The Gran Resort Princess Fujikawaguchiko

There’s a 7-11 about a five-minute walk away, and the room and bathroom had enough space for three suitcases to be opened. The place felt clean, with clean sheets and a nice atmosphere. Check-in went smoothly, and extra amenities were set out in the hallway. I also liked the cute, informative tourist magazine on the ground floor. They have microwaves, an onsen, vending machines, and karaoke rooms too. I enjoyed staying here, especially after experiences at some European hotels that offered nothing but still had people complaining.

There’s an onsen, and while it may cost extra, I thought it was totally worth it. The view is mesmerizing, especially if you want to wake up at dawn at the foothills of Fujisan. They also provide free rides to the kawaguchiko station in selected early morning time slots.

The location is very close to Mt Fuji, with a direct view from the room. It’s somewhat accessible, though getting around is still manageable. Staff were friendly and explained how to use the onsen properly. The toilets were clean and had an air freshener, and the shower was clean and enjoyable. An amazing place to stay.

Seeing Mt. Fuji was beautiful, but the service and communication made for a stressful end to a long travel day. Our booking got mixed up, and I know we were partly responsible. Still, the front desk didn’t help much when we asked about other nearby hotels late at night. They first said nothing was available, then showed us two possibilities, one in poor condition and uncomfortable. Both turned out to be fully booked, even though the woman had said there was a room. Our bags were coming from Kyoto, and I’d left contact details so we could be told when they arrived. We got no updates. When we checked in the next morning, one suitcase was there without notice. A staff member said she’d contact us about the second but didn’t. She insisted she had, so I showed her the email; she suggested maybe I’d given the wrong address. The gentleman working that morning was more helpful.