Mt. Fuji View Onsen Ooike Hotel is one of the oldest hotels on Lake Kawaguchi: it has operated since 1974 and was renovated later. The address is in Funatsu, and there are fifty-two rooms. The main merit is the hot springs: guests write about open-air baths in the garden with a jacuzzi and ceramic bowls, and the shared baths and the spa adjoin each other and open a view of Fuji. From the rooms the mountain is visible as on the palm of your hand, and many people watch the sunset here. Drivers meet guests at the station, and you do not have to wait long for the free shuttle. The hotel will suit those who come to Japan for onsen and want to stay one or two days by the famous lake.
Funatsu and Ubuyagasaki: the northern shore with a view of Fuji
Funatsu is on the north-eastern shore of Lake Kawaguchi, and from here the mountain looks most striking. It is about twenty minutes on foot to Kawaguchiko station, but guests usually use the shuttle. Nearby are Cape Ubuyagasaki with a Shinto shrine, the lake embankment and public baths. The neighbouring Royal Hotel Kawaguchiko and the Kaiun-no-yu bath are also close, and in the surroundings there are karaoke places and small cafes. Another pleasant detail of the area: along the embankment you can walk to Ubuyagasaki on a flat path, and in the evening the lights are reflected in the water. Funatsu is easiest to see as a long strip of hotels and cafes along the lake, where everything is close and there is nothing to look for. In winter the air is clean and dry, and the whole snow cone is often visible, while in summer the mountain is often wrapped in haze almost all day. For an overnight stay in autumn take warm clothes: by the lake it is much colder than in Tokyo.
- Ubuyagasaki — a cape and a shrine on the lake.
- Lake Kawaguchi — a promenade embankment.
- Kawaguchiko station — trains towards Tokyo.
- The Funatsu baths — another onsen option.
Tip for travellers: Fuji is brightest early in the morning and in the cold months, when the air is dry and clear. If you book a room with a view, ask for a high floor, and on the day of arrival check the visibility forecast. If you want to see Fuji on your very first evening, arrive no later than lunch: by sunset the clouds often thicken. In an onsen it is customary to go in without clothes after showering, so decide in advance which time suits you better: in the hours after dinner the baths are full.
Open-air baths, a spa and a children’s playground
The main thing in this hotel is the onsen. Guests write about springs known for their relaxing effect and a garden with open-air baths of different types: jacuzzi and ceramic. The shared baths and the spa are neighbours, and Fuji can be seen in the window. There is a massage room, a tea room and a restaurant, a children’s playground and a coworking space. Parking is nearby, and the shuttle from the station runs free of charge.
- Hot springs and open-air baths
- Massage and a tea room
- A restaurant, a lobby bar, a shop
- A children’s playground
- Parking, a shuttle, luggage storage
Laundry and service
For long trips there is a laundry and dryers. Luggage storage, a night wake-up call and fast check-in make arrival easier.
A buffet and the evening after the onsen
Breakfast is served as a buffet, with Japanese dishes. Guests note the abundance of choice: rice, fish, pickles, miso soup, eggs.
In the evening after bathing it is good to go to the restaurant or the lobby bar. In the area around the lake try hoto, a thick soup with wide noodles, trout and local vegetables. For dinner at the hotel itself it is worth checking the serving time in advance: in Japanese inns it is fixed. If you want to eat outside the hotel, small restaurants with hoto noodles and trout work nearby, and in the shops by the road they sell hot food for a picnic on the shore.
Pros and cons of Mt. Fuji View Onsen Ooike Hotel
What guests like
- Open-air baths with a view of Fuji.
- Fuji is visible from the rooms, especially at sunset.
- A free shuttle from the station.
- A buffet breakfast with Japanese dishes.
- A children’s playground and spacious baths.
What to know in advance
- It is about twenty minutes on foot from the station.
- The building is old, so some of the interiors look classic.
- Fuji is often hidden by clouds.
- In the evenings it is quiet around.
What guests usually write
Guests praise the hot springs, the views of Fuji, the shuttle, the breakfast and the cleanliness. Many note the spacious baths. The remarks concern the view’s dependence on the weather.
How to book Mt. Fuji View Onsen Ooike Hotel from Russia
Choose your dates in the “Where to book” block and pay in roubles; you will see the payment method at the last step. Rooms with a view of Fuji are booked up earlier.
