Kaneyamaen Bessho yada (Bessho Sasa)

The private onsen in our room was the highlight. Looking straight at Mount Fuji from the bath, especially at sunset and early evening, was really special. Even in sub-zero temperatures, it felt comfortable and relaxing. Bessho Sasa was a memorable ryokan stay, with one of the best Mount Fuji views I've had. Service was warm, attentive, and thoughtful from the moment we arrived. The property was calm, elegant, beautifully designed, and well maintained, with Japanese aesthetics throughout. Common areas were spacious and peaceful, with a lovely lounge and refined facilities. Dinner was excellent, beautifully presented, well paced, and satisfying. Going back to the onsen after dinner was a perfect end to the day. Our room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable, and made it easy to rest after a long day of travel. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. If you're looking for a luxury ryokan near Mount Fuji with a private onsen, peaceful surroundings, and top-tier hospitality, Bessho Sasa is absolutely worth it. This stay made the Fuji area a highlight of our Japan trip. We'd 100% return.

The 10th-floor public bath is a must-visit, with a fantastic full view of Mt Fuji that made it memorable. Every night they had a drum show, a spectacular performance, followed by fun bingo with prizes like the hotel's original pillow. There was also a piano show, but I didn't go. Service was immaculate and attentive, with so many staff around that I could see 20+ greeting us as we entered the front entrance. Our suite looked directly at Mt Fuji and included lounge access with a spacious place to relax. Fruit drinks, nespresso capsule coffee, and alcohol were available there until 6pm. The breakfast buffet had a diverse selection, although the set meal breakfast was a bit disappointing. We had two dinners, the regular set meal and the king crab meal, and both were really nice. The amount of crab was overwhelming, nearly half a crab per person, so it's good for a large appetite. If you're hungry at night, there's a restaurant open until 12am serving ramen for ¥1000 and other snacks.

That garden terrace view of Mt Fuji was such a treat, with the mountain just beyond the garden. We loved ending our Japan trip here. After a day out, it was so relaxing to have a drink in the Wine Lounge, take a dip in our private onsen, then sit down to a lovely traditional Japanese dinner. They put on a drum show every night, too. Breakfast was mostly Japanese, which suited us, but there were some Western choices as well.

The hotel itself was acceptable, but the front desk service left me shocked. At check-in, a woman in a kimono handed back my passport by pinching its middle pages with one hand. I found that deeply disrespectful. I’ve been to Japan a hundred times and this was the first hot spring hotel where I’ve had service like this. The staff were openly unfriendly toward Chinese guests and extremely rude. I strongly advise Chinese travelers to avoid this place.