Hotel Koryu

The comic book library in the lobby is amazing, definitely check it out. We came as a group of five and liked having two single beds plus three Japanese-style beds that folded away. The room wasn’t upscale, and the facilities felt dated, down to the old metal keys you turn to lock and unlock the door, but the stay was still nice and had charm. Hotel Koryu is affordable, clean, and accessible. It’s the first hotel along Kawaguchi Lake closest to Kawaguchi station, within walking distance and one bus stop from the ropeway. I haven’t stayed at the other hotels along the lake. There are two onsen for each gender, and both have outdoor baths. At the lobby, we were told the large outdoor bath on the first floor was the only one without chemicals, though I still smelled chlorine and wasn’t sure how much got lost in the language barrier. The upstairs onsen is supposed to have a view, and technically it does, but the privacy fence blocks it when you’re sitting in the tub, so it’s kind of moot. Downstairs there’s no view, but the rocks and greenery make it feel nice. You can even talk with the guys on the other side of the tall wall separating the women’s and men’s sides. They lend you free robes to wear around the hotel, which were comfortable after the onsen and at dinner. Breakfast and dinner at the buffet were fresh and good, though not five-star. Alcohol was unlimited and served, but only okay quality. The dining hall is huge with plenty of space, but the decor is dated and it feels like a big room full of tables, not cozy, posh, or charming. It is efficient, though, and the food is nice. The staff were very friendly when we needed help. Their English wasn’t great, but we managed to communicate, and I was grateful since I don’t speak Japanese at all. One thing left a bad taste at checkout. The stay was prepaid, but they asked for a resort tax in cash and wouldn’t take a credit card. I didn’t have cash, so they said they’d waive it. Then I found some cash while they were saying that and paid. It was charged per person per day. If I hadn’t found cash, I wouldn’t have paid. Afterward I kept wondering if I’d been scammed. Why cash only, and why could they waive it? Still, I have good memories of the stay overall.

There’s a lakeside path right in front of the hotel that you can walk or run along. The lake views are beautiful, and the hotel has its own onsen that you can use almost all day. It was usually quiet. They also provide lots of little extras, including snacks, tea, coffee, and traditional robes. The manga area is a great place to rest and read, and we used it as a space for our one-year-old to crawl and play. The staff were all amazing, extremely kind and helpful. Special thanks to Suman, who personally drove to the station to help us catch our bus.

Hotel Koryu ended up being the highlight of my Japan trip. I only found it because I heard about the Osomatsu San collaboration, then saw on their social media while I was in Tokyo that they had last-minute availability. The collaboration with my favorite anime was part of the appeal, but the stay itself was wonderful too. Every room has a breathtaking lake view, and both breakfast and dinner were delicious. Everyone working there was kind and helpful, and I really appreciated their patience with me since I don’t understand Japanese. The manga reading area felt so cozy and welcoming. I especially loved the drawing desk, and there was a good selection of manga in English. Thank you to everyone at Hotel Koryu for such a great experience. I hope I can visit again someday!

We also rented e-bikes to explore, which we loved. The manga cafe was such a cool touch, and I read my first manga there, Your Name 1-3. Wonderful stay, with a great room, relaxing atmosphere, delicious food, and amazing service. Thank you!