Fujinomiya Fujikyu Hotel

There’s a bus stop almost right outside the hotel for the Fuji climbing route, and the hotel is in a good spot. I was lucky to get a room facing Mt Fuji directly, though the weather didn’t always cooperate. The clearest view came on the morning I was leaving, but I was still happy with my stay.

Parking cost extra, even though it was inside the hotel building. Of all the hotels we stayed at on this trip, this was the only one that charged for parking. The location was great, and the room size was fine for us, about what you'd expect at a standard Japanese city hotel. The bed was comfortable and the room itself was okay, but the toilet felt cramped and the carpet seemed a little dirty. It was an acceptable stay.

For what we paid, the stay and service were not worth it. This was the worst of the seven hotels we stayed at on the trip, and I can see why others have left bad reviews. It felt more like a hostel, somewhere to sleep and that's about it. The renovated room still smelled strongly of new materials or paint, and it was so narrow between the TV and bed that I had to twist to get past. The double bed was made by pushing two beds together, leaving a hard ridge in the middle, so we still couldn't sleep together comfortably. The staff weren't friendly and didn't seem willing to help when we had a problem. They just said “No” bluntly, so we had to solve it ourselves with Google Translate. I also found the key rule ridiculous: we had to return it to reception every time we left because, as staff said, “they are expensive.” They watched us leave and even called to ask for the key if we forgot. It made the whole stay uncomfortable and weird. We're guests, not prisoners!

The staff were really nice and friendly. Breakfast is free from 6.30-8.30am, and if you book a night after coming down from Fuji, they can keep your luggage for you. A great place to stay if you're planning to climb Fuji.