What kind of luxury onsen hotel is Bessho SASA Hotel near Mt. Fuji?
In early November, we wanted to see the Japanese garden with beautiful autumn leaves and Mt. Fuji, so we took an express bus from Shinjuku bus terminal, got off at Mt. Fuji station, and took a free shuttle bus to the onsen hotel. A few days ago, the staff called me and told me to arrive around 2:00PM because there were a lot of activities on the grounds, but we arrived around 2:30PM because of traffic on the way.
Bessho SASA is located on the 4th and 5th floors, the special floors of Hotel Kanezanen. The exterior of the hotel is old, but the Japanese garden on the grounds is well maintained, and once inside, we were greeted by elegant staff dressed in kimono and overwhelmed by the luxurious and magnificent interior and ornaments. The lobby was very spacious, with a large traditional stone wash basin decorated with lilies, a stage with several Japanese drums, a chandelier with a motif of weeping cherry blossoms from the ceiling, and a waterfall-like object made of stones that played the elegant sound of water.
First, we left our luggage with the staff and were shown to a spacious, high-ceilinged lounge on the first floor. The view of the Japanese garden from there is quite spectacular and well worth a visit. We relaxed here for a while with a glass of local wine.
We had some time before check-in time, so we decided to have matcha tea in a tea ceremony room in the garden. It was more like a small Japanese restaurant than a tea ceremoney room. At the entrance, there are little sundries such as incense and accessories for sale. Upon entering the tearoom, a female staff member dressed in kimono guided us around. The matcha green tea and yuzu (Japanese citron) sweets we enjoyed while looking at the beautifully colored leaves in the Japanese garden were calming and relaxing. The contrast between the green moss growing on the ground and the red and yellow autumn leaves was magnificent. Next to the tea house was a river, and the sound of running water could be heard constantly.
Then, back in the lobby, the staff showed me to my room. This time, I reserved a room on the 4th floor with a private hot spring. Once inside, the dining area is on the window side, and next to it is a Japanese-style room and a bed room. The terrace with private hot spring was accessible from the dining room. There is no indoor bath, but there is a shower room. This time we stayed with a family of four. The room was neither large nor small. The view from the terrace was a wonderful harmony of the prairie-like landscape and the dynamic Mt. Fuji. This room is on the fourth floor of a building, but you don’t feel it, and it is nothing short of stunning.
Then we immediately changed into my yukata and went to communal outdoor hot spring baths on the 10th floor. It was so wonderful that even I, who go to see Mt. Fuji several times a year, couldn’t help but say, “Oh, I’m so glad I came. It was truly breathtaking. I thought it was fortunate to be able to see Mt. Fuji in its elegant appearance while soaking in the hot spring bath on a clear autumn day without clouds.
It was just dusk when we returned from the communal outdoor hot spring, so we sat in the lounge on the fourth floor sipping local wine and watching Mt. Fuji, which had turned pink all over at sunset, turned from light purple to dark purple every moment, and eventually a thin, flowing streak of cloud appeared and unfortunately disappeared behind the cloud.
When we returned to our room at the end of wine, it was time for dinner, and the staff was preparing dinner in the dining room. We thought we would be able to enjoy dinner with a view of Mt. Fuji from the dining room, but it was still hidden behind the clouds.
After dinner, we went to see a Japanese drum show in the lobby on the first floor; the show lasted about 20 minutes, but we were impressed by the brave rhythm of the taiko drums. Afterwards, there was a live piano performance in the ground floor lounge, where we sipped cocktails and gazed at the stunning, illuminated Japanese garden.
The next day I planned to view Mt. Fuji at sunrise, but when I woke up it was 7:00 a.m., so I decided to enjoy the private hot spring bath on the terrace. The day was blessed with clear skies from the morning, and I was able to view the majestic Mt. Fuji while listening to the chirping of birds. Looking up at the autumn sky, which seemed higher than usual, I felt as if I were being sucked in.
Breakfast was served in the dining room of our room, as was dinner. We had it in our room, but you can also choose to have breakfast at the restaurant, which offers a buffet of Japanese and Western dishes. After breakfast, we decided to take a walk in the Japanese garden with a view of Mt. Fuji.
Since this is a famous local wedding hall, there was a small church in the corner of the Japanese garden. It may seem strange to have a church in a Japanese garden, but it is not an uncommon sight in Japan. This is because many modern hotels also serve as wedding halls, and not a few of them have churches in traditional Japanese gardens.
Walking through the Japanese garden, we saw ginkgo and maple leaves turning red and yellow against the crisp blue sky, looking even more vivid in the sunlight. Looking up a little, we could see the towering Mt. Fuji. The sight of the bright red maple leaves falling on the green moss was a Japanese scene. This place looks like a garden in Kyoto. In the Japanese garden, there is a river with clear water, and fireflies are said to dance in June. As I listened to the murmur of the river and watched the red leaves floating down like boats on the surface of the river, I felt that winter was almost here. There was also a footbath in the garden. We decided to take a break here during our walk.
This place may not be suitable for solo travelers, but it is a great place for families, groups, and couples. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this luxury onsen hotel is truly a concentration of Japanese tradition and culture.
If I were to dare to raise a fault, I would say that the breakfast and dinner we had in our room were delicious, and although I could tell that they used high quality ingredients, I felt that the food was not top-notch. Beautifully presented food, though. I felt that considering the price range, it was a step too far. However, the Japanese garden, facilities, hospitality, and service are top notch.
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Is the location easy to access?
Take an express bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal or JR Bus Tokyo Station Expressway Bus Terminal, then get off at Mt. Fuji Station. It takes about 2 hours. *Tokyo Station is so huge that even as a Japanese I often get lost. Make sure you have plenty of time to get around.
Alternativily, from Haneda Airport, there is also a Fuji Kyuko Bus service to Mt. Fuji Station. The journey time is approximately 180 minutes. *As of July 2022, this route is out of service due to the cronavirus pandemic.
Then free shuttle serivice is available from Mt. Fuji Station to Bessho SASA Hotel. It takes 10min by car. Once at the station, call 0555-22-3168.
Alternatively, take a shuttle service departing from Mishima Station at 12:45 p.m. or Gotemba Station at 1:45 p.m. The fare is JPY2,750 round trip from Mishima Station and JPY1,650 round trip from Gotemba Station. Reservations must be made in advance by e-mail sasa@kaneyamaen.co.jp
FYI, Mishima Station is 50 minutes from Tokyo Station and 100 minutes from Nagoya Station by JR Tokaido Shinkansen.
Where is the best accommodation for anniversaries near Mt.Fuji?
If you are looking for a good place for a special occasion near Mt.Fuji, the property is one of the best. The staff arranges flowers and cakes to celebrate an anniversary at additional charges if you request in advance.
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Rooms I would recommend?
There are three types of rooms at Bessho SASA, “Mizuho”, “Fukuchi”, and “Asumi”.
The types of rooms called Fukuchi and Asumi have private outdoor hot spring baths and deck terraces. The type of rooms called Mizuho have private outdoor hot spring baths but no deck terrace. If the weather is fine, you can enjoy the private outdoor hot spring baths while viewing the dynamic Mt. Fuji. If you are planning to stay here, it would be better to choose a room with a deck terrace.
In addition, there is a small lounge on the 4th floor that is exclusively for guests of Bessho SASA, making the rooms on the 4th floor more accessible. Since Bessho SASA has only 17 rooms in total, we did not see any other guests in the exclusive lounge.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, yukatas, pajamas, samue outfits, bathrobes, a coffee machine with capsules, a green tea set, tea bags, and bottled water, etc. You can travel light. Complimentary fresh white grape, apple and grapefruit juices, sparkling wine, homemade cookies, and fruits, etc., were available at the lounge on 4F. Complimentary alcoholic beverages were served until 18:00. The cozy lounge on 4F is open from 7:00-24:00. Also, there was a PC available for anyone to use. Free Wifi reception was good in our room. Then there is no convenience store nearby. You may want to buy your necessities before coming here.
How about In-house Facilities?
There are large communal outdoor hot spring baths with superb views of Mt.Fuji on the rooftop. They are open from 5:10-9:30, 15:00-18:30. Also, there are wonderful communal indoor and outdoor hot spring baths with saunas on 1F. They are open from 5:00-9:30, 11:00-24:00. Then there is a private family hot spring bath. It costs JPY3,300 for 60min. You need to book it in advance. Also, there is a foot hot spring bath in the Japanese garden.
*Please note that if you have tattoos, you may not be permitted to use the communal bathing area.
Then Bessho SASA Hotel is a universal design. Wheelchairs are available for borrowing. If you bring people with weak legs, you might want to inform the staff in advance as they can arrange a room near the lift. The onsen hotel has ramps attached to every stairway, and although there were some slightly steep down ramps and steep up ramps, wheelchairs are not a problem when moving around.
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Then there is an outdoor swimming pool in the garden. It’s available from 9:30-17:00 between mid-July and late Aug. The swimming pool is available for ages 6 and up. Those who plan to use the swimming pool may want to bring their own swimsuits, goggles, and hats, etc.
There is a nice spa treatment shop on the grounds. You need to make an appointment in advance if you want to have a treatment service. The spa treatment shop is open between 15:00 and 24:00.
How about meals?
All meals are served in-room. The portion tends to be big. Please note that inform the staff when you book a room with meals if you have any food allergies. They probably wouldn’t be able to prepare alternative food if you request on that day. Then, as far as I know, there is no nice restaurant near the property. You may want to book a room including meals.
My impressions
Next time, we would like to stay during the cherry blossom season and take a walk in the Japanese garden with the cherry blossoms in full bloom while enjoying the view of Mt. Fuji.
Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about Bessho SASA Hotel from the below space. Check Availability and Pricing for the onsen hotel on agoda
Info about Bessho SASA Hotel
| Style | Luxury Onsen Hotel |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
14:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 90,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact E-mail |
sasa@kaneyamaen.co.jp |
| Internet Connection | Free wifi in the hotel |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available |
| Location | Bessho Sasa Hotel’s MAP |
| Access | Free shuttle service from Mt.Fuji Station |
| Address and TEL | 6283 Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi 403-0005 Tel +81 555-22-3168 Open Time 8:00-20:00 *JST |
| Official Homepage | Bessho Sasa Hotel’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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