FUJIYAMA INN CONIFER — Hotel in Fujiyoshida

With my purchase of a ticket for Fuji-Q confirmed, I set my sights towards booking accommodations for this excursion. Between the options available, Bself stuck out as a nice compromise between price and convenience, as it is one of the closest hotels to the amusement park outside of Highland Resort & Spa. The amount I paid for the two nights I stayed at Bself was $150 cheaper than what I would have paid at the other hotel, a reasonable bargain. The hotel's management reached out to me prior to my arrival to confirm my stay and as well to check that I had a means of transportation to get there.||Bself is located about a 10-15 minute walk from Fuji-Q. My understanding is that the main ways of getting there from Tokyo are via bus or via the train stopping at the local JR station. If staying at this hotel, it is recommended to take the bus, as there is a route that runs hourly from the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal that will deposit you at the Highland Resort & Spa, from which you will walk over the bridge spanning over the neighboring highway to get to the hotel; this trip will take you 2 to 2.5 hours. The Fujiyoshida JR station is about a 40 minute walk from the hotel and will likely require using the local buses to get there.||I should note that while it is technically easy to get to the hotel, Bself is tucked away on a side road and travelers not used to navigating semi-rural areas on foot might find it a daunting trek to get there. The aforementioned bridge, while safe, requires one to descend a stairway that isn't in the best shape, and the way leading to the hotel is poorly marked. There is a road that directly leads to the hotel from the highway one would be walking along past the bridge, but there is no signage indicating as such, and this road is also scantly lit, with the hotel's sign being one of the few, if not only, things lit on the road after dark. Guests should use the nearby Mega Donki as a guide point, and this store is open until 1 AM on most nights, carrying a massive stock of merchandise. There is also a family restaurant, an arcade and a convenience store located within a 10 minute walk from the hotel.||I arrived at the hotel late, but thankfully the check-in process was quick, with myself just needing to fill out an information form customary for foreign travelers. I was given a key to my room, which was located just across front desk. The process took between 5 to 10 minutes to complete. The hotel feels more like a big guesthouse, with guests being required to take off their shoes in the main building and the common room (which also serves as a breakfast area) having a ping pong table and I believe a piano. Notably, there is also an onsen onsite (that I unfortunately didn't have the chance to use) that can be reserved by guests to use.||The room was appointed with the usual amenities and fixtures one would expect at a budget hotel. The door and walls are kind of thin, so sound travels easily. However, the room surprisingly spacious, with a fairly large open area to walk around and lay out a big suitcase. The beds are good enough to use; while kind of stiff, they at least will ensure a basic level of comfort. The room also had a mini-fridge that worked properly and kept contents chilled.||The one part of the room that I was not pleased with was the bathroom. While clean, it was the most cramped bathroom I have ever used in any form of lodging and was incomprehensible. The entrance to the bathroom was on a raised platform about 6 inches from floor level and the toilet was located right at the entryway, leaving less than two feet of space between the front end of the toilet and the wall and the same space was eaten into by the folding door. Past the toilet was the sink, which also acted as the faucet for the tub and shower. The tub was tiny, especially with the shower curtain jutting into the same space; an adult would have just enough room to sit in the water. Said tub also had an absurdly high clearing relative to the rest of the bathroom and it was very difficult to get into the tub without touching the tub wall. I would have preferred that the tub just wasn't there and the bathroom to just be a wet bathroom, though I suppose that would have been a problem with it being located higher than the flooring. With that being said, space and comfort aside, the bathroom at least worked well. The toilet worked properly and most important, the shower worked well. The water pressure was excellent, the water temperature ran as hot as one would want it to be, and there was a detachable shower head. I should note that I had purchased a basic room and a higher-tiered room may offer a better experience.||There were no issues otherwise in my two night stay. Check-out was efficient and I was able to be off on my way without issue.||All in all, I was satisfied with my stay in light of the price paid. The rating is as specified exclusively due to the bathroom. If not for the bathroom, it would be rated much higher, as the hotel will satisfy expectations one would have of it and offer a little extra on top. If you are looking for convenient lodgings priced for budget travelers, I think Bself is worthy of your...

Beware of booking Bself Fuji Onsen Villa Hotel for your stay. Our experience was disappointing due to several issues:

The hotel's proximity to an events venue meant we had to endure loud festival music all day, making it difficult to relax in the outdoor tubs.

The owner was inflexible and unapologetic. Despite notifying them about my pregnant wife and toddler, they assigned us a room on the 2nd floor with steep stairs, making it challenging for us.

The hotel lacks accessibility for wheelchair and stroller users, and they were unhelpful despite advance notification.

The outdoor tubs were just plain heated water, not a true onsen experience. I recommend the hotel nearest Fuji-Q that provides free access to a legitimate onsen for its guests if you are after a true onsen experience.

We encountered ants, mosquitoes, insects, and spiders in the outdoor area, making it less enjoyable.

The hotel's pictures online were misleading, as the actual facilities were not as vibrant as depicted.

Laundry facilities were restricted before the posted 10 pm time. The owner denied access even if it was just 9:30 and we were checking out the next day. Maybe put a definite cut-off time instead. Note that the laundry facilities of other hotels, even the smaller ones we stayed in, can be used 24 hours a day. There is only one washer and dryer here.

Getting a taxi from the hotel was difficult despite the hotel proudly listing 5 companies they can contact for you. Waiting times can last 30-40 minutes on a weekday afternoon. The quickest wait was 15-20 minutes

The nearby Donki store was small and didn't offer significant finds. Don’t think that hotel being near a Donki is a plus. It isn’t.

The facilities were old and outdated, particularly the bathrooms. The sliding door to the outdoor tub was already on the floor as soon as we entered our room.

Cleanliness was an issue, with no room cleaning and guests responsible for disposing of their own trash. The filter on the air purifier was clogged.

The location was inconvenient, especially for those relying on public transportation or with mobility issues due to the overpass with steep stairs to cross. You’ll have to traverse a highway ramp to get to the hotel if you want to avoid the overpass. As mentioned, taxis are hard to come by. Furthering, even they recommend taking a taxi to their hotel from the station.

Another important point to note is that families with babies should be cautious, as the walls at Bself Fuji Onsen Villa Hotel are thin, and noise travels easily. We experienced this firsthand, and it can be disruptive for both you and other guests. Consider this factor if you're traveling with a baby or young children.

The step stool to the outdoor tub is on uneven ground. Whoever set this up does not care about your safety. Part of the step stool is on the black rubber matting and the other is on the bare floor. They didn’t even bother trimming the black matting for the guests to have an even step stool.

Overall, I strongly advise against this hotel, especially for anyone traveling with mobility issues. Our experience was vastly different from other hotels in Japan during our 60-day trip. Management and staff from other hotels were nicer and more understanding. We couldn’t wait to get out of Bself Fuji Onsen Villa and rest assured, we will...

The “hotel” is off the road. In fact the driveway to the hotel is dirt and rock. The marketing is very deceptive. We booked a specific room based on the photos. Photos showed a private hot tub just outside. We were not given that room and the rest of the place was booked up. Beware when purchasing. The A/C is severely under powered. The TV is a small computer monitor. Beds are hard as a rock. There is no soundproofing in the place. They placed us next to the stairs and it sounded like a herd of elephants waking up the stairs all night.

Location is next to Fuji-Q highland park and highland resort. It is very far from Kawaguchiko station. There is a Don Quixote very close. They sell a lot Of random things and a very limited variety of food. Good price for snacks and beers. The bus from Fuji-q to kawaguchiko station only runs on Friday and Saturdays. Otherwise you need a taxi. Taxis are very pricey.

They have a public/private hot bath to reserve when you book a room that has a hot tub but doesn’t. The Hot Bath is nice. It was really weird to have a perfectly clear, large window facing you while you’re in the bath.

Bathrooms are TINY! My kid thought it was perfect but she is small. Shower is directed through the sink faucet. Toilet seat is perfect size for a child.

Breakfast was cereal, hard boiled eggs, egg salad sandwich, and raisin buns. They have coffee, water, tea, and juice and you have to clean up after yourself. Not complaining just making a statement.

The “lounge” is a ping pong table and vending machine. The laundry is one washer and dryer that looks like it has mold in it.

They have English speaking staff which was helpful. The Japanese person originally behind the counter didn’t want to use the translator app. We arrived before check in, 3pm, and they allowed us to store our luggage while we went out. The person behind the counter answered all the questions and was helpful. But two staff told us two different things when we asked for help. So it was a bit odd.

It was $200 for 1 night. I won’t be...