Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel Konansou

The room was very comfortable, and hot water was prepared in advance, which was just right for making tea. When the electric curtains opened, the stunning lake and mountain views were a absolute treat for the eyes! The foot-soaking hot spring on the rooftop is brilliantly designed, allowing you to relieve fatigue while taking in the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji—in one word: fantastic! A special shout-out to the breakfast; it was not only abundant, but also prepared with real care.

This hotel truly lives up to its reputation as one of the top 100 scenic hotels worldwide. The views are stunning, directly facing Lake Kawaguchiko, and there are so many hot spring baths, which the kids absolutely loved. Most importantly, the hotel's dinner was incredibly generous, almost like a kaiseki meal. The attentive staff even served it kneeling in our room, and there were so many lovely Japanese dishes and bowls! Breakfast was also super abundant. All in all, a huge thumbs-up, definitely worth the price!

Let's start with the positives: the service was adequate, and the Japanese hospitality was pretty good. Now for the negatives: the dinner was truly not worth it. While it looked nicely presented, it didn't taste good at all. Maybe it's a 'Chinese palate barrier' or perhaps Japanese cuisine just isn't very flavorful. The seafood was very fishy, and it certainly wasn't filling. We ended up going to the FamilyMart next door to buy instant noodles. The onsen doesn't provide towels or bath towels; you have to bring them from your room. Check-out is at 10 AM, and extending to 11 AM costs 2200 JPY per room. Considering the room rate, the value for money was incredibly low. This hotel was so much worse than other similarly priced hotels we've stayed at.

The room was spacious enough, and the hot spring bath was a unique feature. The service was also excellent. Additionally, the kaiseki dinner served in the room was of high quality, and the explanations were very thoughtful. The room facing the lake also offered a fantastic view.

The location is pretty convenient, about a 10-minute walk from the bus station. It's located on the south side of Lake Kawaguchiko, which I guess is why it's called 'Hotel on the South Side of the Lake'? They offer a shuttle service to the station, but I'm not sure if they have a pickup service as well. They have private open-air baths with constantly flowing water, which can be a bit noisy at night. There are also public baths. I'd recommend not specifically booking a private bath that claims to have Mt. Fuji views, as seeing the mountain is more about luck than location – you can still see it from the public baths. The dining is excellent and varied. Dinner included sushi, hot pot, and rice, offering plenty of choices. Breakfast was also good, with a wide selection. As for local specialties, that really depends on your personal taste. Service was very friendly. I didn't encounter any staff who spoke Chinese, but they made every effort to communicate effectively and provide excellent service.

The hotel is right by the lake, with a ferry terminal, Lawson convenience store, and bus stop right outside. They also offer a shuttle service to the station. Definitely book the half-board option; the food and service are both excellent.

This hotel at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan is beautiful, and the food is quite good too. Overall, I think this hotel is great for a trip to Japan. I'll definitely book it again next time. It feels very Japanese!