Wakakusa no Yado Maruei Ryokan

Coffee at breakfast would be a welcome addition. Tea was the only option offered, unless you left the table, went downstairs to order and pay for coffee, then came back. That didn’t feel very hospitable, especially when so many people prefer coffee to tea. The rest of the service was excellent. Fuka Tsistui looked after us so well as our dinner hostess throughout our four-day stay and even checked on us at breakfast. The dinners were delicious and very thoughtfully prepared and presented. The hotel was well appointed, and our room had a lovely lake view.

The main drawback was getting around. The ryokan is on the south side of the lake, while places like maple corridor, oishi park, cheurito pagoda and most bus routes are on the north side. I think the complimentary shuttle to kawaguchiko station runs every 30 minutes in the morning, but I hadn’t realized the walk was 30-40 minutes if I missed it. It was still manageable, though a car or bike would make things easier, and it’s something to account for when planning to explore the lake kawaguchiko area. The rooftop was the only place with Fuji views. Inside, the traditional rooms and delicious kaiseiki meals were lovely. The staff were welcoming and provided excellent service throughout. The futons were comfortable, and although my room had a private bath, I also found the public open-air onsen incredibly relaxing. This ryokan was much better than the other places I stayed during my two weeks in Japan. I’m grateful to the staff for a great stay.

Our room was clean and well stocked, and the private onsen came with a great view. The service was amazing from check-in, when the staff welcomed us with matcha and a Japanese sweet dessert and carried our bags inside. We also had kaiseki for dinner, which was amazing. We had no dietary restrictions.

The quiet, relaxed atmosphere around the hotel suited us well. There are very few restaurants or shops nearby, but we weren’t planning to go out during our stay. It’s also not within walking distance of the bus terminal or train station. The hotel’s email instructions helped us find the shuttle, which is on the other side of the historic train car on display. We had a great time at Maruei and were glad to choose it for our first Mt. Fuji and ryokan experience. We went to the roof observation deck for sunrise, and the open-air baths had lovely views of either Mt. Fuji or Lake Kawaguchi. The baths were very clean, with well-equipped changing areas. We took turns using them and also booked a private bath session so our toddler son could try the hot bath. The traditional Japanese-style room was clean and comfortable, with tatami and a great lake view. After dinner, a gentleman came in to set up the bed. The facilities were very well maintained. Staff were friendly and welcoming, and took care to make our stay pleasant. Dinner and breakfast were each an experience, both meticulously served and delicious. Special thanks to Aki for serving us such a wonderful dinner.