Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa — Hotel in Hokuto

Here's Mỹ review of Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa,

Location & Surroundings: Nestled in the scenic Yatsugatake Mountains, offering a tranquil retreat away from urban bustle. Surrounded by natural beauty, providing opportunities for hiking, skiing (in season), and exploring the highlands. Offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and clear starry skies.

Rooms & Ambiance: Spacious and comfortable rooms, often featuring a blend of modern and traditional Japanese design elements. Many rooms boast balconies or large windows to appreciate the picturesque scenery. A serene and relaxing atmosphere permeates the entire resort.

Spa & Wellness: Boasts a well-regarded spa offering a range of treatments utilizing local ingredients and techniques. Features natural hot spring baths (onsen), providing a traditional Japanese relaxation experience with therapeutic benefits. Offers yoga and meditation spaces to enhance well-being.

Dining: Multiple dining options showcasing local and seasonal ingredients. Restaurants often feature buffet-style and a la carte menus with a focus on fresh, regional cuisine. Opportunities to savor the flavors of the Yatsugatake region.

Facilities & Activities: Offers indoor and outdoor pools for relaxation and recreation. Provides various activities such as nature walks, craft workshops, and seasonal events. Features spacious public areas for lounging and socializing. Family-friendly amenities are often available. Service: Generally praised for warm hospitality and attentive service. Staff are often described as helpful and knowledgeable about the local area. Strives to create a welcoming and comfortable stay for guests.

Overall: Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa is an excellent choice for those seeking a peaceful escape in a beautiful natural setting. The combination of stunning mountain views, relaxing spa facilities (including onsen), and delicious local cuisine creates a rejuvenating experience. Ideal for nature lovers, couples, and families looking to unwind and explore the Yatsugatake highlands. The focus on wellness and regional charm makes it a distinctive...

Great location, good food (need variety for multiple night stays), and a great children's facility. It's a partially renovated hotel from an old Royal hotel, and the hotel was rebranded as a 'Grand' Mercure, so our expectations were somewhat high. Did it leave up to our expectations?

Not so sure... let me start with the Pros first and then the Cons.

Pros: Great for families with children. Mori no 8 is fantastic for every child to have fun while parents can watch them on the sofa provided in every corner. It appears as if the room was a banquet room previously converted to a large kids' playground. You need to be there to see and believe how nice it is. Nice choice of food at the buffet restaurant Great location in the middle of Hokuto city in Yamanashi with many cozy shops and restaurants in the area Ease of access Mercure brand - standardized service Rooms on renovated floors are awesome! Great hot sprints Good to have washers and dryers on the premises for large families Lounge snacks and drinks Roof facility to view twinkling starts at night!

Cons: We went for all-inclusive plan. When all other families are given the same set of snacks and drinks, what is the privilege here? All-inclusive as in Breakfast and Dinner included, Lunch is NOT. A better definition of 'all-inclusive' is necessary here. Renovation is still in progress. Avoid Japanese tatami rooms as they are worn out and need renovation ASAP Some amenities missing such as shower cap Check-in process could take a long time. Buffet restaurant wait time could be more than an hour. You need to book in advance using a machine and set up an alert on your phone using Line. The buffet menu didn't change for two straight days. Some variety will be great. Flashlight missing in rooms - necessary for emergency cases.

Up to you to decide. Definitely great for large families with children. Your children will love this place just for the basement facility only. Some improvement is needed for future visits. Definitely worth a visit once or twice. For more visits, not so sure unless they fully renovate the remaining floors to the...

I understand this is a new hotel but the service was unacceptably bad. It was like staying in a hotel that high school children put together. The level of their staff is not up to 2 star standard. The experience in a word was, awful and constantly worrying. It is the worst hotel stay I have ever experienced.

Three of the staff told us that they had just started their jobs, including one man in reception who opened up that he came from a different field, almost as an excuse cover up for his lack of abilities.

I have stayed in many hotels in the Kiyosato and Yatsugatake areas, but this is sadly the worst experience I have ever had. The only reason to go to this hotel is the children’s play area in the basement (a renovated ballroom) and the rooftop to see the night view and night sky. There is no staff in the play area.

The staff are extremely understaffed and not trained.

The cleaning staff were literally university or high school aged boys who were not even able to move out of the way as hotel stayers tried to make their way to their rooms. The giggling cleaning boys and took up lots of room in the hallways for all the nights we stayed.

Also there are no staff in the lobby or the entrance to assist or greet you.

If you call for help from your room (our ac was broken) you will be forwarded to the front desk. Since they are understaffed a front desk receptionist told us he would be up in “a minute” but only arrived after 30 minutes not knowing how to handle the situation or where the ac is located. There is no house staff you can call on.

If you are looking for a reliable comfortable stay I would definitely stay elsewhere. Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake is a much better option if you are with children and are looking for a true 4 star hotel experience.

This hotel is overpriced and overrated. It feels like a 2 star hotel in a 4 star renovated building. They are overbooked and understaffed without training. Would not...