Yamagishi Ryokan

The layout was a little weird, so I got confused trying to find my room 😂. Still, the service was so good, and this felt like a traditional Japan Hotel where you wear yukata to breakfast or dinner. The food was excellent for me. I loved the fresh sashimi, especially the squid, which just melted in my mouth. The hot sake was the best I’ve tried so far 🥹🥹. There were lots of halal food options, so no worries. I loved the view, and there’s a Market beside it, with lots of shopping markets within walking distance. The toilet is cute, meaning small, but good enough for a shower. There’s also a sauna. If you’re lucky, you can see the Fuji Mountain from your room.

Mount Fuji is nearby, and from our hotel we looked out over a beautiful lake. There’s a boat that takes you out on the water, though I was disappointed that the information was only in Japanese. Kids can use the paddle boats, and the area seemed like a lovely holiday spot for all ages. I haven’t been, but there also seem to be museums to visit. Our room was spacious, with traditional Japanese sleeping mats on the floor. I believe they have traditional beds too. There are two spas (onson), and they alternate daily for men and women. We paid for dinner and breakfast, both traditional Japanese meals with lots of good food and beautiful presentation.

The location was good, with a lake view and a Lawson shop right nearby, though there was no view of Mount Fuji. Our room was large and quiet, and the two futons were comfortable. It was unfortunately unclean, with hairs scattered here and there. The staff were welcoming and friendly, though they didn’t speak English. We especially appreciated the senior staff member who handled our very early morning checkout. Be aware that this hotel charges a JPY 150 bath tax per person even if you don’t use the facilities, which felt ridiculous.

The rooms were really nice, and since we speak Japanese, communicating with the staff was no problem. Dinner was the letdown. We chose half board, but at 7 pm the food seemed like it had been sitting out for hours and was very dry. Breakfast was okay. If you're driving, I'd probably eat at a nearby cafe instead.