Fuji Lake Hotel has hosted guests on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi since 1932, between the lake and Mt. Fuji. That position decides your stay: the English notice says each room has one view, Fuji or the lake, not both. Before you book, know five rules: only some room types face Fuji; the East Wing and West Wing have different check-in and checkout times; canceling costs 20 percent from 10 days out; guests with dinner must arrive by 19:30; and the hotel closes for two maintenance periods this winter.
The hotel’s English site is one page plus a handful of notices. The room, dining, access and facility pages, the terms of stay and the house rules are in Japanese, so much of this page is our translation. Where the English and Japanese differ, we follow the current Japanese text.
Fuji Lake Hotel at a glance
| Item | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi 401-0301 |
| Wings | East Wing (main entrance) and West Wing |
| Check-in / out | East Wing 14:00 / 11:00; West Wing 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Late checkout | West 2,200 yen / East 5,500 yen per hour, if available |
| Cancellation | 20% from 10 days before; 100% same day |
| Dinner plans | Arrive by 19:30 or no dinner, no refund |
| Onsen | Large public bath and all open-air-bath rooms use Kawaguchiko Onsen water |
| Fuji-view private bath | 50 min, 3,850 yen; book on the day |
| Shuttle | Free, from bus stop 10 at Kawaguchiko Station; call first |
| Parking | 50 spaces, free, no reservation |
| Closed | Dec 14–17, 2026 and Jan 12–22, 2027 |
From Fuji Lake Hotel’s official pages, terms of stay, house rules and FAQ, read October 1, 2026.
What kind of hotel is Fuji Lake Hotel?
How old is it?
The hotel dates itself to 1932. Its history page says the founder was a doctor who learned hospitality in the United States and that the first building was a wooden hotel in the Taisho-modern style. The English page gives only “1930’s,” so we use the Japanese year.
Where exactly is it?
At 1 Funatsu in Fujikawaguchiko town, a 10-minute walk from Kawaguchiko Station. The English page puts it “between Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi,” which is why each room looks one way or the other. For what to do around the lake, see our things to do at Lake Kawaguchi guide.
What is the difference between the two wings?
The hotel has an East Wing and a West Wing. The East Wing holds the main entrance; the rooms page notes that its standard rooms need less walking for that reason. The two wings keep different check-in and checkout times and charge different late checkout fees, covered below.
Fuji Lake Hotel rooms: Fuji view or lake view?
Which rooms can see Mt. Fuji?
The English notice says each room has only one view: Mt. Fuji or the lake, not both. The Japanese room pages mark these types as Fuji view:
| Room type | Size / guests | View (room page) | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Room (open-air bath) | 42 m² / 4 | Mt. Fuji | Open-air bath, hot spring |
| Deluxe Standard (open-air bath) | 63 m² / 4 | Mt. Fuji | Open-air bath, hot spring |
| Suite (open-air bath) | 70 m² / 6 | Lake from the living room, Fuji from the bath | Open-air bath, hot spring |
| Barrier-free Corner Room | 42 m² / 4 | Mt. Fuji | Indoor bath, hot spring |
| Fuji-side View Bath Suite | 45 m² / 4 | Mt. Fuji | View bath, not hot spring |
Official room pages, read October 1, 2026. Rates are left out on purpose.
The FAQ’s own list of Fuji-view rooms names the Standard Room, the Barrier-free Corner Room and the Fuji-side View Bath Suite, and says the Suite sees Fuji from its open-air bath. It leaves out the Deluxe Standard, whose room page says Fuji view, so confirm the view when you book that type. The FAQ adds that weather can hide the mountain.
Which rooms face the lake?
Every other type. The room pages mark these as lake view: the Semi-Comfort, Comfort and Wa-Nagomi rooms with open-air bath; the East Wing Japanese-Western room; the West Wing Japanese-Western room and Japanese-style room, which have a unit bath; the lake-side View Bath corner room and View Bath Twin; and the renewed West Wing Japanese-Western rooms A, B and C. Type C has no bathtub, only a shower booth.
Can lake-view guests still see Fuji?
Yes, from shared spaces. The observation deck on the West Wing roof looks over both Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi; it is indoors, free, and up 38 steps. A Fuji view corner in the East Wing’s 6th-floor elevator hall looks over the town to the mountain, and the hotel suggests it for children and wheelchair users. The breakfast room also has Fuji-side seats, covered below.
What is in the room?
All rooms are non-smoking and have Wi-Fi. Toothbrushes and the yukata are not left in the room: you take them from the amenity corner. The room pages do not name the wing for every type, so ask which wing your room is in when you book.
Check-in, checkout and late arrival at Fuji Lake Hotel
What time are check-in and checkout?
It depends on the wing. The FAQ, the facilities page and Article 10 of the terms agree:
| Wing | Check-in | Checkout | Late checkout |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Wing | 14:00 | 11:00 | 5,500 yen per hour |
| West Wing | 15:00 | 10:00 | 2,200 yen per hour |
Official FAQ, facilities page and house rules (July 2025), read October 1, 2026.
The older English terms give one window, 2 p.m. to 10 a.m., for the whole hotel; we follow the current Japanese times.
How much is late checkout?
The house rules set extension fees of 2,200 yen per hour in the West Wing and 5,500 yen per hour in the East Wing, and say the hotel may not be able to accept an extension, depending on the day. For longer extensions, the terms of stay charge a share of the room charge instead. The large public bath and private baths cannot be used after checkout.
Can I check in early?
The official pages give no early check-in policy. The English notice says that if you arrive before check-in time, you can leave your luggage at the front desk. The baths are not open to you before check-in.
What if I arrive late on a dinner plan?
Article 7 of the terms adds that if you have not arrived by 8 p.m., or two hours after the arrival time you gave, and have not contacted the hotel, the booking may be treated as canceled and the cancellation fee charged. The front desk is staffed around the clock and there is no curfew.
What do I need at check-in?
Article 9 of the terms asks foreign guests for their nationality, passport number, place of entry and date of entry. The house rules say the hotel may ask for a deposit on arrival.
Canceling a Fuji Lake Hotel booking
What does it cost to cancel?
The FAQ sets the fees for bookings made by phone or on the official website, as a share of the basic accommodation charge. The terms of stay fill in two more lines:
| When you cancel (up to 14 guests) | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 5 days before | 20% | FAQ and terms |
| 4 to 3 days before | 30% | FAQ |
| 2 days before | 30% | Terms |
| Day before | 50% | FAQ and terms |
| Same day | 100% | FAQ and terms |
| No-show | 100% | Terms |
Official FAQ and Appendix 2 of the terms of stay (Japanese), read October 1, 2026.
The 20 percent fee starts 10 days out; nothing is listed before that for bookings of up to 14 guests. The English terms label one column differently, but the percentages match the Japanese; we use the Japanese day labels.
What if I booked through another site?
The FAQ’s fees cover phone and official-site bookings. Other booking sites may set their own terms, which we have not checked, so read yours. Our hotel cancellation guide explains how these fees work across Japan.
Fuji Lake Hotel onsen: public bath, private baths and in-room baths
Is the water a real hot spring?
Yes. The FAQ says the large public bath uses piped water from Kawaguchiko Onsen, which the hot spring page says rises from 1,500 meters underground. It lists the spring type as sodium-calcium sulfate and says the water is diluted, heated, recirculated and filtered.
How does the large public bath work?
The men’s side is a rock bath and the women’s a cypress bath, with open-air baths, a sauna and a jacuzzi. Hours are 14:00 to 24:00 and 5:00 to 10:00, in both languages. Bring the small towel from your room. The English bath rules say you may walk to the bath in the yukata and slippers from your room. The official pages do not say whether the public bath looks toward Fuji.
Are the in-room baths hot spring water?
In the rooms with an open-air bath, yes: the room page says every one uses piped Kawaguchiko Onsen water, in an indoor-type open-air bath with windows you can close. The FAQ says the Barrier-free Corner Room’s indoor bath is hot spring water too. The view-bath rooms are not hot spring baths: their pages state it plainly.
How do I book the Fuji-view private bath?
The hotel has two private baths. The Fuji-view Hinoki cypress bath costs 3,850 yen for 50 minutes, and the Japanese page says to book it at the front desk on the day; your preferred time may already be gone. The English notice calls it a per-hour price and says it fits two adults and one small child; we follow the Japanese 50 minutes.
| Private bath | Time | Price | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinoki cypress bath | 50 min | 3,850 yen | Mt. Fuji |
| Lake View private bath (barrier-free, bath lift) | 60 min | 4,400 yen | Lake; no Fuji view |
Official hot spring page, read October 1, 2026. Both are booked on the day at the front desk; wheelchair users can book the Lake View bath ahead.
The FAQ says bath-only visits by non-guests are not accepted.
Is there a bathing tax?
Yes. Appendix 1 of the terms lists a bathing tax of 150 yen alongside consumption tax, without saying how it is counted. The hotel’s site does not mention an accommodation tax.
Tattoos at Fuji Lake Hotel
Can I use the large public bath with a tattoo?
We cannot give you a clear rule. The Japanese site has no tattoo rule for the large public bath, and the two English documents that cover the bath say different things. Because the hotel’s materials differ, confirm at check-in before you go to the bath. The pool rules refuse guests with tattoos, but the pool is closed for the rest of 2026.
What are the alternatives?
A room with an open-air bath gives you hot spring water no one else uses. The pages do not mention tattoos for the private baths, so ask about those too. Our tattoos and onsen guide covers the wider picture.
Dinner and breakfast at Fuji Lake Hotel
What are the dinner choices?
Three, set by your plan: the dinner buffet, the Japanese restaurant Akafuji, or a Fuji-area kaiseki served in your room. The FAQ says there is no Western course menu; the standard dinner and breakfast are Japanese-Western buffets.
How does the dinner buffet work?
The buffet runs 18:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 19:30 and a 90-minute limit that includes free-flow drinks such as draft beer, Japanese wine, shochu, whisky and soft drinks. The hotel lists about 40 Japanese and Western dishes, and may close earlier on quiet nights. The older English terms give 6 to 8 p.m.; we follow the Japanese terms and notice.
How do I book Akafuji?
Akafuji is for staying guests only and takes advance reservations only, through its dedicated plan on the official booking site. Same-day bookings are not possible, and you cannot eat there without staying. It has 28 seats. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, a schedule the Japanese page marks as planned. Since March 1, 2026 it also takes children under elementary school age.
When and where is breakfast?
The breakfast buffet is in Sky Hall Fuyo on the East Wing’s 7th floor, 7:00 to 9:30 with last entry at 9:00. A March 2026 notice says the room looks over the town to Mt. Fuji, but Fuji-side seats are limited and cannot be reserved, so go early if the view matters.
Is there lunch at the hotel?
No. The FAQ says there is no place to eat lunch in the hotel. It points to Le pain de Daniel, a bakery across the road, closed on Thursdays. The hotel’s French restaurant, PREMIER, has been closed since March 1, 2025, for the time being.
What about allergies and special diets?
The buffet does not prepare allergy menus or label allergens, but guests with allergies may bring their own safe food and tableware. For in-room dinner, tell the hotel when you book or by the day before. The hotel says it cannot serve meals that strictly meet vegetarian, vegan or halal standards, though it can sometimes make a curry or pasta without meat, seafood, eggs or dairy.
Kids and families at Fuji Lake Hotel
What do children pay?
Appendix 1 of the Japanese terms, revised in 2025, sets child rates as a share of the adult rate. The older English terms give different figures, so we use the Japanese.
| Child | What is provided | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school | Adult-style meals and bedding | 70% of the adult rate |
| Under school age | Children’s meals and bedding | 50% |
| Under school age | Bedding only | 6,000 yen plus tax |
| Young child, 3 and over | No bedding, no meals | Facility fee 3,000 yen plus tax |
| Age 2 and under | No bedding, no meals | Free |
Official terms of stay, Appendix 1 (Japanese), read October 1, 2026.
The baby page adds that children 2 and under eat the breakfast buffet free. Baby food is not provided, but toddler dishes such as soft udon or rice porridge cost 550 yen each if ordered ahead.
What baby gear can I borrow?
The baby page lists free items such as a high chair, a bath chair, a toilet seat and a stroller, up to three items per family. A nap futon costs 1,100 yen. The pages do not mention a baby cot.
Can children use the public bath?
The English bath rules say children who are not yet toilet-trained cannot use the public bath, and that guests over 7 must use the bath for their own gender. The house rules say minors cannot stay on their own without a parent’s permission.
Getting to Fuji Lake Hotel from Tokyo and Kawaguchiko Station
How do I get there from Tokyo?
The access page lists three routes:
| From | Route | Time (access page) |
|---|---|---|
| Shinjuku | JR Chuo Line limited express to Otsuki, then Fujikyu Line to Kawaguchiko | About 70 min + about 60 min |
| Busta Shinjuku | Chuo Expressway bus to Kawaguchiko Station | About 105 min |
| Tokyo Station (Yaesu South) | Highway bus to Kawaguchiko Station | About 180 min |
Official access page, read October 1, 2026. Transfer times are not included.
If you are fitting the lake into a wider trip, our day trips from Tokyo guide compares routes.
How does the free shuttle from the station work?
When you reach Kawaguchiko Station, call the hotel and wait at bus stop 10, the stop set aside for hotel and ryokan vehicles, and the hotel will come to pick you up. The access page gives +81-555-72-2209 from 10:00 to 17:00 and +81-555-72-2212 from 17:00 to 23:00. The English notice says the shuttle runs only between the hotel and the station. The walk is about 10 minutes.
How do I get back to the station?
Tell the front desk. The Japanese access page says the shuttle to the station runs every 30 minutes from 8:15 each morning.
Can I drive, and is parking free?
Drivers leave the Chuo Expressway at Kawaguchiko IC, about 10 minutes from the hotel. Parking is free, with 50 spaces and no reservation; the lot in front of the hotel is kept first for wheelchair users. Article 18 of the terms says the hotel lends the space and is not responsible for the car.
For the classic shot of Fuji behind a five-story pagoda, see our Chureito Pagoda guide, and for another stay on the water, see our Konansou guide.
Closures and what is not running at Fuji Lake Hotel
When is Fuji Lake Hotel closed in winter 2026 to 2027?
What else is closed?
The summer pool has finished for 2026, and its 2027 dates are not set. The coin laundry has been out of service since May 7, 2026, with no date for repair. The French restaurant PREMIER is closed, Akafuji is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and there is no lunch in the hotel.
What is open at no charge?
The rooftop observation deck, the lake terrace from sunrise to sunset, and a guest lounge with soft drinks from 14:00 to 21:00.
Paying and house rules at Fuji Lake Hotel
Is there a service charge?
Yes. Appendix 1 of the terms adds a 10 percent service charge to the basic accommodation charge, plus consumption tax and the 150-yen bathing tax. The hotel says nothing about tipping.
Which cards and apps are accepted?
The facilities page lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and UnionPay among others, and mobile payments including PayPay, Alipay and WeChat Pay. Since April 1, 2025, the hotel says, IC credit cards need a PIN at payment as a rule, so know yours.
Is Fuji Lake Hotel non-smoking?
Yes. All rooms and dining areas are non-smoking, e-cigarettes included, and the English notice adds that you cannot smoke on your room’s terrace either. The FAQ lists three smoking corners. Article 6 of the terms charges 20,000 yen for smoking in a non-smoking room.
Can I bring a pet?
No. The FAQ says pets are not allowed; the house rules exempt assistance dogs.
How much English will I find?
The English site is one page and a few notices. The hotel marks its English terms as translated with DeepL, and the official pages do not say whether staff speak English.
Who Fuji Lake Hotel is for
Travelers who want a lakeside hot spring stay near Kawaguchiko Station, families who can use the free baby gear, and guests happy to pay for a Fuji-view room with an open-air bath. It is a harder fit if you need flexible cancellation, will arrive after 19:30 on a dinner plan, or are traveling in the closure weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see Mt. Fuji from my room at Fuji Lake Hotel?
Does Fuji Lake Hotel have an onsen?
What are the check-in and checkout times at Fuji Lake Hotel?
What is the cancellation policy at Fuji Lake Hotel?
What happens if I arrive at Fuji Lake Hotel after 19:30?
Can I use the Fuji Lake Hotel onsen with a tattoo?
Is there a free shuttle from Kawaguchiko Station to Fuji Lake Hotel?
Is Fuji Lake Hotel open in winter 2026 to 2027?
Bottom line (2026): Fuji Lake Hotel gives each room one view, Fuji or the lake, and only some room types face Fuji. The East Wing checks in at 14:00 and out by 11:00; the West Wing at 15:00 and 10:00. Canceling costs 20 percent from 10 days out, dinner guests must arrive by 19:30, the Fuji-view private bath is 50 minutes for 3,850 yen booked on the day, and the hotel closes December 14 to 17, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027.
Sources
Every rule and figure on this page is from Fuji Lake Hotel’s own pages: the official site (Japanese) and English page, the rooms page with the open-air-bath rooms and view-bath rooms, the dining page, Akafuji page and in-room dining page, the hot spring page, the facilities page, the access page, the baby page, the history page, the terms of stay and house rules, the English guest notice and English terms notice, the news posts on the dinner buffet, breakfast Fuji view, winter closures, coin laundry and PREMIER, and the FAQ, all read on October 1, 2026. Where the English and Japanese differ, we follow the current Japanese terms and pages, or leave the figure out. Confirm on the official site before you book.
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