Chateraise Hotel Isawa

We had a view of Mt Fuji from our room, and breakfast was included as a buffet. Parking was free and easy to use. Our room didn’t have a shower, so we had to wash at the public onsen on level 1. At check-in, you can redeem a cake, although there isn’t one if you arrive after 5pm. There’s free-flow ice cream at reception throughout the stay, and you can buy a 500yen wine and snack set there too.

The bath is big, clean, shiny, and well cared for. The water is piped in, which my spouse says means it isn’t a real hot spring, and it may not satisfy purists. I’m fine with that trade-off for the comfort and convenience. This is a modern, clean hot spring hotel, definitely not a French chateau. The facilities have been renovated, unlike the dated Showa look you still see in many Japanese hotels. There are also special facilities for people traveling with dogs. It’s amazingly close to the station, though the deteriorating suburbia around it is outside the hotel’s control. You can stay in the charming courtyard without going out. There’s a lot of food included, so don’t eat beforehand: free cake and ice cream, plus a massive buffet breakfast. They also make their own wine and dairy products. I’d definitely stay again.

I really liked the garden, with its beautiful koi fish, gazebo, swing chairs, and plenty of benches and seats. After a soak, you can dry your hair with the provided blow dryers, and there’s face wash, lotion, and essence ready to use. Ice cream is unlimited in the lobby after check-in, a welcome treat in blistering summer heat or after a hot bath. The hotel is old, but the facilities are great. My room was spacious, and the onsen was large, nice, and clean. It has shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, with indoor and outdoor baths as well as a jacuzzi-style one. The teppanyaki was awesome, both the food and the service.

There’s enough here for a nice stay, with comfortable, clean rooms, an onsen, ping pong, and karaoke. It’s within walking distance of the station. The staff didn’t seem well informed about activities around the area, though, and the dinner course might not be enough for an average person. The shops inside the facility close at 8pm. Most guests are elderly, so it seems like the hotel mainly caters to them.