Nippondaira Hotel

stunning view of Mount Fuji and the bay, an extraordinary site... the rooms with a view are extremely comfortable and the staff is attentive. Far from the train station, and the hotel shuttle could use more flexible hours. Disappointed by the dinner meal

Whether Mt. Fuji appears depends on luck. I was very lucky to see that elegant and beautiful silhouette, and it was worth visiting this hotel just for that. Fuji and Shimizu Port are also good places to walk and look at the lawn garden that stretches out in front of the hotel.

We stayed at the Nippondaira for one night during our trip through Japan, and it was a unique experience. Our room was classical Japanese-style with tatami mats in all rooms (except the bathroom). My wife's mother was also on this trip with us, and she said that she did not have this kind of room, so I guess it is not available throughout. The room was open concept with the bedroom (with twin-plus-sized beds) opening into a large living area dominated by a tea table and chairs. The outside wall was actually all glass with a door to the balcony (with sandals placed outside). The real draw for this room, and the hotel in general, is that it is located on a hilltop and faces Mt. Fuji. We were lucky and the clouds lifted enough that we were eventually able to see the peak which was absolutely a great experience. There are several restaurants in the hotel, and we had a special seven course dinner (arranged by our tour guide company) in, I believe, the Terrace Restaurant. This was another singular experience for us, as the food and service was exceptional. Any extended trip to Japan (we were there two weeks) should include a trip to Shizuoka to get a glimpse, albeit a distant one, of Mt. Fuji, and the Nippondaira should be where you should stay.