I Looked Into Shoji Mount Hotel

I keep researching campsites, day-trip hot springs, and inns, feeling like I've actually been there. This time I took a little detour and picked a hotel.

Today I looked into Shoji Mount Hotel. What got me started was the thought that maybe some days I could do a hotel stay instead of camping. I found out it's right on the shore of Lake Shoji, has views of Mt. Fuji, and seems reachable by bus, so as an indoor person, I was curious.

What Kind of Place Is This Inn With Views of Mt. Fuji From the Lakeshore?

It's a hotel on the shore of Lake Shoji in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. The official website presents the views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Shoji as its main appeal.

Here's the basic information, as far as I could confirm it on the official website.

• Operating status: I didn't see any notice of a closure or shutdown. However, it said that only the forest nature tour is currently not accepting bookings.
• How to book: It looks like you book online through an external reservation system linked from the official site's booking page. I couldn't find anything about booking by phone.
• Prices: Room rates for each room type didn't seem to be listed on the official site. There's a note about an "official best rate" that gives 10% off with membership registration. It also came with a remark that during sale periods on domestic booking sites, those might be cheaper.
• Accommodation tax: Apparently Fujikawaguchiko Town plans to introduce an accommodation tax starting April 1, 2027. No amount was given.
• Check-in and check-out: I couldn't find the times on the official site.
• Parking: Apparently there's a free prefectural parking lot right in front of the hotel.

For the details, I think checking the official website is the safest bet.

Komorin

I couldn't find the prices or check-in time on the official site, so it seems like I'd need to confirm those before booking.

Can I Get There by Bus Even Though I Don't Drive?

I have a license but I don't drive, so access is a big deal for me. Looking at the access page on the official site, it seems you can get there by local bus.

• Local bus from Kawaguchiko Station: From Stop 4, it takes about 35-40 minutes. You get off at the Fujimiso-mae bus stop and walk about 1 minute. The timetable listed departures at 9:08, 10:18, 10:38, 11:08, 14:08, 16:38, and 18:08. I couldn't confirm which days of the week it runs, though.
• Sightseeing loop bus "Blue Line": From Stop 1 at Kawaguchiko Station, it takes about 38 minutes, then it's about a 1-minute walk after getting off. Departures were listed at 9:20, 11:30, 13:40, and 15:50. The name of the drop-off stop seemed to be written a bit inconsistently within the page.
• From Shin-Fuji Station: Take a local bus from Stop 9 at Fujisan Station exit, which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, and get off at Fujimiso-mae. Apparently the bus stop is right in front of the hotel.
• Shuttle service: The official site seems to state clearly that no shuttle service is offered. However, in summer only, if you take the express bus from Shinjuku and get off at Shojiko-han or Shojiko-iriguchi, apparently they'll pick you up if you contact them in advance.
• By car: About 25 minutes from Kawaguchiko IC (Chuo Expressway) via Route 139, about 30 minutes from Kofu-Minami IC, and about 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo.

My impression was that the buses aren't very frequent. It looks like I'd need to check the timetable carefully and plan around it.

Checking Out the Rooms and Facilities as an Indoor Person

What matters for a hotel stay like this is how comfortably I can spend time in the room. The room types seem to include Japanese-style rooms, Western-style twin rooms, Japanese-Western rooms, and special Japanese-Western rooms (large and small).

• Special Japanese-Western room (large): 35 m², with a 16-tatami-mat sitting room and a 12-tatami-mat bedroom, plus two single beds. Apparently it also has a balcony facing Mt. Fuji and Lake Shoji.
• Japanese-Western room: 16 m², and it sounds like a Japanese-modern room renovated in July 2025. Apparently it has two single beds and a balcony.
• Japanese-style room and Western twin room: 16 m², and apparently the big windows give you a sweeping view of Mt. Fuji and Lake Shoji. Japanese-style room [A] seems to accommodate 1 to 4 guests.
• Common to all types: Apparently they have a shower, bathtub, toilet, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a TV with cable, a fridge, an electric kettle, and a tea set. Yukata robes are apparently available at the amenity bar next to the front desk.

The large public bath apparently has two kinds of tubs: a marble bath and an ancient cypress bath. The men's and women's baths switch every other day, apparently. However, I couldn't find any mention of whether it's a hot spring. The bath hours also didn't match: the Japanese page says 15:00-23:00 and 6:00-9:00, while the English page says it's available 24 hours until checkout (excluding cleaning time). If that matters to you, it seems better to ask in advance.

Here are the other facilities in the building.

• Massage chairs: Apparently free to use.
• Lobby: Apparently there's a reading space.
• Shop: It seems to sell cup noodles, snacks, and drinks.
• Coin laundry: On the 3rd floor, and apparently paid.
• Rental bicycles: It seems they have them.
• Accessibility: Apparently there's a note saying the building is not designed to be barrier-free.

The Koshu Beef Lava Grill and Country-Style Meals Sound Interesting

Dinner is apparently a kaiseki-style meal using seasonal ingredients. The signature dish is the "Koshu beef lava grill," where you grill Koshu beef and local vegetables on a plate made from processed Mt. Fuji lava, it seems. If you stay two nights or more, the menu apparently changes.

Breakfast is a "warm country-style Japanese set meal" with handmade simmered dishes and pickles, apparently. The official site says it ranked first in Yamanashi Prefecture at the 2018 Rakuten Travel Breakfast Festival.

I couldn't confirm meal times, where meals are served, or allergy accommodations on the official site. If you need that info, it might be reassuring to ask before booking.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

I checked this facility's location (on the shore of Lake Shoji in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture) with the official my Area Communication Simulation. The overall rating came up as "C."

Since it's surrounded by mountains and a lake, there may be moments when the signal becomes a concern. If you're planning something that depends on the internet, I think it would be reassuring to save maps and reservation info beforehand. Apparently the guest rooms have free Wi-Fi, so it seems like you could use that inside the room.

That said, the rating is only a simulation result. If you're curious, please check with Rakuten Mobile's official tool yourself too.

Komorin

Honestly, I was a little disappointed that the rating was C. But if the rooms have Wi-Fi, I feel like it could work out fine for a hotel stay.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up again, my impression of Shoji Mount Hotel is that it's a place right by Lake Shoji where you could seemingly take your time enjoying views of Mt. Fuji and the lake from your room.

You can get there by local bus from Kawaguchiko Station or Shin-Fuji Station, and apparently it's a 1-minute walk from the bus stop, so it looks easy to reach even without a car. Still, the buses seem limited, so I think checking the timetable is a must. I was also intrigued by how you can choose how to spend your time, whether in the room or around the building, with things like the Koshu beef lava grill and the two kinds of large baths.

On the other hand, the Rakuten Mobile signal was rated C. I couldn't confirm the prices, check-in time, or bath hours on the official site, so it would be reassuring to ask before booking. If the signal worries you, please check it yourself with Rakuten Mobile's official tool too.

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Related Links

• Official Site