Seminar Plaza Royal Fuji

Customer service was top notch. The staff member walked me through all the information and was great all round. I also liked the welcome bar and the eating area. Just note there’s only one microwave on site and it’s a bit hard to spot. Lots of people were picking up sake and other drinks. We had a great one-night stay. The hotel was cheap, and surprisingly had room for two large suitcases, which isn’t always the case in Japan. It took a few weeks of waiting after booking before we got a room. There’s a mall and supermarket just behind the hotel. The free breakfast was average at best. The spa is small but did the job; I’d have appreciated a water fountain there, like I’ve seen in most hotels with a spa. At least the shower worked well. Highly recommend.

Getting there is the main thing to plan for. The bus from Kawaguchiko station to the shopping mall has four departures, at 9.20am, 11.30am, 13.40pm, and 15.50pm. Wait at platform number 2. If you miss the last bus or don’t want to wait, a taxi is the only other option, usually around 1.000¥, or 1.200¥ in traffic. Bikes can be parked beside the hotel. For two people, the hotel is nice and comfortable. The public bath is open from 3PM-9AM and isn’t very big, so I’d go in the morning when it’s less crowded. Coin laundry is cheap at 300¥, with detergent and dryer included. There’s a shopping mall and thrift shop just outside, plus a supermarket called "sewa". Near the mall are "sushiro" for conveyor belt sushi and "sukiya" for Japanese beef bowls. You can also take lots of photos of mount fuji along the street from the red light district, lawson, and family mart.

The room was small for three of us, about standard Japanese room size, but still felt cozy. Our room had a Mt Fuji view, spectacular early in the morning around 5-6am. We slept perfectly, and having different pillow types available was another plus. They’re first come, first served, but we managed to get pillows for all three of us. Breakfast was a wide spread and really tasty for us, and there was a welcome drink in the evening. The shower room and toilet are separate. I’d definitely come back if I visit Fuji again.

The hotel is smart and modern, with up-to-date decor and facilities. We picked a smaller room when booking to save money, but it was still fine for a couple staying three nights. The breakfast buffet had enough choice and food. The on-site "Onsen" was clean and quiet, and the two hours of free drinks in the lounge and dining area were a lovely extra. A free drink after soaking in the Onsen was wonderful.