicious.||Wait Staff: Mostly cute old ladies who only spoke Japanese. Super efficient service.||Venue: In front of gorgeous Lake Shoji which has a host of water sports and camping grounds. The natural surrounding is just breathtaking.||There were a few types of cherry blossom trees dotting the landscape - white, pink, deep pink, single and multiple petals. I was so so glad to be able to see them at this off season.||Transport: You need a car at least. No public transport. Every day we were bused to our convention venue (15min without traffic) and it was usually a 30 to 40 min ride because of the number of cars all going the same windy...