Fuji Onsenji Yumedono Ryokan

What kind of luxury onsen ryokan is Fuji Onsenji Yumedono Ryokan near Mt.Fuji?

In early July, during the hot and humid rainy season, We decided to stay at this luxury onsen ryokan in order to enjoy the lavender fields of Oishi Park, and hot springs. Unfortunately, it was also raining lightly, but we took an express bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal in the morning and arrived at Kawaguchiko Station in the early afternoon. As expected, we should be able to see the wonderful Mt. Fuji from here, but unfortunately it was covered by thick clouds. Since it is the rainy season, there are many bad weather days and the probability of seeing beautiful Mt. Fuji.

We took a free shuttle bus from Kawaguchiko Station and arrived at the inn in about 5 minutes. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a stately, tasteful building that was modeled after Nijo Castle in Kyoto. The dignified gate, like a samurai residence, was impressive. The main building is made entirely of cypress, and it took about 10 years to collect the famous trees and about 12 years to build. It had the serenity like a temple in Kyoto.

After getting off the bus and entering the grounds, We walked a short distance and found a well-kept Japanese garden, a traditional stone garden, a fine Japanese cypress lattice door, and, looking up a little, a fine wood carving of a pine tree and a bird embedded in it. It was a hot and humid day, torches were erected on both sides of the entrance, but they were not lit on this day.

Inside the building, the lobby was small, but the ceiling had magnificent beams, and there were authentic cypress pillars, a Shinto altar, and sliding lattice doors. We were immediately shown to our room by the staff. Check-in and check-out were done in the room. Although this luxury onsen ryokan is located near Mt. Fuji, but basically most of the rooms do not have a view of Mt. Fuji.

This time, we booked a room called Hikari no Ma. When we entered the room, we could smell the scent of hinoki cypress. Then as we walked down the hallway made of magnificent cypress, we saw a large terrace, traditinal gravel garden and a private outdoor hot spring bath on the left. To the right was a living room with modern black sofas and a spiral staircase, and up these stairs was a small room for relaxation. Next to the living room was a bed room, two toilets, two indoor baths. The room was just huge. It is 200 square meters in size. This room can accommodate up to 6 people. You don’t have a view of the outside, but it is hard to find a place where you can stay while admiring the wonderful traditional architecture and interior design.

During my stay, I went back and forth in the hallway without meaning to, observing the ceiling and the lattice door from various angles. Occasionally, when the sun shone, the shadows of traditional Japanese marquetry pattern latticework were reflected in the corridor, creating a magnificent pattern of shadows. It was exciting to watch the shadows on the corridor change depending on the direction of the sunlight from the windows. This is the very essence of the Wabi-Sabi world. Wabi-sabi are Japanese senses of beauty, which mean “Beauty within simplicity.”

It was also a luxurious experience to soak in the private outdoor hot spring bath while gazing at the magnificent architecture. At night, the grounds were lit up, creating a world of mystical and majesty that was completely different from that of the daytime. The use of lighting was elegant, and the soft warm colors of the lights created a relaxing setting. Before dinner, we enjoyed yamanashi wine from the mini-bar on the large terrace.

Then dinner and breakfast were served in a private room in the dining area, which was converted from communal baths. The interior was modern, with black and white tones and the use of traditional stone box gardens and pine bonsai trees. Many kaiseki dishes were prepared with premium ingredients, especially the Yamanashi beef steak. Overall, the food was generous in volume.

The next morning, we were lucky enough to have a sunny day during the rainy season. We enjoyed another outdoor bath before breakfast, checked out before 10:00, and headed to the lavender fields of Oishi Park, which was the purpose of our trip. It is a 10-minute cab ride from the ryokan. Oishi Park has a 350-meter-long flower highway, and on a clear day, visitors can enjoy the seasonal flower fields of lavender and kochia against the backdrop of Mt. Fuji.

If I were to raise a fault, it is a pity that most of the rooms do not have a view of Mt. Fuji. Kawaguchi Lake is only a few minutes’ walk away, so if you go outside for a while, you can see Mt. Fuji. Also, the grounds are not suitable for wheelchair users as there are steps. Since the building is a relocated traditional structure, steps are present in some places. This onsen ryokan is ideal for families with children, groups, and couples, but is not currently accepting solo travelers.

This luxury onsen ryokan places great emphasis on privacy, so we did not see any other guests during our stay. All meals are served in private rooms, and check-in and check-out procedures are done in your room.

Check Availability and Pricing for Fuji Onsenji Yumedono on agoda

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Is the location easy to access?

You can take an express bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, JR Bus Tokyo Station Expressway Bus Terminal, or Shibuya Mark City, then get off at Kawaguchiko 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 Keihin Kyuko Bus service to Kawaguchiko Station. The journey time is approximately 150 minutes. *As of July 2022, this route is out of service due to the cronavirus pandemic.

There is a way to get there by train, but since there are transfers, express buses are easier to travel by. 

The location is near Kawaguchiko Station. A free shuttle service is available from the station. It takes 5min by car. You need to book it in advance.

Rooms I would recommend?

If you stay here, I would recommend the Executive Japanese Suite. The interior, furnishings, and architecture are all truly incomparable. If you like traditional Japanese architecture as much as I do, it is well worth the stay. There are a total of nine guest rooms. All are luxurious with private outdoor hot spring baths. There are standard Western-style rooms, Japanese-style rooms, and four types of unique suites.

How about toiletries & in-room amenities?

All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, pajamas, yukatas, samue outfits, a portable audio speaker and a green tea set, etc. Room service is not available. There is a vending machine for soft drinks. DVD players, humidifiers, and bicycles are available for borrowing if you request. Free Wifi reception was sometimes slow in our room.

How about In-house Facilities?

There is no communal hot spring bath on the grounds. Then there is no convenience store nearby. You might want to buy your daily necessities before coming here. There was a lounge near the reception where you can drink coffee and tea for free.

Then the property is not a universal design, but there are few steps on the grounds. If you bring people with weak legs, you may want to inform the staff in advance, as they can arrange a room near the entrance.
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How about meals?

Breakfast starts between 8:00 and 8:30. Dinner starts between 18:00 and 19:00. If you have dinner on the property you need to check in by 17:00. Then please 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 around the property. Local papa-mama shops are closing early.  You may want to book a room including meals unless you have a car.

My impressions

The staff was uneven, and I had the impression that if you expect the kind of service you would get at a 5-star hotel, this is not the place for you. Overall, I had the impression that although the hardware was well developed, the service was not in that class and was still in its infancy. However, it is a great place for those who want to relax in a private onsen while admiring the stunning Japanese architecture and interior design. It is truly a traditional building with delicate craftsmanship.

Have a nice trip. You need to inform the staff of your expected arrival time in advance. Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Check Availability and Pricing for Fuji Onsenji Yumedono on agoda

Info about Fuji Onsenji Yumedono Ryokan

Style	Luxury Onsen Ryokan
Check-in and out times	15:00/11:00
Estimated Price	80,000 JPY for 2 adults per room
Contact E-mail	Fill in the form
Internet Connection	Free WiFi in some rooms
Facility Information	Wheelchairs are not available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available
Location	Fuji Onsenji Yumedono’s MAP
Access	Free shuttle service from Kawaguchiko station Need to book it in advance
Address and TEL	Funatsu 6677Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi 401-0301 Japan Tel +81 555 726111
Official Homepage	Fuji Onsenji Yumedono’s HP

*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.

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