Motosu View Hotel

The forest around the hotel was peaceful, and we came for the views of Mt. Fuji. I rated it five stars mainly for its location, though it wasn’t the kind of five-star hotel we’re used to in North America. The hot springs require bathing nude. I didn’t try them, but heard they were a great experience. Our one-night stay included breakfast and dinner. Dinner was excellent, while breakfast had limited choices for North American tourists. There were 40 of us.

The staff were nice, but I still left with a bad feeling about this hotel. I booked through Booking.com after seeing good Google comments. The listing indicated two single beds for two people, yet on arrival the staff said the reservation was for one person and that the extra guest would cost more. They charge per person, not per room, so check the booking details carefully. I felt cheated, though this was the first time I’d run into this kind of situation. The room smelled musty and the hotel is remote. The dinner and breakfast buffets were only fair, and breakfast food wasn’t replenished. If you only need somewhere to sleep and don’t care much about quality, it could work. The value for money was just fair.

The hot springs were a mess, with parents letting kids treat the baths like a swimming pool and someone even entering the water in regular street clothes. The restaurant was just as bad, people scrambling and fighting over food. Huge tour groups have taken over the place. I also doubt the 1,000+ Google Maps reviews are genuine. If you want a relaxing stay near Mt. Fuji, stay far away. A waste of money.

The room was clean and comfortable, with nothing to complain about, but the food and service pulled the stay down for me. It wasn’t very fresh or tasty, especially compared with the food at the hotel I stayed at before this one. The staff seemed less friendly and welcoming than I expected. The onsen was ordinary and not memorable. It was an acceptable stay, but I’d give it three stars for the food and service.