Villa Fuji Irodori

We had a lovely family stay, and the place was clean. Cooking was easy because all the utensils, dishes, and household basics we needed were there. The message sent before arrival explains everything in detail, so reading it answered all our questions. We enjoyed having a BBQ outside, and I especially liked unwinding in the Japanese-style room in front of its big screen. You can see Mt. Fuji from the property too. I'd happily come back.

The spot is convenient for Arakurayama Sengen Park, and the place looked as clean as the online photos. Beyond that, the details were frustrating. The walls let through even small sounds, including footsteps in the hall, and I couldn't sleep. The air conditioner and fridge/freezer were old and didn't cool well even at their highest settings. The listing said condiments were provided, but there weren't any. The under-futon was about as thin as a yoga mat, and the pillow flattened under my head. I couldn't figure out the TV screen at all. The vacuum had dead batteries, and a light bulb was burned out. The parking area is smaller than the photos suggest, probably only enough for two cars. The cancellation fee is 100 percent, and contacting staff by phone could mean a charge, so I felt I couldn't call unless it was a serious matter. The towels were the worst part. They smelled awful, perhaps because pets are allowed. For stays of several nights, guests are expected to wash the supplied towels and reuse them the next day. But the dryer seemed to have been used for pet supplies. After I put towels and clothes in it, everything smelled like dog and I couldn't wear the clothes. I couldn't reach anyone right away, so I reluctantly dried myself with the smelly towels. The dryer didn't really dry; it only got things very warm, then you were meant to hang them up so the moisture could evaporate. I kept wondering how long that would take. Mount Fuji is visible, but a train runs right in front of the property, with lots of power lines in the view, so I couldn't take photos. In short, I felt the manager wasn't paying attention to the details. At a minimum, I wish they'd address the cooling, the smelly towels, and the dead bulbs and batteries. I've stayed in guesthouses and similar places, so some shortcomings are understandable, but a first-time guest could come away with a bad impression and avoid other facilities too. Owner's reply: They said they'd checked the air conditioner, fridge/freezer, and dog smell and found no problems, adding that they didn't understand what I meant. In the last ten years, I've never had a freezer where ice cream started melting or a fridge that couldn't properly chill tea, though it did cool a little. Even allowing that people experience the air conditioner differently, saying there was no problem with the smell is hard to accept. How did they check when everyone who stayed said it was too smelly to use? Well, never mind.

Pets are allowed, which is a big plus. It's a roomy villa that works well for families or groups, with complete amenities and a good price. The atmosphere is great, and Mount Fuji is right in front of the house.

We stayed here on a family trip to Lake Kawaguchi and Fuji-Q Highland. It's peaceful, though the kids were delighted to watch the trains go by. We could see Mt. Fuji while relaxing out on the wooden deck.