We had all been looking forward to our next port of call, not just because of the giant sleeping volcano it’s so famous for – but because this would be the one place in our trip that we would be staying in true Japanese style. Hotel Mizuno does have Western style rooms, but wanting to experience the traditional, we had one booked complete with Japanese tea set, tatami mat floors, sliding paper doors, and futons with silk quilts that were magically packed away each morning having been lovingly unfurled for us the night before.
The Hotel also has (according to a local taxi driver!) perhaps the best view of Mount Fuji in the whole of Fujikawaguchiko, and each morning once our sliding paper doors had been carefully drawn back (quite a treacherous feat to avoid putting a hand through those!), we could lie in bed and admire the beautiful and majestic mountain, an icon so sacred to Japan (and one that is quite surreal when you see it for the very first time!).
There’s not actually too much to Fuji Kawaguchiko town itself – there are a few cafes, a souvenir shop or two, a few restaurants and the train station. People mostly come here to climb, and the town becomes a brief resting post to refuel beforehand, and undoubtedly a recovery post for afterwards too. If you do feel the need to explore flatter ground whilst you are here, then you will find exceedingly good cakes at the slightly bizarre Heidi’s Village – an Alpine style resort (which felt rather strange given our current residential location)! Apart from that, a meander around the lake, and taking the odd refreshment stop in which to sit and admire Mt. Fuji was all in order. Be warned though, we set out to explore on a Thursday when quite typically a lot of things appear to be closed!
It’s at night that Hotel Mizuno really comes into its own however. It has a definite 1950’s vibe, and you wouldn’t be surprised to find the cast of MadMen downing a cocktail or two at the bar (or inspecting a few of the more interesting(!) titles in the library). And whilst sitting amongst the art work, and appreciating the candle lit ambience, you can put your feet up and watch the long trail of the flame lit torches of the climbers as they wind their way to the summit of Mt. Fuji in time for sunrise. There was a brief moment that I almost felt jealous of them on their missions to catch the dawn, but Mr R has actually done the climb before, and said it definitely wasn’t suitable for the Small People, so maybe we will save that for another day (Whilst on the topic of the hotel, the breakfasts are good here, and you can book dinner, but we also liked to walk down the steep hill and around the corner to the closest restaurant for some pretty respectable tonkatsu!)!
There is a definite aura about Mt. Fuji. You can almost feel the pulse of something deep and mysterious, and catch a hint of why it’s so special to Japan. It is so highly regarded, that to some poor souls, the thick forest surrounding the base of the Mountain is the place that they choose to go to end their lives. I thought about these people the next morning as I crept out of bed at 4am to watch the dawn break, and alone on the balcony I thought about how sad their lives must have been to take such steps. As the clouds changed from yellow to pink, and the light crept slowly slowly across the sky – the sun climbed ever higher – until finally it turned the top of Mt. Fuji a beautiful deep red. Then I thought of those people who were very much alive, and who were waiting there for that exact reason, and I found it all strangely moving.
WOW what an utterly amazing place to visit .. waking up tooth view, how amazing!
Thanks so much Jaime! :)
This is one of those vacations that will stay with you and each of your family forever. What a fantastic trip, it’s a dream of mine to one day visit Japan. I’ll let you know if it ever comes true and certainly will refer to your posts!
Thanks Mari, you must you must! I need to go back, perhaps we should all go together. Mr R’s Japanese comes in very useful! :D
Japan is at the very top of my wanderlust list! I really hope I get to travel there one day, and reading all about it here has reaffirmed my need to visit. I love that you stayed in a traditional Japanese room, it looks wonderful, and the views, gorgeous x
Thanks Michelle, it’s an incredible place and in some ways just how you imagine it to be! :)
What an interesting place. I was planning to go to Japan this year but have put it back to next year now. It looks an amazing place!
It’s an amazing place to visit, we really need to go back to see more! Thank you! :)
I kind of wanted to stay in a traditional Japanese hotel but was quite afraid that one of my kids (or more) would cause some damage. Lucky you! The view looks magnificent. You are so fortunate to be able to enjoy it repeatedly throughout your stay. Too bad that so many places were closed. When we were there, we couldn’t even take the bus up to the 5th station as the road was blocked by windblown trees knocked down in a storm the night before.
Thanks Michelle, sorry to hear that you couldn’t get up Mt Fuji… :/ We were lucky with the view, but we had a few hazy days as well where the mountain didn’t want to play! :D
Thanks for the insight! We won’t be staying near the mountain but hoping to get out there and back.
It’s definitely worth a visit. I hope it stays clear for you that day and doesn’t hide like it did for us at first! :D Thank you! :)
What a beautiful place! I love that you stayed in a traditional Japanese room – that would be an interesting experience, especially with kids.
It was definitely an interesting experience! The beds are more comfy than they look too! :D Thank you! :)
Oh, this reminds me of our time in a ryokan in Mitakesan… Gorgeous photos. Plus, I agree with your on Mt Fuji’s aura, energy or whatever it is – such a strikingly mysterious place… Lovely post, congrats! Good luck and safe travels!
We didn’t get to stay in a Ryokan that trip, but hope to one day! Thank you! You too! :)
Wow, what an incredible experience – the traditional hotel sounds incredible!
Thank you Travis… It was definitely memorable, and I would recommend the hotel for the staff alone! :)
Wow, that picture of Mt. Fuji is absolutely amazing! I think it’s wonderful your kids get to do these things. I traveled when I was younger, but certainly not like that. And, that cake is adorable haha. Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler!
Thank you! I just hope they don’t get too blasé about it! :D
How do you think of this stuff to take kids too? I struggle with the mico adventures, at here you are trotting off to Fuji! I must lift my game!! Thanks so very much for linking up with us again for #SundayTraveller, Im off to pin this now.
Haha… Thank you! It was an amazing place to visit, and I am surprised at how much my two enjoyed it! :)
Beautiful photos! What an amazing view over the Mount Fuji. And the kids seem to have enjoyed playing with the tea set.
They certainly did! Thank you! :)
What an absolutely stunning place- looks fantastic to stay in an authentic Japanese room :). I’m loving that cake too. Thanks for linking to PoCoLo x
Thanks Victoria! :) x
It looks so beautiful and so peaceful. Beautiful photos too.
Thanks Stephanie! :)
This is such a gorgeous post. I love the photos and you describe your experiences beautifully.
Thanks so much Gretta! :)
Emma, you travel to some amazing places and always manage to evoke a real sense of that place in your writing and photographs. That hotel sounds wonderful, Japan has never really appealed to me but if anyone can stir an interest, it would be you.
Thank you Sarah. That’s such a lovely comment! :) x
Wow this looks amazing – glad I found your blog through PoCoLo
Thanks Carrie! :)
What an experience to stay in a true Japanese style room! I love the pic of the kids having tea….adorable!
Thank you! Thankfully nobody has noticed he actually has the tea pot upside down! Needless to say it was empty! :D
I like the idea of staying Japanese style, though what a hassle to clear away the bedding everyday…good thing it wasn’t you doing the work.
I would have definitely picked a Western room if that was the case! :D
The hotel room looks exquisite. Your children look adorable sitting at the table.
How funny to find Heidi’s Village in Japan. It’s like us finding Tibet in Austria!
Thank you. Isn’t it just? That made me laugh… :D
Love love love the traditional room. Did you all sleep well?
Thanks Donna, we did thank you surprisingly well… :D
AWESOME! I am seriously discussing with my hubby when we are visiting Japan!
Brilliant! Let me know when you do, plenty more tips to be had! :D
Wow, I love the photos, really captures the magic. How cute are your kids in Kimonos and that dog cake! Did you save the dog then?
Thanks Penny… we did save the dog for a little while, until he began to melt. And then the 8 year old had to begrudgingly eat him! :D
He he it was just as good the second time round as a #timetraveller! You always capture such lovely little details – thanks that has inspired me – I keep trying to capture everything. Sometimes it is the least obvious things that need to be captured!
Thanks so much Penny! :) x
Fascinating! I would love to stay in a hotel with traditional Japanese rooms. What a wonderful view, and the cake looks great too! ;o) xx
Thank you! It was amazing, as was the cake. Wasn’t allowed to eat the dog on the top though! :D xx
What a fantastic experience for you all and you’ve captured it with some gorgeous photos.
Thanks for sharing x
Thanks very much Cass! :)
Oh, just WOW.
Thank you M! :) x
Oh my goodness that looks amazing. I love the hotel room (how shallow am I that I pick on that first?) ;)
My kids are getting to the age now where more far-flung places would interest them and I’d love to take them somewhere like this – such a great experience.
It gets easier as they get bigger doesn’t it? Thank you :)
Wow, It looks & sounds amazing! Love the traditional set. I’d have to choose the same if I were there. Gorgeous photos x
Thank you. Those futons are actually more comfortable than they look! :D x
I am incredibly jealous – looks amazing.
Thank you J! :)
oh my i am getting more and more envious at each post and so lucky that you write beautifully and your pictures are just wonderful. your children look adorable in their kimonos and i bet your night sleep was amazing
Thank you so much! :) xx
Oh wow, what an amazing place to stay, how memorable that will be, you lucky girl. Mich x
Thank you Mich x
Oh wow! What an amazing experience. I would love to go there so much. Your pictures are amazing.
Thank you Rebecca, glad you like them! :)
What a brilliant post.
Amazing how a place can evoke such emotions – both positive and negative at the same time. Really powerful.
The hotel looks incredible too. x
Thanks so much Liz, we all loved it. It was a fabulous, and very powerful place to visit! And if nothing else those cakes were amazing! :) x
Wow! What an amazing experience one I really hope – every finger crossed – to try for myself one day as Japan has always held an enormous attraction for me.
I love living it through your posts and that room, those sleeping mats, that paper wall …. beautiful
Thanks so much Mari! :) x
Now that’s a hotel for me! Give me a 1950s feel and a tumbler of whiskey and I’m very content. These photos are spectacular too. What a holiday! I’ve loved these posts.
You would LOVE it then! Thank you so much for reading them! :) x
Fantastic photos!!
Thanks very much Andrea! :)
A beautiful post, I love the photos and the words. I didn’t know about the forests surrounding Mt Fuji (v sad) but I definitely felt the atmosphere when I visited. R&S look so regal sat having tea x x
Thank you Luce xxx
Looks amazing, I am so jealous of your adventures!! And as always, beautiful photographs x
Thanks so much Sonya! :) x
I love the idea of staying in a true Japanese style hotel, did the children love it?
They thought it was brilliant. And as for the bath! Like a miniature swimming pool one of them said! :D Thank you! :) x
Wowsers – it looks lovely there, what a great experience to have had. I too would want to try the traditional room setup – it looks so sweet, the robes, the tea set *sigh*
Mt. Fuji sounds as if it made quite the impression on you, sometimes places can really oooze atmosphere. Totally different I know but I remember visiting Sachsenhausen concentration camp and was completely overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
Sounds like a magical visit x
Thank you. We were so lucky to experience it! Atmosphere’s can be overwhelming at times can’t they Annie? x
That looks absolutely amazing and so interesting to read about the energy. I imagine its very tranquil too. Hope you’re having a brilliant time!
It did have a really tranquil atmosphere. Thank you, it was amazing! :)