I am really struggling with this review but decided to give a 2 star review as I took Price into consideration for this. The ryokan is highly rated on here which might be down to different experiences or different expectations. So let me get into why I was not impressed: I know Japan very well, come here multiple times a year for work and some extra time and even lived here a few years ago. I have stayed in multiple Ryokans with lovely Onsens all over the country and usually prefer the more traditional buildings and atmospheres. In the mouth Fuji Region this seemed to be one of very few that meets that criteria. However during our stay, I found that none of the usual Japanese „omotenashi“ really apply here. This ryokan had zero Japanese guests and catered exclusively to foreign tourists. The rooms are nice but certainly not great- especially considering the price. No public onsen just a shallow marble tub outside each room which heavily lacks atmosphere or Beauty. The hotel misses elements of nature and relaxation throughout- which usually is staple of a nice traditional ryokan. Then the staff- the non-Japanese staff actually tries very hard but they are clearly not aware of some of the customs at traditional places. The Japanese stuff might have been the coldest staff I have ever experienced in Japan. As I speak Japanese, I usually manage to get into a nice conversation with staff at such ryokans - at this one, that was not at all possible. They wouldn’t even speak Japanese with me. The breakfast service was fine but felt really rushed and service was cold. Dinner was an absolute nightmare - no accommodation was made for a serious allergy. Actually there was no concern whatsoever- we even identified the ingredient in a dish that the waiter said was ok… and when we pointed it out he just said „please don’t eat then“. Usually staff in Japan bends over backwards to make sure all is fine with your meal. Also- the 24,000 yen/person kaiserlich dinner was served at such a speed that we had at times three courses in front of us. Flexibility is definitely also not a word in their vocabulary - no changes can be made to anything - but that would be ok if the staff was just overall trying a bit harder. Food quality was good but again not better than at similar places for half the price. Overall the ryokan lacks a loving touch and I can only assume that it is badly managed as the staff is clearly unmotivated. You can definitely do much better in Japan and a big lesson for me is to always look out for reviews from locals as they know best what the standard for such a place should be. As someone who loves japan and has close ties to the country through work and friends, I am always happy to see positive reviews about the Japanese hospitality and service - however o encourage everyone who rated their stay highly here to try some other great ryokans in Japan to find out for yourselves how much better it can get.
We were a little disappointed when we arrived as we thought that the Ryokan would be lakeside with a view of Mount Fuji. It isn’t, it’s by a busy road BUT once you get past the entrance you forget that. The place is so authentic. The rooms are incredibly comfortable. We had a beautiful garden and our own onsenji. It only took about 5 mins to walk to the lake. Food was also authentic and well prepared and there is a lot of it, The staff are very helpful. This was our first really taste of outstanding service and quality in Japan.