Guest House en

The owners were so welcoming. They picked us up from the nearest station, took us to where our Fuji hike was starting, and looked after our luggage while we were away. There are great convenience stores and restaurants close by, including yakiniku and sushi. From this lovely, cozy guest house, we had a fantastic view of Mount Fuji and could watch the climbers slowly making their way up at night. The spacious rooms had air conditioning, and the bath and toilet were spotlessly clean and well equipped. Definitely a great choice in the area.

(PSA!) My room was lovely and had a wonderful balcony view, but I want to describe something very suspicious from my stay. I can't say for sure whether the guest house or host was involved, and I'm not accusing the host. It could have been someone else. Either way, be careful and don't leave large bills behind. We checked in by phone because the host wasn't there, put our things away, double-checked them before leaving, and locked the door. We went out to enjoy Mt. Fuji and returned about five hours later. I immediately saw that a zipper on my backpack was open, even though I had made sure it was closed. It was the pocket with my money, and every one of my $100 US bills was gone. That was nearly $1000 USD, or around 140000 yen when exchanged. Strangely, the smaller bills were untouched. I asked the host whether she had cameras or if anyone else could unlock the doors. She said there was one camera at the front and nobody else had access. Things got more suspicious after that. She said nobody else had been there when we checked in, but we had clearly heard someone walking around earlier that day. We asked the guests from that room, and they confirmed they hadn't been there then, so I don't know who was inside. They checked their things and everything was fine, though they didn't have large bills or much money with them. The host kept asking if I was sure I had locked the door. Later, when the police came, she said she'd knocked on our door for payment while we were out and found it locked. She hadn't mentioned that to us earlier. It also seemed odd that she would try the handle if we hadn't answered her knocks. She said her camera wasn't recording that day because she was out all day, though normally it was always recording. My laptop and camera were untouched, but those might be easier to track. The host also said the area was so safe she didn't even lock her own doors, but that didn't match what we saw. Earlier, while looking for her, we tried the office door and it was locked. The whole thing felt strange because she appeared to be the only one with access after we locked our door, which she confirmed to the police. Whatever happened, please be cautious and stay safe. Aside from that experience, it was a beautiful place for a night's stay.

The owner was cheerful and so kind, and we even took a photo together. The place was clean, had all the basic amenities, and was inexpensive, which worked well for travelers. We rode there from Tokyo by road bike on March 30 to see Mt. Fuji, but sadly snow blocked the view. If we visit the area again, we’ll book this place another time. 🫡🫡

Waking up to Mount Fuji outside the window was one of the most memorable parts of staying at Guest House en. The view is striking, and you can also enjoy it from the moment you arrive. The guest house feels warm and welcoming, with comfortable rooms and friendly staff, so it’s easy to settle in and relax. Its location also makes it convenient to explore nearby lakes and hot springs. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a peaceful stay surrounded by Japan’s natural scenery.