Country Cottage Ban

We had booked months prior to coming, and had made certain requests, and when we got there, they assigned us a cabin E1. It was right across from the reception, on the parking lot, which was noisy with cars coming and going, people talking loudly outside, car doors slamming, etc. It was terrible. We requested another cabin and were told that it’s only at that moment that it would be busy around the cabin. I said, “It’s going to be like this every day at check-in and check-out.” We were then told that no other cabins were available. When we started to get upset, the man running reception then said he’ll show us E2. I thought there were no other cabins available! E2 was even worse because, not only is it also across from reception and on the parking lot, it’s recessed a bit, and you didn't get any view of mount fuji. Again, we went to reception and were looking for other places to stay in the area - it's a lot of money to stay at this place and it didn’t look at all as advertised: cozy, rustic cabins in the hills with nothing but woods all around. We asked if there was perhaps another cabin style that we could switch to. He then said that we can look at E3. Again, I thought all the cabins were occupied!? So, we finally decided on E3 which was a little away from reception and all the noise, although still on the parking lot, and not at all like the woodsy experience that they promote. It did have a great view of mount fuji. The whole experience has left a bad taste now tainting this review, but i’ll try to be objective. The cottage itself was okay, quite cozy once you get the heating up and running. It can get very cold inside because the cabins aren’t insulated at all and they just don’t get the kinds of winters we get in canada. So, you do have to pump up the heat. Everything feels like it could do with updating, and there are little things that are in disrepair. In the one toilet, there's a wire sticking out by the plug. The faucet in the shower room drips. Everything just feels like it's been done on the cheap. All-in-all, it’s a good location because of the view, as long as you get a good cabin. We just didn’t appreciate the reception deception! Also, the one staff member seemed to run everything (no one else seemed able to make decisions), and he wasn’t at all helpful, accommodating, or seemed happy in general. The cabins are very large, and you could probably fit 2 - 4 adults, and a bunch of kids in the loft. It has a full-sized fridge, small kitchen with the basics, a safe (although the safe said low battery the whole time we were there), and smart TV. The TV’s in the main room where the large dining room table sits. There’s no snug place to sit and watch TV. We used some of the mattress pads and quilts to create a sort of couch on the floor next to the table. It can get quite windy here, being up on the hill, and you may hear things falling on the roof at night, but that's just part of the experience. It feels very much like staying at your grandparent’s cottage in muskoka or haliburton before they got central heating or insulation etc. There are 2 toilet rooms, and then a larger space with a sink and separate shower room. There needs to be some hooks and rails in the shower room for towels, clothing, etc. There was shampoo, conditioner, body wash, but no lotion (which is typical for asia). Also, hooks are needed by the sink. The breakfast was okay: two hard boiled eggs, 4 chunks of bread that you can slice and toast in your room, butter and jam, orange or apple juice, two slices of fruit, broth with vegetables (cabbage, carrots, potatoes), and then either sausage or chicken. No coffee or tea. Also, there was no cleaning service for any of the days we were there (4 days), which was fine for us, but just wanted to mention it – fresh dishes would’ve been nice. You may be able to request a cleaning.

The room was nice, clean and very spacious - we appreciated the premium toiletries and the face masks. The onsen was also a nice treat - we were the only guests when we visited at dinner time. We had a great view of Mount Fuji from the terrace at the reception area where you can order drinks from the bar or purchase from the vending machine. The service from the bar was a little slow because the staff doubled up with other duties. Although we booked a Mountain View room through Agoda, we only had a partial view of Mount Fuji from the sitting area in our room. It would’ve been good if this was made clear before booking (we would’ve paid more for an unobstructed view). Tip: We took the public bus to the hotel and there’s a walk up the hill which was a little difficult with large luggage. The hotel does offer a free pick up and drop off service but this is only at preset times.

This was our favourite place to stay while travelling Japan. The hotel is around 15 minutes from the train station but a hotel shuttle picks you up from 3pm. Our balcony has the perfect Mt Fuji view for watching the sunset and rise in the morning. There are no onsite restaurants so we brought our own food. There is an extra heating charge when staying in the winter time. The cottage was beautiful with bath and shower, kitchen, living space with tv and WiFi. We loved it! Thank you!