Fuji Marriott Hotel Lake Yamanaka

The staff were amazing, and the views and calm atmosphere made this a stay I loved. Rooms are very spacious by Japanese standards, with enough room for two double beds and a single bed. Breakfast comes in a large dining area with a good variety of food. They also provide a bird-watching guide, which made breakfast feel especially peaceful and unique. Lake Yamanaka is about a 10-minute drive away, with a stunning view of Mount Fuji and fewer crowds, so it’s relaxing there. You’ll want a car, since public transport is quite limited. The convenience store is another eight minutes by car. If you’re driving from Gotemba Outlet Mall, avoid the shortest GPS route over the mountain pass. We took it, and in winter it gets dark early; the road has lots of sharp turns. Definitely a thrilling drive, and not for the fainthearted.

We stopped for one night before heading to Mt. Fuji, then continuing on to Takayama over the following days. After a long, tiring day, we ordered room service. It arrived in just 20 minutes, tasted great, and helped us get a good night’s sleep. The next morning, there were nice hot showers and a well-stocked breakfast that gave us the energy we needed for the drive. The Marriott staff were kind and very accommodating to our group, as always. Highly recommended.

It’s a peaceful spot if you don’t mind driving for food and other conveniences. The hotel sits deep in the area, about 15-20 minutes by car from nearby restaurants, though two convenience stores are only a 3-5 minute drive away. Our room was spacious and very clean, with a bathtub and a separate shower area. Staff were polite, just not especially memorable. There’s a gym, but it isn’t very well equipped, and there’s also a tennis court.

This was the worst Marriott I’ve stayed at. The room itself was okay, but the bathroom was horrible, with mold everywhere and poor lighting. Daytime service was fine. I checked in at night, though, and it was very hard to communicate in English. I tried to book breakfast then, but when I went to the restaurant the next morning, there was no booking. It might be easier if you speak Japanese. The location was okay, with no real view, but that didn’t bother me. I wouldn’t recommend it. It wasn’t what I expected from a hotel in the Marriott group.