Finding suitable accommodation at Kawaguchiko for us really wasn’t easy, and it was largely an issue of pricing again: it seems to pretty much be a seller’s market for Kawaguchiko accommodations, and per night rates easily cost from SGD350 per night and upwards. We finally opted for Hotel Regina Kawaguchiko, a traditional hotel that’s just over a kilometer away from Kawaguchiko Station. We stayed here for 4D3N, and our comments!
The hotel looks like it’s been around for a while: the style and decor feels very much like a 1990s’ establishment, and the exterior facade could use a sprucing up and rejuvenation. From the facing of the hotel, it looks like all rooms get an uninterrupted view of Mt. Fuji, as ours did via a private balcony.
We’d booked a Deluxe Room with Mt. Fuji View, with bedding arrangements of two single beds and two sofa beds. In a really pleasant surprise: we’d booked for a Deluxe Room, but were assigned what looks like a junior suite: it had two separate bedrooms, four double beds, and a small dining table with four chairs. The room was easily large enough for all four of us. The room upgrade might had also been because it was off-peak season for the area: we only saw a handful of other guests during our stay.
The usual suite of amenities are also already in the room, including shavers, toothbrushes etc. and bathing toiletries. There’s also a condiments corner with hot beverages, mini-fridge, and a safety deposit box is tucked away in the wardrobe.
Like other properties in the area, the hotel has its own shuttle bus service to bring guests to and fro Kawaguchiko Station. The bus from the hotel leaves for the station every 30 minutes from 8AM to 3PM, and thereafter, it’s on demand: you’d need to call the hotel, and they’d send their shuttle bus to pick you up at Kawaguchiko Station’s bus bay 10. There’s a payphone in the Station that guests can use, and calls will cost 100 yen each.
We found the reception staff a mixed bag. Several of the attendant staff were very polite, and for the staff who couldn’t manage English, Google Translate came to the rescue. On the other hand, one staff we spoke to was a little rude. Our stay did not include daily cleaning, which was fine: but there was also no replenishment of in-room beverages [something the missus was annoyed with], and that came across as the hotel counting beans. When we queried about it with this gentleman, he told us curtly that as the room was discounted with no daily cleaning, we don’t get beverage replenishment, and that was that. To be clear, my issue wasn’t that we wanted freebies: it was the mannerisms that was off-putting.
Lastly, there’s a small shopping mall about 10 minutes walk from the hotel. The mall – Kawaguchiko Shopping Center Bell – has a foodcourt at level 1 with half a dozen stalls that offer Udons, western food, desserts, and a Mister Donut. There’s also a supermarket with a decent range of items (think Fairprice!), a department store at level 2, and Daiso and a small arcade center at level 3.
In all, this was a so-so stay. The plus points include a gorgeous view of Mt. Fuji from the room’s private balcony, and a fairly large room. The room was functional if not fantastic in setting. I reckon there are better options than this hotel, so if we’re ever coming back here, we’d likely explore staying elsewhere.