I Did Some Research on Fuji Shoen Hotel

In my Komorin Armchair Travels series, I've been researching hot spring hotels and campsites that catch my eye, one by one, and turning them into articles. Since I'm the indoor type, just researching "what kind of place is this" without actually going there is honestly a pretty fun process for me.

This time, the one that caught my attention was Fuji Shoen Hotel. What got me curious was seeing that it's located at an elevation of 1,000 meters and has a bath lined with Fuji lava rocks, so I decided to dig a little deeper.

The Short Version

The standout feature is the "Fuji Lava Bath," where the tub is lined wall-to-wall with Fuji lava rocks, and apparently you can even see Mt. Fuji from the open-air bath.
The Rakuten Mobile signal came back as a "C" rating, so if you're planning to use it, it's probably worth checking in advance.

I've summarized the details below.

What Kind of Hot Spring Is the "Fuji Lava Bath" Lined with Fuji Lava Rocks?

Fuji Shoen Hotel is apparently a hot spring hotel located in Yamanakako Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, at around 1,000 meters above sea level. Its biggest feature is a large communal bath called the "Fuji Lava Bath," where the tub is said to be lined wall-to-wall with Fuji lava rocks. According to the description on the official website, both the minerals from the hot spring and the components of the lava rock soak into your body. I haven't been able to check the actual sensation myself, but just from the look of it, it seems like a somewhat special bath.

The source water is apparently drawn from Yugawara Onsen, and the water quality is described as a sodium/calcium-chloride-sulfate hot spring (formerly known as a gypsum-salt spring), a weakly alkaline hypotonic high-temperature spring. The listed benefits cover a wide range, including chronic joint and muscle pain, poor circulation, fatigue recovery, and stress-related sleep problems, which sounds like the kind of water quality that's nice to soak in slowly after a day of sightseeing. You can apparently see Mt. Fuji from the open-air bath, so if the weather's good, I imagine you could enjoy the view too.

Hours for the large communal bath and open-air bath: 3:00 PM–11:00 PM, 6:00 AM–9:30 AM (please check the official website)
Day-use hot spring hours: 3:00 PM–9:00 PM (1,500 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for elementary school students, free for young children; includes a hand towel and bath towel)
Notes on day-use visits: apparently you need to fill in your name, address, and contact information at the front desk, payment is required in advance, bringing in outside food or drinks isn't allowed, and photography is prohibited in the bathing area (including the changing room)

Komorin

Just the name "lava bath" got me a little excited. Being able to use it for a day visit is a nice point for me too, since I've been thinking of it in terms of a hotel-as-vacation kind of use.

I Looked Into the Rooms and Access

The rooms seem to come in two types to choose from: "Mt. Fuji View" and "Lake Yamanaka View." According to information on booking sites, there are apparently around 110 rooms total, including barrier-free rooms and suites with their own hot spring bath, but I wasn't able to confirm this on the official website, so it's probably best to treat this as information from external listings rather than confirmed fact. Specific room rates also aren't listed on the official website, so it looks like you'd need to check through an external booking site.

Since I don't drive, how to get there is something I'm curious about. From what I found, by train, the route goes from Shinjuku Station on the Limited Express Asagiri to Gotemba Station, then about a 30-minute taxi ride from there. By bus, you'd take the "Fujikko-go" Lake Yamanaka loop bus from Kawaguchiko Station or Fujisan Station to the nearest bus stop, which is apparently about a 1-minute walk from the hotel, so it seems manageable even without a car. There also seems to be a route straight from Shinjuku Station via the Chuo Expressway bus, and having this many options is probably a relief for those of us who don't drive. As for parking, the main lot apparently holds up to 50 regular cars, so it should be fine if you're driving too.

Check-in: 3:00 PM–10:00 PM / Check-out: 10:00 AM
How to book: via the "Stay Reservations" link on the official website, which leads to an external booking site. Reservations by phone are apparently also possible
Location: right along the national highway around Lake Yamanaka, which seems like a convenient base for sightseeing

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

I checked using the official "My Area Network Simulation" tool, specifying the hotel's location (the Yamanaka area of Yamanakako Village), and the overall rating came back as "C." How well it actually works on-site probably depends on your device and exact location too, so it's probably best to treat this as just a general reference.

Given that it's located in a mountainous area at around 1,000 meters elevation, it might be reassuring to check the signal conditions in advance. If you're planning to use the network during your stay, checking the same conditions with the official tool beforehand should help you prepare.

Komorin

Seeing that "C" rating made me a little concerned. But then again, spending time relaxing in the lava bath without worrying about the internet might actually be a good way to enjoy a hotel-as-vacation kind of stay.

See Rakuten Mobile Details

Nearby Sightseeing and Food Also Caught My Eye

I also looked into the surrounding area. Within Yamanakako Village, there seem to be facilities like Yamanakako Hirano Onsen Ishiwari-no-Yu, and Shizuku, a ryokan with private sauna rooms that offer views of Mt. Fuji. As for food, places like Canti Como, Curry House JIB, and Yakiniku Maruyoshi came up. Hanano Miyako Park was also mentioned as a sightseeing spot, but all of this is just based on listed information, and I wasn't able to confirm the exact distance or travel time from the hotel. If you're interested, it's probably a good idea to check the latest information again before heading there.

Wrapping Up

Pulling this all together, Fuji Shoen Hotel struck me as a hot spring hotel at 1,000 meters elevation where you can enjoy both the hot spring minerals and the lava rock itself in the "Fuji Lava Bath" lined with Fuji lava rocks. Between the room types and how easy it seems to use for a day visit, it feels like a facility that would work well as a base for sightseeing. The Rakuten Mobile signal came back as a "C" rating, so if that matters to you, it might be reassuring to check using the official Rakuten Mobile tool.

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