Plaza Inn Kawaguchiko

It's an old hotel, and that's part of its charm. The two owners are kind older men, punctual, polite, and hardworking. Since there are only two of them, the hotel closes at 11pm, so be back before then. One speaks English, which is a big help. The elevator is old and small. The rooms are spacious compared with other Japanese hotels in the same range. They have what you need, including towels, toothbrushes, a TV, and a small fridge. My favorite was the brown slippers for use in the room, though I was sad I couldn't take them home. The hotel is good value. It's older, but clean, and some of the electronics seem fairly new. The bed should suit an average-sized Asian person, but taller people may find it small.

It's so convenient, just cross the main road and you're at the inn, close to Kawaguchiko Station. The receptionists were really friendly and explained the rules one by one. They let us drop off our luggage early on check-in day, and even gave us free postcards when we checked out. There's an elevator, the view is ✨, and free parking for our rental car.

I had a really disappointing stay at Plaza Inn Kawaguchiko. The main door shuts at 11:30 PM, and if you get back later, you're locked out with nowhere to go. That's very inconvenient and feels unsafe. After checkout they wouldn't keep our luggage at reception, which is shocking for a hotel in a tourist area. We also weren't allowed to sit or wait in the lobby if we arrived before check-in. It didn't feel welcoming, more like they wanted guests out of the way. The hospitality was poor, and it wasn't worth the hassle. Avoid it if you expect even basic service.

The staff were kind, and the location is super convenient, just a few minutes from the station. It's really good value, too, with a great Fuji view. I booked late, so all the Fuji-view rooms were sold out, but my room looked toward mountains covered in pretty autumn leaves. I'd definitely come back if I visit Kawaguchiko again.