Lakeland Hotel Mizunosato

The food was delicious and carefully prepared, and the front desk staff were warm, polite, and genuinely kind. Their hospitality made us feel truly welcome and looked after, and this stay became one of the highlights of our trip. We'd wholeheartedly recommend this ryokan near Mount Fuji and hope to return. We found the place by chance while looking for somewhere to watch the fireworks near Mount Fuji. The price was so reasonable that we didn't expect much, but the experience far exceeded our expectations. The room was spotless, comfortable, and beautifully maintained. There are two large, relaxing public baths, and waking up to Mount Fuji from this location was unforgettable.

We couldn't get a room with a view of Mt. Fuji, but the terrace above had a great one. The public onsen was great too, and sleeping on tatami mats was a unique experience. We loved the breakfast spread, and the staff were warm and caring. Thank you.

The location is good, and I liked getting different little snacks each day. We also booked the private onsen for 40 minutes one evening for 2,750 yen, and that was nice. Even so, I wouldn't stay here again. I felt unwelcome because the staff made me uncomfortable. There always seemed to be so many people at the front counter staring at me, maybe because they weren't smiling. At check-in nobody mentioned keeping the room key, but later, when we tried to book dinner, they said they wanted to hold it because other guests had lost theirs. They didn't ask for it on other days, and it wasn't clearly stated anywhere, so it felt like the rule didn't apply to everyone. They also quoted double the dinner price for booking at the last minute, which I guess meant the day before. Double seemed excessive. From the photos online I couldn't see why it would cost about 5,000 yen per person. It felt like an inflated price because they didn't want to serve us dinner. I'd rather they had simply said there was no availability. The mixed information I saw in other reviews made me wonder if the staff spoke enough English to be understood, but not enough to express what they meant. The futon gave me back pain, even though I've never found one uncomfortable before, and I'm under 30. There were lots of spiders around the onsen at night.

The hotel is dated, but clean and functional, with a huge onsen and a deck where you can enjoy the view of Mount Fuji if the weather lets you see it. There's a shuttle to and from the station, so check the website for details. The staff are nice and make an effort to speak English, though English isn't commonly spoken in Japan. This is a place for traditional Japanese hospitality, not a five-star resort, despite some comments I've read that seem really unjustified. You don't choose the dinner or breakfast menu, but the food is good. Breakfast changes daily between Japanese and Western, with no choice. You can book a private onsen for 40 minutes for an extra fee. Book breakfast and dinner with your room if you want to eat there, since there isn't much within walking distance.